China accused the Philippines on Friday of having "provoked trouble" in the South China Sea with U.S. backing, a week after Beijing and Manila traded accusations over a new confrontation in the disputed waters.

The Philippine Navy will persist with its regular maritime patrols in the South China Sea and continue with its "non-escalatory approach" despite China's recent deployment of military warships to shadow Philippine vessels in the contested waters,

Diplomats and representatives from the militaries and coast guards of the United States, Japan and the Philippines had a maritime dialogue against a backdrop of clashes involving Philippine and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.

The United States has deployed a reconnaissance aircraft while Japan and the Philippines sent navy ships in a joint patrol in the disputed South China Sea two days after the allied forces condemned ac

China and the Philippines gave conflicting versions on Wednesday of a maritime confrontation around a contested shoal in the South China Sea, the latest row in a longstanding dispute between the neighbours.

President says such a move in response to clash with Chinese vessels in Scarborough Shoal will be provocative and seen as an escalation.

The confrontations at Scarborough and Sabina shoals indicate that Beijing has no intention of easing off on its pressure campaign in disputed waters.

China has alleged that Philippine vessels attempted to enter China's territorial waters near the contested Scarborough Shoal while the Philippine coast guard said Chinese vessels took "aggressive actions.

The United States Navy will enhance the firepower of its fleet of fast and agile warships, making them capable of launching long-range missiles while deployed in the contested South China Sea. Announcing the upgrade,