The Philippines said Tuesday that it is taking its feud with China over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea to an international tribunal.
The Philippines sought patrol ships and communications equipment from Japan to better secure its territory in meetings Thursday of their top diplomats, who expressed alarm over their countries' territorial conflicts with China.
A map that China has incorporated into its passports has drawn diplomatic fury because it appears to claim the entire South China Sea, ignoring competing claims from the Philippines, Vietnam and other neighboring countries.
China's state-controlled Catholic Church says it will move swiftly to appoint new bishops in dioceses where there are none. The step is certain to worsen frictions with the Vatican.
In the Philippines, U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. is hoping to bring some relief to the relatives of more than 36,000 Americans still listed as missing in action from World War II in the Pacific Theater.
