The Philippines said on Saturday it has suspended a scientific survey in the South China Sea after two of its fisheries vessels faced "harassment" and aggressive behaviour from China's coast guard and navy.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano and Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson for the South China Sea Jay Tarriela pose for a photo with a giant copy of the book "The Stories of Teacher Jun" during its launch at the National Library of the Philippines in Manila, Philippines, January 24, 2025. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David

The Philippines has launched a comic book to counter what the country says is China’s disinformation campaign to push its expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The Philippines will soon decide on an international platform to sue China for alleged damage to the marine environment, its justice minister said, as it pursues a second high-profile legal challenge against Beijing over the South China Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard has entered its third week of actively challenging its Chinese counterparts, including a 12,000-ton “monster” China Coast Guard cutter within the country’s exclusive economic zone off Western Luzon.

The government of the Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over the “escalatory actions” of Chinese government vessels and aircraft in the South China Sea, accusing the nation of violating international law.

Chinese coast guard ships and a Chinese navy helicopter harassed a group of Philippine fisheries vessels conducting a scientific survey in a hotly disputed area of the South China Sea, forcing them to cancel the operation,

Two Philippine ships had to call off their scientific probe after Chinese vessels and a helicopter intercepted them near the Spratly archipelago, according to the Philippines' coast guard.