The United States has deployed two warships to the disputed South China Sea near Scarborough Shoal. This follows a collision between Chinese navy and coast guard ships while they attempted to drive away a smaller Philippine vessel.

A Chinese cutter and guided-missile destroyer collided with each other in the South China Sea on Monday during a botched blockade attempt of Philippine Coast Guard vessels ten nautical miles off Scarborough Shoal in one of the most severe incidents among Chinese forces to date.

Rescue crews across south China braced for a final onslaught of extreme rainfall on Wednesday, racing between heavy downpours to clear mudslide debris and drain waterlogged roads submerging cars, as the East Asian monsoon reaches a peak.

Australia has launched its largest military exercises with Philippine forces, involving over 3,600 personnel in live-fire drills and a beach assault near the South China Sea.

Purchases of 12 million tonnes for September and October reflect about half China’s demand for the period, cutting need to buy US crop.

Tropical storm Podul dumped torrential rain on southern China on Thursday, and caused widespread disruption in Hong Kong after tearing through Taiwan and leaving 143 people injured.

South Africa, long regarded as the continent’s most advanced economy, is moving decisively to counter the fallout from Washington’s latest tariff measures by turning to Beijing for new trade opportunities.