A Philippine security official says China is “pushing us to the wall” with growing aggression in the disputed South China Sea and warned that “all options are on the table” for Manila’s response, including new international lawsuits.

MANILA: China and the Philippines are holding talks on their South China Sea dispute, Manila’s top envoy said Wednesday (Jan 15), as tensions rise anew over Beijing’s giant vessel in disputed waters.

Philippines vows not to back down from Beijing's increasingly aggressive South China Sea patrols which it says were moving alarmingly close to the country's coast. National Maritime Council Spokesman Jonathan Malaya says in a press conference that China is "increasing aggression" by deploying "monster ship" China Coast Guard vessel 5901 about 77-nautical-miles off the coast of the Philippines' largest island.

The Philippines on Monday said it filed a diplomatic protest to counter China’s “continued illegal presence and activities” within Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

The Philippines accused China on Tuesday of intimidating its fishermen at a disputed South China Sea shoal, and normalizing an “illegal presence,” after Beijing sent its largest coast guard vessel into Manila’s maritime zone.

A massive Chinese "monster" ship has come extremely close to the coast of the Philippines, alarming Manila and increasing tension in the South China Sea.

A Chinese coastguard ship patrolled Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday pushing the Philippines “to the wall,” and prompting Manila to consider international lawsuits.