Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy continued its operations in the South China Sea, where one of its destroyers, the missile-armed USS Dewey, conducted a damage control drill aboard while underway somewhere in the region on November 9, according to official photos.

Countries surrounding the South China Sea have built more than 90 outposts on around 70 islands, rocks and reefs in the highly disputed area, satellite images show.

Physical clashes between Chinese and Philippine law enforcement vessels have subsided in recent weeks, but political tensions remain high over islands, reefs as well as maritime z