US boosts support for Philippines security forces

“We are not approaching this with any particular view towards China except to say that when China makes a unilateral move we will state our position and make clear what we agree or disagree with.”

However, the increased aid is almost certain to anger Beijing, which bristles at what it sees as U.S. interference in areas it views as China's “core interest.”

Beijing looks dimly on Washington's push to increase the U.S. military presence and strengthen its alliances in Asia as it ends a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, calling it an attempt to contain China.

In a reminder of the high stakes in play, U.S. and Chinese naval vessels came close to colliding in the South China Sea on Dec. 5, the most serious incident between the two navies since 2009.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet said Saturday that the USS Cowpens was operating in international waters and had to maneuver to avoid hitting China's lone aircraft carrier.

The Liaoning, a symbol of China's ambition to develop a navy that operates farther from its own shores, only entered service last year and was on its first sea trials in the South China Sea.