Philippines' Duterte issues gag order on cabinet over South China Sea spat

Tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated since March. - AFP

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte barred his cabinet from talking about the South China Sea in public on Monday (May 17) after weeks of strong rebukes by his ministers against China's conduct in the contested waters.

Tensions between the Philippines and its giant neighbour have escalated since March, with Manila filing daily diplomatic protests over the presence of hundreds of Chinese fishing vessels in disputed portions of the South China Sea.