Philippines cheers growing outcry over South China Sea

At a demonstration in June in Manila, protesters shouted slogans against China's reclamation and construction activities on islands in the South China Sea that are also claimed by the Philippines. - AFP/File / Noel Celis

Manila (AFP) - The Philippines on Sunday hailed what it termed growing international support for its efforts to counter China's claims to most of the South China Sea.

The comments from a presidential spokesman came as the US Pacific Fleet released photographs of its commander in a surveillance flight over the sea, where tension is rising between Manila and Beijing.