It is the first time on record that more than three tropical storms have occurred at the same time in November in the region.

The Philippines prepared Tuesday to evacuate potentially tens of thousands of people as the fifth major storm in three weeks bore down on the archipelago shortly after the onslaught of

Devastating floods struck the northern Philippines on Monday, when Tropical Storm Toraji became the fourth tropical storm to hit the island nation in three weeks.

China Warns Philippines Over New Maritime Laws, 'Unilateral Actions' BEIJING (Reuters) - China's embassy warned the Philippines to cease any "unilateral actions" after Manila brought in two new maritime laws meant to define territory, sea lanes and air routes.

CANBERRA >> China is stepping up pressure on the Philippines to concede its sovereign rights in the South China Sea, Manila’s Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Tuesday after meeting his Australian counterpart in Canberra.

The China Coast Guard conducted law enforcement patrols in the territorial waters of China’s Huangyan Island and the surrounding area,” the China Coast Guard said, referring to Scarborough Shoal, known as Panatag Shoal in the Philippines “This was a law-enforcement activity carried out by the Chinese maritime police in accordance with the law.