US talking to the Philippines about recent 'provocative actions' by China, State Dept says

The United States is talking to the Philippines about recent "provocative actions" by China, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Tuesday, after Manila's South China Sea task force said Philippine vessels were "harassed (and) blocked" by Chinese maritime militia and coast guard ships on Tuesday.

"The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of these dangerous and unlawful actions," Miller told reporters.