Beijing and Manila have agreed to continue talks on settling their territorial differences despite Philippine protests about the presence of a Chinese "monster ship" near the contested Scarborough Shoal.

A Philippine security official says China is “pushing us to the wall” with growing aggression in the disputed South China Sea and warned that “all options are on the table” for Manila’s response, including new international lawsuits.

China Coast Guard vessel 5901 or Beijing's "monster ship" is still "operating unlawfully at a distance of 60-70 nautical miles from Philippines territory", the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Saturday,

China’s ‘monster’ ship entered its 13th day lurking within Philippine waters, said Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela on Friday,.

The Philippines and China agreed to seek common ground and find ways to cooperate despite their disagreements in the South China Sea, their foreign ministries said on Thursday, as heated rows persist over vessels deployed around disputed features.

Chinese Coast Guard ships fire water cannons at Unaizah May 4, a Philippine Navy chartered vessel, conducting a routine resupply mission to troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, on March 5, 2024, in the South China Sea. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

The world's largest coast guard vessel, China Coast Guard 5901, is maintaining its presence off Zambales province in the West Philippine Sea despite Manila's calls for Beijing to withdraw the ship.