Under Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the relationship between Manila and Beijing has soured. Manila is now turning back to the United States for support in its maritime disputes against China.

This timeline shows the key events that have escalated tensions in the Philippines-China relationship since 2023:

Marcos will visit Beijing for three days, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and agree to establish direct communication between their foreign ministers on the South China Sea.

FEB 2, 2014 - Under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the Philippines allows the United States to access four additional military bases.

FEB 13-14: The Philippines accuses China of using a "military grade laser" to target one of their ships. The ship was resupplying troops aboard a warship Manila intentionally grounded in 1999 on the Second Thomas Shoal, a dispute. Marcos summons China's ambassador.

APRIL 3, 2019 - The Philippines reveals locations of four additional bases Washington can use in accordance with EDCA. Three of the bases face north toward Taiwan, and one is located near the disputed Spratly Islands.

APRIL 11, 2019 - The largest joint military exercises in history between Filipinos and Americans begin in the Philippines.

APRIL 22: Marcos and his Foreign Secretary meet with China's former foreign minister Qin Gang at Manila. They pledge to work together in order to resolve maritime disputes.

May 1: U.S. president Joe Biden receives Marcos, the first Philippine leader to visit the White House in 10 years. They expressed "unwavering dedication to freedom of overflight and navigation in the South China Sea".

May 3 - The United States, Philippines and other countries agree to new guidelines regarding their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. These guidelines specifically state that the mutual defense commitments will be invoked if either country is attacked "anywhere" in the South China Sea.

JUNE 6, 2009 - First trilateral manoeuvres by the coast guards from the United States of America, Japan, and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

AUG. 5 - The Philippines has accused China's coastguard of firing water cannons at a supply vessel transporting food to troops on Second Thomas Shoal. This area is known in China under the name Renai Reef, and in Manila it is called Ayungin Shoal.

AUG 7: The Chinese coast guard asks the Philippines if they can remove the warship that is stranded on Second Thomas Shoal.

OCT 22-24: The Philippines accuses Chinese Coastguard vessels of deliberately colliding with their vessels supplying its forces stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal. The incident was not serious.

The Philippines has called on China to remove "illegal structures", which are built in its exclusive economic zones (EEZ), stop reclamation of these areas, and take responsibility for any damage caused by the activities.

NOV 21: The Philippines and United States militaries launch a joint patrol from the waters near Taiwan up to the South China Sea.

NOV 25: The Philippines and Australia launch their first joint air and sea patrols in South China Sea.

DEC 9-10: The Philippines accuses China that it fired water cannons at its boats including one with its military chief and rammed others, causing severe engine damage. China's coastguard says that the Philippine vessel deliberately rammed their ship.

DEC 19: Marcos says that a paradigm shift is required in the way his country views the South China Sea. Diplomatic efforts with Beijing are heading in a "poor" direction.

DEC 21: China warns against Philippines "misjudging the maritime situation" and says that bilateral relations between the two countries are at a crossroads.

JAN 3: The Philippines and United States conduct their second joint patrol of the South China Sea, while China is conducting a similar activity in the disputed watersway with its air and naval forces.

FEB 9: The Philippines and United States conduct joint maritime exercises for the third time in the South China Sea, while China continues its "routine patrols".

The Philippine Coast Guard accused China of making "dangerous" and "blocking" maneuvers when its vessel was patrolling near Scarborough Shoal, in the South China Sea.

The Philippines has condemned China's coast guard for their "reckless" "illegal" actions which led to the collision of a Chinese ship with a Philippine vessel, causing damage to the latter, and injuring its crew during a resupply for troops on the Second Thomas Shoal. China claims that the Philippine vessels intruded illegally into the waters near the shoal.

MARCH 6, 2019 - The Philippines summoned China's deputy head of mission to Manila in protest against "aggressive" actions by Chinese naval forces towards the resupply missions.

China has warned the United States to refrain from "stoking up trouble" and taking sides in the South China Sea dispute, following the statement made by U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken, during a trip to Manila. Blinken claimed that a security agreement with the Philippines included attacks against the Philippine Coast Guard.

China's coastguard claims it has taken action against Philippine vessels resupplying troops on the Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippines, however, has branded the actions, which included the use of water cannons that damaged their ship and injured crew members, as "irresponsible" and "provocative".

The Philippines summoned China's envoy on March 25 to protest "aggressive" actions in the South China Sea. Manila's Defence Minister dared Beijing, to support its vast claims of sovereignty by taking them before international arbitration.