The Philippine government announced on Sunday that international support for the country's South China Sea claims has been bolstered by a recent American surveillance sortie headed by Admiral Scott Swift, head of the US naval fleet in the Pacific. 

Philippine presidential spokesperson Herminio Coloma said the U.S. and various Asian and European countries have communicated their support for the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea dispute, according to Yahoo News.

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American political leaders like Senator John McCain has congratulated the Philippines' determination to amicably settle the territorial dispute through diplomatic means.

The latest diplomatic move by the Philippines involves taking its South China Sea territorial claim to the International Arbitration Court in Hague, Netherlands. China was invited to present its own claims but decided not to and announced that it will not recognize the authority or ruling of the arbitrary board.

Chinese leaders are reportedly trying to convince their Philippine counterparts to hold bilateral negotiations instead.

China's expansion in the South China Sea includes the creation of artificial land areas to increase the size of the various small islets it currently occupies. Beijing's territorial claim is allegedly so vast that it even includes the coastlines of nearby countries.

Aside from the two countries, other neighboring countries including Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei, also have competing claims in the South China Sea.

Manila's alliance with Washington is being strengthened as the former needs to strengthen its military capabilities after to decades of neglect.

The US has shown its support for its Philippine ally by releasing pictures online showing Admiral Swift heading a survey patrol in the South China Sea, according to Reuters. The P-8 plane flight reportedly took seven hours.

An earlier P-8 flight conducted last May brought the ire of Chinese leaders who condemned such actions as "reckless," according to GMA News.

Swift explained that his partipation in the recent flight is meant to show the intent of the U.S. to ensure the South China Sea remains a place where everyone has the right to sail through freely. Swift, however, was vague when he asked if the flight was challenged by Chinese military forces stationed in the area.

Tagschina philippines territorial dispute, west philippine sea, Admiral Scott Swift, US pacific fleet, hague international arbitrary court, Nanshan Islands, philipine territorial claims, Philippine South China Sea Arbitration, US South China Sea Patrols