China gave permission for a civilian ship sent by the Philippines to take supplies to its "illegally" beached warship at the Second Thomas Shoal, the Asian giant's coast guard said on Friday.

China is likely to continue its aggressive naval approach toward the Philippines amid their disputes in the South China Sea, experts say. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed two new maritime laws to protect Manila’s disputed territory: the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.

"Well, look, he is," Biden said when asked whether he stands by his assessment that Chinese President Xi Jinping is a dictator.

President Joe Biden is planning to meet Saturday with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a trip to Lima, Peru, according to White House officials, in what amounts to a final meeting between two leaders of superpowers amid a period of significant transition that could alter that relationship.

The two leaders hadn't spoken for a year before Wednesday's summit, with relations between Washington and Beijing at their lowest point in decades.