Impeached Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has returned to home after spending nearly a month in The Hague, where she was by her father's side as he faces charges of crimes against humanity, according to her communications team.

On Wednesday, China placed its military forces on high alert to patrol the waters surrounding the disputed Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) in the South China Sea, according to the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).