China has said military officials are in contact with their American counterparts on "appropriately handling" the Chinese navy's seizure of a US Navy unmanned underwater glider, one of the most serious incidents between the forces in years.

A Chinese warship seized a US Navy unmanned underwater vehicle that was collecting unclassified scientific data in the South China Sea, the Pentagon has said.

THE United States yesterday refused a Philippine request to hand over four marines charged with rape, provoking anti-American protests in the capital and the Muslim south, where US troops began annual counter-terrorism training of Filipino soldiers.

Four US Marines were charged with rape in the Philippines today.

Police in the Philippines said they were investigating five US Marines for allegedly raping a woman in a former US naval base, officials said Thursday.