The US military fired munitions into the South China Sea this week using HIMARS rocket systems amid soaring tensions with China in the region. The live-fire drills occurred on the Philippine island province of Palawan as part of the annual US-Philippine Balikatan...
Hegseth Announces US Deploying Another Missile System to the Philippines
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Friday that the US would deploy an anti-ship missile system to the Philippines, a move that's sure to raise tensions with China. The Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMEIS) has a range of about 100...
US Bombers Join Philippine Jets in Flight Near Chinese-Controlled Shoal
Two US Air Force B-1 bombers joined Philippine fighter jets in a flight over the South China Sea on Tuesday near the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed reef that's controlled by China. A spokesman for the Philippine Armed Forces said the provocative flight was the first...
Philippines Says It Will Acquire Controversial US Missile System, China Warns of ‘Arms Race’
The Philippines said Monday that it plans to acquire a new controversial US missile system, known as the Typhon, prompting Beijing to warn of an "arms race" in the region. The Typhon missile launcher is a ground-based system concealed in a 40-foot shipping container...
Pentagon Reveals US Troops Are Deployed To Support Philippines in South China Sea
Last week, the Pentagon revealed that US troops are deployed as part of a task force to support the Philippines in its dispute with China in the South China Sea, a deployment that is a significant provocation toward Beijing. The US Task Force Ayungin is named after...
US, Philippines Sign New Intelligence and Weapons Technology Sharing Agreement
On Monday, the US and the Philippines took steps to boost their military alliance by signing a new intelligence and weapons technology sharing agreement and starting the construction of a new joint command center in the Philippines. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd...
US Has No Plans To Remove Controversial Missile System from the Philippines
The US has no plans to remove the controversial Typhon missile system from the Philippines, Reuters reported last week, a move that is ratcheting up tensions with China. The US deployed the Typhon system to the Philippines in April, and Philippine officials previously...
US Wants To Deploy Controversial Missile System to Japan
The US wants to deploy a previously banned missile system to Japan for military drills, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday. The Typhon missile launcher is a ground-based system that can fire nuclear-capable Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of more than 1,000 miles....
US Military Open To Escorting Philippine Ships in South China Sea
Adm. Samuel Paparo, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command, said Tuesday that the US military was open to consultations with the Philippines on escorting Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, which would put the US in direct confrontation with China. The US has...
Chinese, Philippine Vessels Collide Again in South China Sea
Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard vessels collided for the second time within a week near the Sabina Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. Sabina Shoal is part of the Spratly Islands and is claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Chinese and...