Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard vessels collided in the South China Sea on Monday near the Sabina Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. The two sides are trading blame for the incident, which happened despite diplomatic efforts between Beijing and Manila to cool...
US Announces $500 Million in New Military Aid for Philippines Amid China Tensions
On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $500 million in new military aid for the Philippines while they were in Manila. Their visit comes amid soaring tensions with China in the region. According to a joint...
US Says It’s Looking To Bolster Philippines Ability To Operate in South China Sea
US officials said Wednesday that the US is looking to help bolster the Philippines' military and its ability to operate in the South China Sea, an area where Chinese and Philippine vessels frequently have tense encounters over disputed reefs. "What we are looking to...
Philippines Says It Reached Deal With China To Avoid Clashes at Disputed Shoal
The Philippines said on Sunday that it reached a deal with China to reduce tensions around Second Thomas Shoal, a Philippine-occupied reef in the South China Sea that's also claimed by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Manila did not disclose any details about the deal but...
Japan, Philippines Sign New Military Pact Aimed at China
On Monday, Japan and the Philippines signed a new defense pact that will allow the two nations to deploy troops to each other's territory, a step being taken as part of the US-led military buildup against China in the region. According to AP, the deal was signed by...
Philippines Says US Will Pull Out Controversial Mid-Range Missile System
On Thursday, the Philippines said the US was pulling out a new missile system it deployed to the Southeast Asian country for annual military exercises. The US sent the Typhon missile system for the Balikatan exercises, which were held in April and May. The Typhon is a...
US Marines Deploy MQ-9 Reaper Drones to the Philippines
US Marines Corps MQ-9A Reaper Drones are now operating in the Philippines as the US continues to beef up its military presence in the country, USNI News reported on Monday. The Reaper drones, which can be armed with powerful Hellfire missiles, have been operating out...
US, Philippines Working on Intelligence Sharing Deal Amid China Tensions
The US and the Philippines are working on a new intelligence-sharing deal as tensions are soaring between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea. The Defense Post reported that US and Philippine officials discussed the potential agreement, known as the General...
Bipartisan Bill Would Give the Philippines $2.5 Billion in Military Aid
On Wednesday, Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced a bill that would give the Philippines $2.5 billion in military aid over five years as the US is boosting military ties with Manila as part of its strategy against China in the region. The...
US, Philippines, Japan, and Australia Conduct First Joint Military Exercise in South China Sea
The US, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia conducted joint military exercises in the South China Sea on Sunday in a provocative show of force aimed at China. According to Japan's Kyodo News, the drills marked the first "full-scale exercise" between the four...