The US military is in talks to build a Taiwan-facing port in the northernmost Philippine islands, Reuters reported on Thursday. The proposed project would be in the Batanes islands, less than 125 miles from Taiwan. US involvement in the project would raise tensions...
Philippines, Australia Plan to Conduct Joint Patrols in South China Sea
The Philippines and Australia plan to conduct joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea, disputed waters that are increasingly becoming a potential flashpoint for a conflict between the US and China. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the Armed Forces of the...
Philippines, Australia Practice Retaking Island in South China Sea
Australian and Philippine troops backed by a group of US Marines simulated retaking an island in the South China Sea amid heightened tensions in the region between Manila and Beijing. According to AFP, the drills took place at a naval base about 150 miles east of...
US Navy Commander Says China Must Be ‘Challenged’ in the South China Sea
The commander of the US Navy's Seventh Fleet said Sunday that the US must "challenge" China's "aggressive behavior" in the South China Sea, an area that has become a potential flashpoint for a conflict between Washington and Beijing. The comments from Vice Adm. Karl...
China Says It Allowed Philippines to Resupply Grounded Ship on Disputed Reef
The Chinese Coast Guard said that on Tuesday, it allowed Philippine vessels to resupply a grounded Philippine warship on Second Thomas Shoal, a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. Liu Dejun, a spokesman for the Chinese Coast Guard, said a...
Australia’s Biggest Warship Drills With the Philippines in the South China Sea
On Monday, Australia's biggest warship participated in drills with the Philippines and the US in the disputed South China Sea as part of Canberra and Manila's first-ever bilateral amphibious exercises. The drills, dubbed Exercise Alon, kicked off on August 14 and will...
China Tells the Philippines to Remove Grounded Ship from Disputed Reef in South China Sea
China has called on the Philippines to remove a grounded warship from a disputed reef in the South China Sea after an encounter in the area between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels. Over the weekend, Chinese vessels fired water cannons at Philippine boats...
US, Japan, Philippines to Hold First Joint Coast Guard Drills in South China Sea
The US, Japan, and the Philippines will hold their first-ever trilateral coast guard exercises in the South China Sea starting this week amid rising tensions with China in the region. The exercises will take place off the coast of the Philippines' Batan province and...
Joint US-Philippine Patrols in South China Sea to Begin Later This Year
The US and the Philippines should start joint patrols in the South China Sea later this year, Manila's ambassador to the US said on Monday. "An estimate would be no later than the third quarter of this year. We should have that in place," Ambassador Jose Manuel...
US, Philippines Make Defense Commitment in South China Sea Official
The US and the Philippines on Wednesday agreed on new guidelines for the 1951 US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty that formalize the US commitment to going to war if Philippine vessels come under attack in the South China Sea. For years now, US officials have pledged...


