U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored Washington’s “ironclad commitment” Tuesday to help defend the Philippines in case of an armed attack against its forces after clashes between Chinese and Filipino coast guards in the disputed South China Sea recently turned more hostile. Blinken, the latest high-level official to visit the United States treaty ally, … Read more
A number of leading American corporations are set to announce more than $1 billion in investments in the Philippines, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said yesterday. Raimondo made the comments while on a two-day trade and investment mission to the Philippines along with executives from 22 companies, including United Airlines, Google, Visa, Mastercard, Bechtel, and … Read more
The first few weeks of 2024 have already seen a serious escalation of tension between China and the Philippines in their sovereignty dispute over the Second Thomas Shoal – situated 105 nautical miles west of Palawan, Philippines, and about 600 nautical miles from Hainan, China. Since the fall of 2023, there have been several run-ins … Read more
The Philippines and the United States have started joint air and sea patrols in the South China Sea, the latest step in the two allies’ response to China’s growing assertiveness in contested waters. The three-day drills began yesterday in waters near Mavulis island, the Philippines’ northernmost point, which is located around 100 kilometers from Taiwan, … Read more
A Philippine Coast Guard rigid hull inflatable boat passes by the Japanese Coast Guard Akitsushima (PLH-32) during a trilateral Coast Guard drill off the waters in Bataan province, Philippines, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Aaron Favila Advertisement U.S., Japanese, and Philippine coast guard ships staged law enforcement drills in waters near the disputed South … Read more