Apr 11 WATCH: Blinken and Austin hold briefing after meeting with Filipino counterparts By Jim Gomez, Associated Press Secretary of State Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin held a news briefing as American and Filipino forces on Tuesday launched their largest combat exercises in decades in the Philippines and its waters across the disputed South China Sea. Continue reading
Feb 18 Philippine President Marcos says China laser not enough to activate U.S. defense pact By Jim Gomez, Associated Press The Philippine president said Saturday the Chinese coast guard’s use of military-grade laser that briefly blinded some of the crew aboard a Philippine patrol vessel in the disputed South China Sea was not enough for him to invoke a mutual defense… Continue reading
Feb 08 U.S. armed forces returning to Philippines to counter China threats By Jim Gomez, Associated Press Washington has been reinforcing an arc of military alliances in Asia in a starkly different post-Cold War era in which the perceived new regional threat is an increasingly belligerent China. Continue reading
Feb 02 Watch 4:47 U.S. boosts military presence in Philippines to counteract China’s increasing aggression By Geoff Bennett, Dan Sagalyn The United States and the Philippines reached an agreement allowing American military forces to operate in four new locations across the nation. The move is aimed at confronting China and its focus on Taiwan, which is only a few hundred… Continue watching
Feb 02 U.S. forms new pact with Philippines in effort to counter China By Jim Gomez, Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press The Philippines says it is allowing U.S. forces to broaden their footprint in that Southeast Asian nation. Continue reading
Jan 26 International Criminal Court judges reopen probe into Philippines ‘war on drugs’ By Mike Corder, Associated Press International Criminal Court judges have cleared the way for the court's prosecution office to resume its investigation into the so-called war on drugs in the Philippines. Continue reading
Jan 18 Nobel winner, journalist Maria Ressa cleared of tax evasion charges By Associated Press Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa and her news company have been cleared of tax evasion charges she said were among legal cases used by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to try to muzzle critical reporting. Continue reading
Jan 02 Death toll climbs to 51 in Philippines flood, more than a dozen still missing By Associated Press Thousands of people in the Philippines remain in emergency shelters in the wake of devastating Christmas flooding as the death toll climbed to 51 with 19 missing… Continue reading
Dec 17 Jose Maria Sison, self-exiled Philippine Communist Party founder, dies at 83 By Associated Press Jose Maria Sison, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, whose armed wing has been waging one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies, has died. He was 83. Continue reading
Nov 20 Vice President Harris visits the Philippines amid South China Sea dispute By Jim Gomez, Associated Press Vice President Kamala Harris will underscore America’s commitment to defending treaty ally the Philippines with a visit that started Sunday and involves flying to an island province facing the disputed South China Sea, where Washington has accused China of bullying smaller claimant… Continue reading