May 29 Thousands evacuated as Philippines warns of approaching Typhoon Mawar By Jim Gomez, Associated Press The typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of 96 mph and gusts of up to 118 mph but is forecast to spare the mountainous region a direct hit. Continue reading
May 01 WATCH: Biden says U.S. and Philippines are ‘ironclad’ partners amid China tension By Aamer Madhani, Jim Gomez, Associated Press President Joe Biden reiterated U.S. commitment to the Philippines' security and noted the "deep friendship" of the two nations as he welcomed Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for White House talks. Continue reading
Apr 27 Chinese coast guard ship blocks Philippine patrol vessel in new stand-off By Jim Gomez, Associated Press A Chinese coast guard ship blocked a Philippine patrol vessel steaming into a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, causing a frightening near-collision in the latest act of Beijing's aggression in the strategic waterway. Continue reading
Apr 21 WATCH: White House announces Biden meeting with Phillippine’s Marcos for next month By Associated Press President Joe Biden will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for talks at the White House next month as the two countries look to continue to tighten relations. Continue reading
Apr 12 China warns against deepening security alliance as U.S., Philippines stage combat drills By Jim Gomez, Associated Press China has warned that a deepening security alliance between the United States and the Philippines should not harm its security and territorial interests and interfere in long-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Continue reading
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