The Philippines and Vietnam have initiated their first-ever joint coast guard training exercises in the South China Sea, a region where both countries face territorial disputes with each other and with China. On Monday, the Vietnamese coast guard patrol ship CSB 8002, carrying 80 crew members, arrived in Manila ahead of the drills scheduled to begin on Friday. The joint …

A senior Philippine Navy official has outlined China’s extensive militarization of approximately 3,000 hectares of reclaimed land in the South China Sea, including bases constructed on artificial islands within Manila’s exclusive economic zone. Analysts say that Beijing’s establishment of military bases in this heavily contested area over the past 13 years presents a significant strategic challenge for the Philippines, as …

In a rare report on mainland Chinese drone activity, Taiwan revealed that two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) unmanned aerial vehicles circled the island for several hours on Saturday. This occurred just a day after Japan and the Philippines conducted joint exercises in nearby waters. According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, the drones crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and …

On Sunday, Germany and the Philippines announced their intention to sign a defense agreement later this year aimed at enhancing cooperation between their armed forces. In discussions held in Manila, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro agreed to strengthen their collaboration in military training and weapons procurement. This move comes as China increases its military …

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Manila on Tuesday for talks on regional security with their Philippine counterparts and to announce a $500 million military aid package. This assistance comes as the Philippines faces escalating tensions with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Experts noted that the high-profile visit and …

Over the weekend, China’s coast guard engaged in a confrontation with Philippine boats in a disputed area of the South China Sea, signaling yet another flare-up in maritime tensions between the two nations. The incident occurred shortly after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to safeguarding Philippine access to the vast waterway, which China lays …