Latest Manila News

Philippines won't invoke mutual defense treaty with US after Chinese confrontation at disputed shoal

Jun. 21, 2024 08:36 AM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines said Friday it has no plan to invoke its mutual defense treaty with the United States after the Chinese coast guard reportedly rammed, boarded and used machetes and axes to damage two Philippine navy boats in a chaotic faceoff that injured Filipino navy...

Philippines demands China return rifles and pay for boat damage after hostilities in disputed sea

Jun. 19, 2024 21:40 PM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine military chief demanded Wednesday that China return several rifles and equipment seized by the Chinese coast guard in a disputed shoal and pay for damages in an assault he likened to an act of piracy in the South China Sea. Chinese...

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte resigning from posts in Marcos' Cabinet as alliance flounders

Jun. 19, 2024 21:03 PM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte is resigning from her posts of education secretary and head of an anti-insurgency body, as her whirlwind alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. unraveled over key differences, including efforts to arrest a religious leader...

Philippines seeks UN confirmation of its vast continental seabed in the disputed South China Sea

Jun. 15, 2024 07:06 AM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines has asked a United Nations body to formally recognize the extent of its undersea continental seabed in the South China Sea, where it would have the exclusive right to exploit resources, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday, in a move that...

Swedish defense chief says actions against Philippines in South China Sea threaten global security

Jun. 07, 2024 07:02 AM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Sweden’s defense chief has expressed alarm over Beijing’s repeated dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, saying such actions threaten global security, undermine stability and underscore the need to invest “for our security and...

Zelenskyy in Manila to promote peace summit, which he says China and Russia are trying to undermine

Jun. 03, 2024 11:46 AM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Philippine president on Monday in a rare Asian trip to urge regional leaders to attend a Swiss-organized global peace summit on the war in Ukraine that he accuses Russia, with China’s help, of trying to undermine. ...

Global aid group asks warring forces to respect its neutrality with 24 of its aid workers killed

May. 30, 2024 20:06 PM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies asked state forces and combatants Thursday to respect its neutrality and work of delivering humanitarian help to the most destitute in war and other high-risk zones, saying 24 of its aid workers had...

Typhoon leaves at least seven people dead and thousands displaced in the Philippines

May. 28, 2024 05:30 AM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A typhoon has finally moved away from the Philippines, leaving at least seven people dead, mostly due to floods or toppled trees, and forcing the closures of several seaports, stranding thousands of passengers, officials said Tuesday. Typhoon Ewiniar...

Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry

May. 20, 2024 21:49 PM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines blamed Chinese fishermen on Monday for a massive loss of giant clams in a disputed shoal controlled by China's coast guard in the South China Sea and urged an international inquiry into the amount of environmental damage in the area. The...

Filipino activists decide not to sail closer to disputed shoal, avoiding clash with Chinese ships

May. 16, 2024 01:44 AM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — About 100 Filipino activists on wooden boats have decided not to sail closer to a fiercely disputed shoal in the South China Sea on Thursday to avoid a confrontation with dozens of Chinese coast guard and suspected militia ships guarding the area. ...