MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed into law a bill on Tuesday that aims to develop the country’s defence industry to reduce its reliance on imported sources and create equipment tailored to its security challenges. “It’s a logical move forward for a country that finds itself at the fulcrum of geopolitical shifts and volatilities. At its core this act is about cultivating a robust and sustainable national defence industry,” Marcos said after […]
National
Philippines accuses China of assaulting Vietnamese fishermen in South China Sea
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines accused Chinese maritime officials on Friday of carrying out an “unjustified assault” on Vietnamese fishermen in the contested waters of the South China Sea, adding its voice to a fraught dispute over the confrontation. Vietnam said this week that Chinese law enforcement officers had beaten 10 fishermen and seized their gear while they were working last Sunday near the Chinese-controlled Paracel Islands, which Hanoi also claims and calls Hoang Sa. […]
China says US missile deployment in Philippines undermines peace
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the U.S. deployment of intermediate-range missiles in the Philippines “undermines regional peace and stability”, the foreign ministry said on Sunday. Speaking to South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in New York on Saturday, Wang also called for avoiding “war or chaos on the Korean Peninsula”, the ministry said in a post on its website. The U.S. deployed the Typhon system, which can be equipped with cruise […]
Philippines eyes future missile launchers purchase, to retain US Typhon system
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines hopes to procure mid-range capability missiles in future and wants to utilise a U.S.-deployed Typhon system for its military training, with no immediate plan for it to be returned, a top security official said on Friday. Confirming an earlier report by Reuters, Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said there was no set timeline for the withdrawal of the United States’ mid-range missile system from the country, which China has […]
Exclusive-US keeps missile system in Philippines as China tensions rise, tests wartime deployment
By Karen Lema and Poppy McPherson MANILA (Reuters) – The United States has no immediate plans to withdraw a mid-range missile system deployed in the Philippines, despite Chinese demands, and is testing the feasibility of its use in a regional conflict, sources with knowledge of the matter said. The Typhon system, which can be equipped with cruise missiles capable of striking Chinese targets, was brought in for joint exercises earlier this year, both countries said […]
Plan for summit on UN sidelines to seek ways ‘to talk sense’ into China, Philippines envoy says
David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A summit of at least 20 nations is planned on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly this month to seek ways “to talk some sense” into China over its confrontation with the Philippines in the South China Sea, Manila’s Washington envoy said on Tuesday. “The more countries band together and give a message to China that what they’re doing is definitely not on the right side of history, then we […]
Factbox-Who is Philippine ex-mayor Alice Guo and what is known about her arrest?
By Neil Jerome Morales and Mikhail Flores MANILA (Reuters) – Former Philippines mayor Alice Guo, accused of ties to Chinese criminal syndicates and money laundering, arrived in Manila on Friday on a chartered flight after being deported from Indonesia. Guo, also known as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, was arrested in the Indonesian city of Tangerang near the capital of Jakarta on Tuesday. Her case has gripped the Philippines at a time of growing suspicion […]
Philippines death toll from tropical storm Enteng (International name: Yagi) rises to 13
MANILA (Reuters) – At least 13 people have died in the Philippines due to tropical storm Yagi, while schools and government offices were closed in Manila and nearby provinces on Tuesday because of expected bad weather. Yagi, locally known as Enteng, made landfall on Monday in the eastern town of Casiguran in Aurora province, knocking out power in the municipality, disaster officer Elson Egargue said by phone. As of 8 a.m. (0000 GMT), the […]
Malacañang suspends gov’t work, classes in Metro Manila amid TS Enteng
Malacañang has announced the suspension of government work in the National Capital Region on Monday due to inclement weather brought by Tropical Storm “Enteng”. The suspension will take effect at 8:30 am, as stated in the announcement from the Office of the Executive Secretary. Private companies and offices are advised that the decision to suspend work is left to the discretion of their respective heads. Classes at all levels in Metro Manila have also been […]
Bicol RDRRMC raises alert level amid TD Enteng’s imminent landfall
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Bicol has elevated its alert status to red as Tropical Depression (TD) Enteng is poised to make landfall or pass very close to Catanduanes in the Bicol Region. In a memorandum issued on Sunday, Claudio Yucot, director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Bicol and chairman of the Bicol RDRRMC, emphasized the need for heightened preparedness as “Enteng” is expected to bring significant rainfall […]
Philippines, Vietnam boost military ties amid South China Sea tensions
By Mikhail Flores MANILA (Reuters) -Vietnam and the Philippines agreed on Friday to advance defence and military relations and deepen collaboration on maritime security, in a significant step by two countries long at odds with Beijing over its actions in the South China Sea. Vietnamese Defence Minister Phan Van Giang was in Manila for talks with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, his first visit as defence chief, and paid a courtesy call earlier in the […]
Philippine president defends massive operation to arrest celebrity pastor
By Neil Jerome Morales MANILA (Reuters) – Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr defended on Tuesday the deployment of 2,000 police officers at the weekend to arrest an influential pastor accused of sex trafficking who is a longtime friend of the country’s former president. Police think Apollo Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed “owner of the universe” and “appointed son of god”, is hiding in a bunker at the sprawling compound owned by his church, the Kingdom of Jesus […]