A Philippine supply vessel under water cannon bombardment in the South China Sea from two China Coast Guard vessels on April 30. (Screenshot from Philippine Coast Guard drone video)
South China Sea

Philippines to beef up defenses against South China Sea threats

China steps up its deterrence with powerful water cannons that bend steel

8 May 2024
Defense chiefs from the four "Squad" nations. From left, U.S.'s Lloyd Austin, Australia's Richard Marles, Japan's Minoru Kihara and the Philippines' Gilberto Teodoro in Hawaii on May 2.
Indo-Pacific

Philippines first, India later, as U.S. prioritizes 'Squad' allies

White House turns attention to Beijing-Manila tensions in South China Sea

8 May 2024
Vessels belonging to Australia, the U.S., Japan and the Philippines take part in drills off the coast of the Philippines on April 7. (Australian Defence Ministry)
Defense

U.S., Australia, Japan, Philippines eye more maritime exercises

Four-way meeting follows recent South China Sea aggression by China

3 May 2024
China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, departs a Shanghai shipyard for sea trials on May 1: One Chinese commentator said the timing of the shakedown cruise was deliberate.
Defense

China flexes muscle at sea as new aircraft carrier starts trials

Move follows water cannon blasts on Philippine ships, islet tensions with Japan

1 May 2024
One of the vessels in a Philippine supply mission is attacked with a water cannon by a China Coast Guard vessel on April 30 in the South China Sea. (Photo by Ramon Royandoyan)
South China Sea

China fires water cannons at Philippine ships in South China Sea

Manila vessel hit while sailing to Scarborough Shoal amid joint drills with U.S.

30 April 2024
Filipino Marines alight at a beach in the northern province of Cagayan on March 31, 2022, during the annual Balikatan exercises with the U.S.
South China Sea

Philippines and U.S. to 'sink' ships in South China Sea drills

16,700 Filipinos and Americans to enhance interoperability in annual Balikatan exercise

20 April 2024
China Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine ship on a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.
South China Sea

China claims South China Sea deal with Philippines' Duterte

Manila denies saying Marcos administration cannot confirm agreement

19 April 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House in Washington on April 11.
Opinion

Emerging U.S.-Japan-Philippine alliance is making waves in Asia

Marcos must race to build links that might withstand return of Trump

18 April 2024
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, wearing a saffron cap, on the election campaign trail near Delhi on April 6. He is aiming for a third-straight term as head of the world's biggest democracy.
Your Week in Asia

India votes, China GDP and Germany's Scholz meets Xi in Beijing

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

14 April 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden escorts Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to their trilateral summit at the White House in Washington on April 11.
Indo-Pacific

Marcos says U.S., Japan deal will change South China Sea dynamic

Philippines president adds trilateral summit 'not against any country'

13 April 2024
From left, U.S. President Joe Biden, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attend a trilateral summit at the White House on April 11. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)
South China Sea

Philippines wins breakthrough at summit with Japan, U.S., experts say

Manila still faces the difficulty of reducing maritime tensions with China

12 April 2024
From left, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida line up for a photo ahead of the first trilateral summit at the White House on April 11. 
Indo-Pacific

U.S.-Japan-Philippines hold first trilateral, with 'many more' to come

Biden and Kishida seek to lock in Marcos with proposals to boost economy

12 April 2024
Philippine Navy personnel aboard the BRP Davao Del Sur salute the passing vessel Izumo from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force on Aug. 24, 2023. © Philippine Navy
Defense

Philippines, Japan, Australia, U.S. to hold drills in South China Sea

Exercises demonstrate military ties ahead of US-Japan-Philippines summit

6 April 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a news conference during their trilateral summit at Camp David with South Korea in August 2023.
Opinion

U.S.-Japan-Philippine summit will advance shared Indo-Pacific vision

PM Kishida's Washington trip to showcase Tokyo's commitment to enhanced security

5 April 2024
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida tells Nikkei in an interview that Japan needs to "take greater responsibility" in providing options for Southeast Asian countries. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Interview

Japan, U.S., Philippines to cooperate in clean energy, chips: Kishida

Prime minister speaks to Nikkei in exclusive interview ahead of trilateral summit

4 April 2024
From left, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will discuss cyberdefense at their April 11 summit in Washington. (Source photos from Kyodo)
Defense

Japan, U.S., Philippines to form joint cyberdefense network

Biden, Kishida and Marcos to agree on measures guarding against China, Russia

3 April 2024
A Chinese coast guard ship fires water at a Philippine resupply vessel as it approaches the Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on March 23. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP)
Indo-Pacific

First U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral to address China's 'gray zone' tactics

Leaders seek to deepen economic ties as Beijing tests American treaty commitments

1 April 2024
Philippine Coast Guard personnel prepare rubber fenders during an earlier confrontation with Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the South China Sea on March 5.
South China Sea

China's defense ministry warns Philippines after South China Sea incident

Beijing vows 'decisive measures' if Manila challenges 'bottom line'

24 March 2024
Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Kurt Campbell spoke to Nikkei and other media outlets in Tokyo on March 21. (U.S. Embassy in Japan)
Interview

U.S., Japan to discuss how Tokyo can work with AUKUS: Kurt Campbell

April summit's agenda to include potential technological cooperation, says U.S. official

22 March 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are to meet on April 11. (Source photos by Reuters and Tomoki Mera) 
International relations

U.S., Japan, Philippines' leaders to meet for April summit

High-level talks at White House come as South China Sea tensions flare

19 March 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Manila in August 2022. The two will meet again this week.
Your Week in Asia

BOJ monetary policy, Blinken meets Marcos in Manila, GoTo earnings

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

17 March 2024
For his 2022 presidential election campaign, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s PR team portrayed him as a youthful "cool uncle" who would bring unity to a divided nation.
Opinion

Prabowo followed Marcos' election playbook, for better or worse

Indonesians now must wait to see if next president takes authoritarian path

15 March 2024
A Sandakan market vendor in 2020: The town is part of the territory that was previously under the control of the sultan of Sulu. (VWPics via AP Images)
Opinion

Malaysia does not have the law on its side in $15bn Sulu dispute

Government's quandary result of failure to engage in talks or legal process

14 March 2024
The Ortigas business district in Pasig City, Philippines. A U.S. delegation will visit the archipelago nation this week, aiming to spur U.S. investment in various sectors, such as energy, critical minerals and infrastructure.
Your Week in Asia

U.S. delegation in Philippines, Japan wage talks, Foxconn earnings

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

10 March 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, left, meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Canberra on Feb. 29. The two countries are enhancing security cooperation. (AAP via Reuters)
Comment

U.S. allies in Indo-Pacific tremble at prospect of Trump return

Middle powers Japan, Philippines and Australia explore security cooperation

9 March 2024