The soon-to-rise United States (US) economic security zone in the Philippines could strengthen the country’s role in global supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals, potentially moving the local industry beyond its current focus on low-value assembly and testing, according to the...
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. fired back at Beijing on Tuesday, April 21, as China criticized the ongoing Exercise Balikatan between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, United States, and other allied forces, saying the drills are part of a “collective...
Philippine economic growth in 2026 would have hit the government’s downgraded target range had the war in the Middle East been short-lived, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). However, the Bangkok-headquartered UNESCAP said a...
What was supposed to be a routine training day under Exercise Balikatan quickly turned into a real-world rescue as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States military personnel worked together to rescue six civilians after a truck lost control and plunged into a ravine near Lal-lo...
BEIJING, China — The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit this year is expected to help settle differences between the economic powerhouses of China and the United States (US), as the regional bloc works to affirm an open trade policy, according to China National Committee for Pacific...
The United States (US) and the Philippines have selected New Clark City in Tarlac as the site for a 4,000-acre technology economic zone in efforts to rewire global supply chains away from Chinese dominance. Frederick D. Go, who also serves as the country’s investment czar, told Manila Bulletin on...
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. opened the 41st iteration of Exercise Balikatan at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday, April 20, saying it would be more than a military routine but a test of alliance and a signal of shared responsibility amid a tense...
Sometimes, diplomacy starts with what’s on the table. Across Manila this month, American agricultural products are being positioned through restaurant menus, supermarket aisles, and curated food experiences designed to reinforce a familiar idea: that the United States remains a key partner in how...
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said that U.S. negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran, lifting hopes of extending a ceasefire set to expire this week even as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. The prospect of talks on...
The largest iteration of Exercise Balikatan will kick off on Monday, April 20, with around 17,000 troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and counterparts from the United States and five other nations taking part in an “expanded” set of war games designed to test modern defense...
CAIRO (AP) — The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz escalated again Saturday as Iran reversed its reopening of the crucial waterway and fired on ships attempting to pass, in retaliation after the United States pressed ahead with its blockade of Iranian ports. The strait is closed until the U.S....
The United States (US) and the Philippines are planning to establish a 4,000-acre, or a nearly 1,619-hectare (ha), industrial hub in Luzon aimed at strengthening supply chains for critical inputs, according to the US Department of State. In an April 16 fact sheet, the US State Department said the...
