U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly dialing down his rhetoric in order to secure direct talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and a possible trade deal. Bloomberg quoted unnamed White House sources saying Trump is increasingly pursuing purchase agreements that resemble deals he made in his first term and pushing for quick wins, rather than…
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. offered on Friday to remove a U.S. missile system from the Philippines if China halts what he called its “aggressive and coercive behavior” in the disputed South China Sea. The U.S. Army installed the Typhon mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines in April last year…
“Despite repeated dissuasion and warnings from China, the Philippines insisted on sending four coastguard ships, six official ships, and several unidentified ships to intrude into China’s Huangyan Island territorial waters and nearby waters such as Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands,” China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said on Thursday, using the Chinese terms for…
The Philippines has approved the purchase of 40 fast patrol craft worth 25.8 billion pesos (US$450 million), seeking to bolster maritime security as tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea linger. The National Economic and Development Authority Board, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, gave the greenlight for the purchase, which will be funded…