U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force and Indonesian marines with 4th Marine Infantry Brigade, Pasmar 1, participate in the Keris Marine Exercise opening ceremony at Piabung Training Area in Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia, Nov. 23, 2023. US Marine Corps Photo
After training in the Philippines since October, a forward-positioned Marine Corps task force kicked off another exercise in Indonesia last week. Read More
Staff Sgt. Gary Likiak approaches the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), via boat, prior to its departure from Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands, after the Pacific Partnership 2024-1 on Nov. 14, 2023. US Army Photo
Territorial tensions in the South China Sea, as well as strategic competition between the United States and China in the western Pacific, are the tableau against which the U.S. Navy has been conducting its ongoing humanitarian mission, Pacific Partnership 2023. Read More
The hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) gets underway in support of Pacific Partnership 2024-1 from Naval Base San Diego, Oct. 10, 2023. U.S. Navy Photo
Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) left its San Diego, Calif., berth this week on a mission to Oceania, where embarked medical and engineering personnel will join U.S. partners in the region for humanitarian assistance and civic projects, and spread a bit of goodwill. Read More
Images of a Filippino fisherman brought to shore after their boat was allegedly rammed off the coast of Scarborough Shoal on Oct. 2. Philippine Government Photo
Three fishermen are dead after their boat was rammed by an unidentified vessel near the contested Scarborough Shoal off the coast of the Phillippines, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. Read More
General Romeo Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the AFP, and Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, lauded the progress of projects under EDCA during their visit to Cagayan on Sept. 13, 2023. Armed Forces of Philippines Photo
The head of the U.S. military in the Pacific toured sites American forces could access in wartime and held high-level defense talks in the Philippines last week. Read More
Marine Corps Sgt. Samuel Whitty, a radio operator with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, showcases 3d MLR’s communication assets to Philippine Marines with Battalion Landing Team 10 during Marine Aviation Support Activity 23 at Naval Base Camilo Osias, July 15, 2023. US Marin Corps Photo
U.S. forces are back in the Philippines for another round of joint exercises with their Filipino counterparts as Washington and Manilla expand cooperation. Read More
Scarborough Shoal. NASA Photo
India revised its position on the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration last week in a meeting between Indian and Filipino diplomats that supports Manila’s territorial claims over China. Read More
Philippine Sailors assigned to Naval Special Operations Units and U.S. Naval Special Warfare operators perform a bilateral over the beach training exercise in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines during Balikatan 23, April 26, 2023. US Navy Photo
China’s persistent expansion into the South China Sea is the most concerning security concern for the Philippines as its congress is set to approve an expanded basing deal with the U.S., Manila’s ambassador to Washington said on Thursday.
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BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4402)
MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard will hold maritime exercises with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard near the Chinese-occupied Scarborough Shoal this week. Read More
Pallets holding munitions are transported off an aircraft cargo loader into a Boeing 747 at Travis Air Force Base, California, on April 26, 2022. US Air Force Photo
The United States has “been unmistakably clear” in warning China against providing Russia with lethal weapons in its war with Ukraine, the American ambassador to Beijing said Tuesday. Read More
