Page 4 - Philippines

Philippines eyes India, Thailand rice to reduce reliance on Vietnam

The agriculture department is in talks with private importers on purchases from producers like India, Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar

Indians can enter Philippines visa-free for 14 days: All you need to know

As of May 2025, Indian citizens can enter the Philippines without a visa under two categories, depending on their eligibility.

Philippines to now allow visa-free entry to Indians: All you need to know

The 14-day visa-free entry may be extended by an additional seven days for a maximum of 21 days stay, the embassy said

Philippines launches digital nomad visa, joins likes of Thailand, Indonesia

The programme places the Philippines among a growing list of countries offering visas for remote workers

Japan PM to discuss Chinese aggression, US tariffs during Philippines visit

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is travelling to the Philippines on Tuesday seeking to further boost an alliance in the face of China's growing assertiveness in the region. Ishiba will meet Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila on Tuesday at the start of his two-day visit. Their talks are expected to focus on China's aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea, a reaffirmation of their commitment to a three-way alliance with the United States, and the barrage of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, officials said. Japanese and Philippine officials are expected to start negotiations this year on two defense pacts, including a proposed defense logistical agreement that would allow the provision of food, fuel and other necessities when Japanese forces visit the Philippines for joint training under a major defence accord that was signed last year and is expected to be ratified by the Japanese legislature. Another proposed agreement involv

US deploys anti-ship missiles in Philippines, holds live-fire drills

The US military has deployed an anti-ship missile launcher for the first time on Batan Island in the Philippines, as Marines unloaded the high-precision weapon on the northern tip of the archipelago, just a sea border away from Taiwan. US and Philippine forces separately unleashed a barrage of missile and artillery fire that shot down several drones acting as hostile aircraft in live-fire drills on Sunday in Zambales province facing the disputed South China Sea. The mock battle scenarios over the weekend in the annual Balikatan exercises between the US and its oldest treaty ally in Asia, the Philippines, not only simulated real-life war. They were also staged near major geopolitical hotspots, which have become delicate frontlines in the regional rivalry between China and the US under former President Joe Biden and now Donald Trump. About 9,000 American and 5,000 Filipino military personnel took part in the combat maneuvers. At least 260 Australian personnel also joined, with smalle

Philippines to receive second batch of BrahMos missiles from India

BrahMos, which has a range of 290 km (180 miles) and can be fired from land, sea and submarine, is part of the Philippine military's modernisation programme

Stronger deterrence needed against China in disputed sea: US defence chief

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the Trump administration would boost military ties with the Philippines to strengthen deterrence against threats from the communist Chinese and ensure freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea. Hegseth spoke during a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Philippines, his first stop in his first trip to Asia to reaffirm Washington's ironclad commitment to the region under Trump. Ahead of the visit, China called the United States a predator and an unreliable ally. Trump's America First foreign policy thrust has triggered concerns in Asia about the scale and depth of US commitment to the region. Hegseth's decision to make the Philippines his first stop in Asia, followed by Japan both US treaty allies facing territorial disputes with China was the strongest assurance yet by the US under Trump to maintain a security presence in the region. Deterrence is necessary around the world but specifically in this regio

BrahMos deal a 'key' step in ties with India: Philippines' foreign secy

Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo described the deal between India and the Philippines for shore-based, anti-ship BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles as an important step in strengthening defence ties between the two nations.Speaking about the agreement, Manalo highlighted its significance for future cooperation in various defence areas."It was a major significant development in our defence relations and that will open the door for further collaboration not only in terms of military equipment but military cooperation, training, exchanging of officers and operational facilities...," he said.Meanwhile, on Monday, the Philippines Foreign Secretary interacted with members of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), where he highlighted the growing engagement between the two nations in strategic sectors. FICCI President Harsha Vardhan Agarwal said, "While we continue to be engaged through trade and investment, I'm happy to see that engagement is ...

Chinese threat: Philippines wants India to join security grouping 'Squad'

Although still in the making - among the island country, the United States, Japan and Australia -the Squad seeks to counter China's power assertions in the South China Sea region

PM Modi to begin Raisina Dialogue today; New Zealand PM to be chief guest

Nearly 3,700 attendees and over 800 speakers and delegates from around 130 countries worldwide will attend the Raisina Dialogue

Duterte refused fingerprinting, threatened lawsuits during arrest: Police

Ex-Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened a police general with lawsuits, refused to be fingerprinted and told law enforcers "you have to kill me to bring me to The Hague in a tense confrontation after his arrest in Manila that was ordered by the International Criminal Court, a Philippine police general said on Thursday. Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre provided details for the first time of Tuesday's 12-hour standoff at a Philippine air base before he and other police officers managed to bring the 79-year-old former leader onto a government-chartered jet that took him to The Hague, Netherlands, where he was detained by the global court on charges of crimes against humanity. ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah said on Thursday in a text message to reporters that Duterte had arrived at the court's detention centre near the Dutch North Sea coast after undergoing medical checks. The court announced late on Thursday that Duterte is scheduled to make his first appearance before ICC ...

What is ICC, which had former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrested

The International Criminal Court where detained former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will face justice after his arrest in the Philippines is a court of last resort for the most serious international offences, such as genocide and crimes against humanity. The 79-year-old former president has become the first former Asian leader to be arrested by the global court. Duterte arrived on Wednesday in the Netherlands after his arrest the previous morning on an ICC warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity over deadly anti-drug crackdowns he oversaw while in office. Supporters of Duterte argue that the court does not have jurisdiction to put the former president on trial, in part because Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the court in 2019. But judges who issued his arrest warrant say that the alleged crimes he is charged with happened before that withdrawal, meaning the court has jurisdiction. What is the International Criminal Court? The ICC handles allegations of war ...

Ex-Philippines President Duterte in ICC custody for crimes against humanity

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was turned over Wednesday to the custody of the International Criminal Court, following his arrest on a warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity over deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he oversaw while in office. The court said in a statement that as a precautionary measure" medical assistance was made available at the airport for Duterte, in line with standard procedures when a suspect arrives. The 79-year-old former president arrived at Rotterdam The Hague Airport earlier Wednesday on a flight from Manila following his arrest there on an ICC warrant on Tuesday, as announced by current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Rights groups and families of victims hailed Duterte's arrest. Within days, he will face an initial appearance where the court will confirm his identity, check that he understands the charges against him and set a date for a hearing to assess if prosecutors have sufficient evidence to send him to a full trial. If his

Former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte arrested in drug war case

Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign during his 2016-2022 presidency killed more than 6,000 people

Philippines to probe donations from Chinese nationals accused of espionage

Tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated particularly over maritime disputes in the South China Sea

Japan, Philippines to boost ties due to mutual alarm over China aggression

Japan and the Philippines agreed on Monday to further deepen their defense collaboration and talk about protecting shared military information in the face of mutual alarm over China's increasing aggressive actions in the region. Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, forged the agreements in a meeting in Manila where their concern over China's actions in the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea was high in the agenda. Japan and the Philippines are treaty allies of the United States, and the three have been among the most vocal critics of China's assertive actions in the region, including in the contested waters. At the opening of his meeting with Nakatani, Teodoro said the Philippines was looking forward to boosting defense relations with Japan against unilateral attempts by China and other countries to change the international order and the narrative". Nakatani said after the meeting that he agreed with Teodoro to strengthen

Chinese naval chopper flies within 10 ft of Filipino plane despite warning

A Chinese navy helicopter flew within 10 feet (3 metres) of a Philippine patrol plane on Tuesday in a disputed area of the the South China Sea, as the Filipino pilot warned by radio: You are flying too close, you are very dangerous." The helicopter was attempting to force a Cessna Caravan turbo-prop plane belonging to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources out of what China claims is its airspace over the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines. An Associated Press journalist and other invited foreign media representatives on the plane witnessed the tense 30-minute standoff as the Philippine plane pressed on with its low-altitude patrol around Scarborough with the Chinese navy helicopter hovering close above it or flying to its left in cloudy weather. You are flying too close, you are very dangerous and endangering the lives of our crew and passengers, the Philippine pilot told the Chinese navy helicopter by radio at one point. Keep away a

Govt expects $200 million worth missile deal with Philippines this year

The Akash missile system developed by India's defence research body has drawn interest from the Philippines

US, Philippine jets jointly patrol disputed shoal region guarded by China

US and Philippine fighter aircraft staged a joint patrol and training Tuesday over a disputed South China Sea shoal where Chinese fighter jets fired flares last year to drive away a Philippine aircraft, Philippine officials said. The joint patrol and air-intercept drills over the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines were the first by the longtime treaty allies since US President Donald Trump took office again. Trump's America First foreign policy thrust has sparked concerns among Washington's allies in Asia about the scale and depth of US commitment to the region in his new term. His predecessor, Joe Biden, had moved to strengthen an arc of security alliances in the region to counter China's increasingly assertive actions. Two US Air Force B-1 bomber aircraft and three Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jets joined the brief patrol and training, which involved practising how to intercept a hostile aircraft, Philippine air force spokesperson Maria Consuel