Sweden is eyeing a permanent defence attaché in the Philippines to secure trade lanes against a ‘changed China’ in the Indo-Pacific.

Chinese coast guard ships have used powerful water cannons and rammed a Philippine government vessel near Thitu Island in the South China Sea.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, late Saturday on the sidelines of a regional security meeting.

Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Sunday slammed the recent claim of an official of China’s Defense Ministry that the Philippines is “blackmailing” the Chinese government amid the dispute over the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines accused Chinese maritime forces of using water cannon and ramming a Filipino vessel near the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, calling the actions a "clear threat" that escalates tensions in contested South China Sea waters.

General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the deployment of the Typhon missile system is part of efforts to boost the Philippines' defenses.

American and Philippine defense secretaries unveiled a task force designed to deter Chinese coercion in the South China Sea and enhance alliance defense cooperation. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro announced “Task Force Philippines” on Friday at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Defense Ministers Meeting Plus in Kuala Lumpur,

The Philippine eVisa operations has officially resumed in China with a soft launch on Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. The Philippine Embassy in Beijing and the rest of the foreign service posts in China will begin the full implementation on Nov.