China Feels Boxed In by the U.S. but Has Few Ways to Push Back China seeks to project military power in the seas around its coastline, yet also faces pressure to mend relations with neighbors for the good of its economy. President Biden with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan at the White House on Thursday. Yuri Gripas for The New York Times President Biden’s effort to build American security alliances in China’s backyard is likely to reinforce the Chinese leader Xi...

Former President Rodrigo Duterte accused the U.S. of inflaming tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, while criticizing his successor Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of supposedly doing America’s bidding. “The Americans are the ones pushing the Philippine government to go out there and find a quarrel and eventually maybe start a war,” Duterte was quoted as saying in an interview with Communist Party-run Global Times published Friday. “But I do not think that America will die for us.” Read More: Why the U.S. Faces a Delicate Balancing...

RALEIGH, N.C. — After spending a few days in Washington emphasizing global security concerns, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to tour around North Carolina on Friday to spotlight a different interest: his nation’s title as the state’s biggest foreign investor. Kishida, who has been Japan’s prime minister since 2021, is scheduled to visit two Japanese companies and North Carolina State University after arriving Thursday night, according to Gov. Roy Cooper’s office. In between, Kishida plans to have lunch at the governor’s mansion in a historic first for the...

President Biden on Thursday hosted the first-ever summit between the leaders of the U.S., Japan and the Philippines in a major show of solidarity against China’s military aggressiveness in the South China Sea. Mr. Biden began the meeting by reaffirming the U.S.’s commitment to its defense partnership with both countries. “I want to be clear: The United States defense commitments to Japan and the Philippines are ironclad,” he said. “Any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels, or armed forces in the South China Sea would invoke our mutual defense treaty.” A...

The USS Mobile is the light-colored ship at the top of the photo. The San Diego-based warship USS Mobile sailed in formation with vessels from three allied nations Sunday in a show of force meant to dissuade China from harassing Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy said. Mobile, a high-speed littoral combat ship, was joined by vessels from the Philippines, Australia and Japan. They conduct joint patrols in the region to help keep international sea lanes open. In March, Chinese Coast Guard ships fired water cannons...

Government says might also consider expelling ambassador as tensions spike over disputed waters. The Philippines has said it summoned China’s ambassador and was considering the possibility of expulsion after two confrontations with Chinese ships over the weekend in the disputed South China Sea. Manila said its vessels were hit by Chinese water cannon on Saturday as they tried to send supplies to Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal, which was seized by Beijing in 2012 after a months-long stand-off. On Sunday, meanwhile, ships trying to resupply sailors on board the grounded...

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - One large earthquake followed by a series of three others rattled the Philippines, officials said Sunday. According to USGS a 6.9 quake struck at 9:49 a.m. followed by a 4.8 quake at 10:10 a.m., 5.0 quake at 10:18 a.m., and a 5.4 quake at 10:30 a.m. The initial quake was measured at a depth of 18.9 miles, with the following quakes measured at a depth of 32.2 miles, 37.4 miles, and 26.7 miles. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a Pacific-wide tsunami, not expected, and there is...

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Philippines early Monday, the United States Geological Survey said, the latest in a slew of strong quakes concentrated in the same area.

Monday's earthquake hit just before 4:00 am local time, (2000 GMT Sunday), at a depth of 30 kilometres (18 miles), some 72 kilometres northeast of Hinatuan municipality on Mindanao island.

Two people were killed in a magnitude 7.6 earthquake in the area on Saturday, with multiple aftershocks including a 6.6 quake striking in the days since.