Hegseth, who was visiting the Philippines, blamed the previous Biden administration for insufficient actions that emboldened aggressors like China over the years. He said the U.S. military was being rebuilt under President Donald Trump and was re-establishing its “warrior ethos” in the region, but did not elaborate.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad" commitment to a defence treaty with the Philippines on Friday and pledged to deploy advanced capabilities to its partner to strengthen a deterrence against threats,

The United States reaffirmed its "ironclad commitment" to its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines during the landmark visit of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Manila on Friday.

Tens of thousands of supporters of arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte flooded the streets of Davao City on his 80th birthday on Friday, calling for his return to the Philippines from International Criminal Court custody.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is marking his 80th birthday in detention in the Netherlands after the International Criminal Court ordered his arrest

MANILA, Philippines - Family and supporters of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte will rally Friday to mark his 80th birthday and protest his detention in The Hague on a charge of crimes against humanity.