Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said he’s open to a presidential run in 2028, potentially pitting the China hawk against current Vice President Sara Duterte.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US is seeking a framework for defense cooperation with Southeast Asia as Washington seeks to bolster partners as a counterweight to Beijing.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte is facing increasing risk of being removed from office and barred from a presidential run in 2028 after the Senate lowered the bar for a guilty verdict in her impeachment trial.

The European Union and the Philippines agreed on a free trade deal, moving to diversify supply chains against the backdrop of higher US tariffs and global trade tensions.

Some US investors have raised questions about the prospects of a planned AI hub in the Philippines amid brewing opposition to the Washington-backed project, according to an official from the Southeast Asian nation.

China and the Philippines traded accusations after their vessels collided in the South China Sea on Friday in one of the closest such confrontations to the Philippine mainland.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made his first public appearance in more than a year on Wednesday at the International Criminal Court, where he’s awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

For decades, China’s maritime pressure on Taiwan centered on the major shipping strait separating the two neighbors. Now, Beijing is piling unprecedented pressure on its Pacific coast — a vital lifeline with US allies.

President Donald Trump’s defense and trade policies are prompting the Philippines to look beyond its longstanding alliance with the US and build ties with non-traditional partners, Manila’s top diplomat said.

The Philippine central bank signaled it’s ready to deliver more tightening after its third successive interest-rate hike, flagging more upside risks to the fastest inflation in Southeast Asia. The peso and stocks declined.

The Philippines won’t allow the US to launch attacks from its soil in case the conflict over Taiwan escalates, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday.

The Philippine central bank has limited room to increase its policy rate further after the country’s economic slump deepened in the second quarter, according to economists.

The Philippines wants to impose higher taxes on products that cause health problems, including soft drinks, e-cigarettes and alcohol, to more than offset losses from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s pro-consumer measures.

Hong Kong’s economic growth slowed more than forecast last quarter, even as a global rush to invest in artificial intelligence turbocharges the city’s exports.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. laid down his economic priorities in his annual address to Congress Monday, focusing on Filipino consumers battered by high prices due to the Iran War.

Top diplomats from China and the Philippines are set to meet this week for the first time in two years, as their rift widens from the South China Sea to include Japan and Taiwan.

China’s National Meteorological Center said Typhoon Bavi weakened to a severe tropical storm on Sunday morning after making landfall in Zhejiang.

China’s services activity eased less than expected in June, a private survey showed, adding to signs that the country’s economic momentum is picking up.

Just weeks after assuming office in 2022, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. paid a courtesy call to the leader of a religious group who helped him secure a landslide election win. Now, the same group has mounted one of the most sustained protests yet against his administration.

China’s factory and non-manufacturing activity fared better than expected in June, pointing to a rebound in economic momentum that may be coming too late to avoid a slowdown this quarter.