A Philippine official says Washington officials in Manila for talks will announce $500 million in funding to boost Philippine defenses and progress in a proposed military pact.

A Philippine official said Washington officials in Manila for talks will announce $500 million in funding to boost Philippine defenses and progress in a proposed military pact. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were holding talks with their Filipino counterparts Tuesday as well as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told U.S. cabinet secretaries Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin on Tuesday that regular engagements between Manila and Washington were needed to ensure "agile" responses to his country's maritime tensions with China.

MANILA: Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told US cabinet secretaries Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin on Tuesday (July 30) that regular engagements between Manila and Washington were needed to ensure "agile" responses to his country's maritime tensions with China.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday told top United States officials that the Philippines' regular communications with the US powers the country's "agile" response to incidents in the West Philippine Sea.

Before reaching China, the typhoon intensified monsoon rains in the Philippines, leaving at least 34 dead, and swept across the island of Taiwan, where the death toll has risen to 10.

Mudslide kills 12 as heavy rains from typhoon Gaemi lash China - Gaemi caused 34 deaths in Philippines and 10 in Taiwan before making landfall in China on Thursday and weakening to a tropical storm