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DFA: Philippines-US alliance ‘rock...
said that the “expansion of the EDCA will make our alliance stronger and more resilient and will accelerate the modernization of our combined military capabilities.”
Meanwhile, China said that U.S. actions “escalate regional tension and undermine regional peace and stability.”
The Philippines and China have an ongoing maritime row in the West Philippine Sea.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that the Philippines has rights on the West Philippine Sea, invalidating China’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea.
Despite the ruling, Filipino fishers continue to experience aggression and harassment by China.
Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 detected...
not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant,” it added. XBB.1.5 is still reported under XBB by the WHO and will remain classified under Omicron until there is enough evidence showing its virus characteristics are significantly different.
Philippine health authorities also detected 454 cases of Omicron subvariant BA.2.3.20, 79 cases of XBC, 28 cases of BA.5, and seven cases of BA.2.75. One hundred sixty samples were classified as other Omicron sublineages.
