America owes the Philippines more than empty praise

OpinionElbridge Colby touts alliance, but path from promise to payoff is fraughtRichard HeydarianSeptember 4, 2026 17:05 JSTU.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby attends a forum in Manila on Aug. 10. © ReutersRichard Heydarian is an Asia-based geopolitics expert and author of "The Indo-Pacific: Trump, China and the New Struggle for Global Mastery."Read NextOpinionSara Duterte's trial puts Philippine democracy in the dockOpinionJapan and Philippines Trump-proof efforts to check China's ambitionsOpinionUS allies in Asia forge a new web of defense partnershipsCrimeICC upholds its jurisdiction over ex-Philippine President DuterteOpinionIran's Vietnam momentOpinionRule-ignoring Trump puts Philippines and Taiwan in more vulnerable bindsLatest on OpinionOpinionWhat will war loo