https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/503023/feed News and analysis on China-Philippines relations, which have grown closer since President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot away from the US towards Beijing. Duterte has met with President Xi Jinping several times and sought to boost Chinese infrastructure investments and trade but overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea remain a potential flashpoint. There is also growing concern in the Philippines about the influx of Chinese workers, mostly working in the online gambling sector. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Richard Heydarian Richard Heydarian China and the Philippines recently traded accusations over the medical evacuation of a Philippine serviceman from a grounded naval vessel in the hotly disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The incident has sparked renewed worries about potential armed skirmishes in a global artery of trade. But Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr was also quick to emphasise the economic dimensions of a major conflict. After a decade of rapid economic growth, the Philippines is facing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370775/philippines-china-free-manufacturing-strategy-high-risk-bet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370775/philippines-china-free-manufacturing-strategy-high-risk-bet?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Manila has called for diplomatic restraint in response to suggestions from the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines that Beijing could “easily win” a military showdown in the region but had instead chosen peace. The war of words comes amid rising tension over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Beijing has repeatedly driven away Philippine aircraft over the shoal in recent months, while accusing Manila of violating Chinese airspace. Ambassador Jing Quan made his comment on Thursday as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371121/envoy-says-china-could-easily-win-conflict-manila-claims-it-thinly-veiled-threat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371121/envoy-says-china-could-easily-win-conflict-manila-claims-it-thinly-veiled-threat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:58:59 +0000 Alan Robles,Raissa Robles Alan Robles,Raissa Robles Philippine officials want a new anti-foreign interference law ahead of the 2028 presidential election, as a raid on a suspected online scam centre near the country’s military headquarters and reports of Chinese-linked money transfers to a company tied to Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s family fuel national security concerns. On Monday, immigration and military operatives arrested 76 foreigners at a facility in Quezon City suspected of being linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370898/philippine-law-targeting-foreign-agents-spurs-fears-free-speech-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370898/philippine-law-targeting-foreign-agents-spurs-fears-free-speech-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The Philippine military has rejected calls to restore direct communication channels with its Chinese counterpart, despite warnings from Beijing that their absence risks “miscalculation” during confrontations and could further escalate tensions in the South China Sea. On Tuesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it would not communicate with its Chinese counterpart in advance of its maritime operations, arguing that such channels were ineffective without mutual respect for international... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370778/philippines-rejects-chinas-calls-direct-contact-amid-miscalculation-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370778/philippines-rejects-chinas-calls-direct-contact-amid-miscalculation-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 14:35:57 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao China and the Philippines have traded accusations over a medical evacuation near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, with Manila also reporting a near-doubling of Chinese military and coastguard vessels around contested South China Sea features in September. The latest exchange centred on the evacuation on Thursday of an injured Philippine serviceman from the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine naval vessel grounded on the shoal decades ago. Known as Renai Jiao in China and Ayungin Shoal in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370306/china-and-philippines-blame-each-other-over-south-china-sea-medical-mission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370306/china-and-philippines-blame-each-other-over-south-china-sea-medical-mission?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 08:00:06 +0000 Lucio Blanco Pitlo III Lucio Blanco Pitlo III Educational and cultural exchanges have become a new casualty of rising tensions between the Philippines and China. About 150 Chinese teachers have left the Philippines months after Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr renewed warnings that such people-to-people ties could pose security concerns. Families of volunteer instructors have expressed safety concerns. Beyond disrupting classes and potentially harming tourism in the Philippines, this could further narrow interaction between the two... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3369991/national-security-must-not-kill-philippines-china-academic-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3369991/national-security-must-not-kill-philippines-china-academic-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez The Philippine Coast Guard will receive three longer-range aircraft from the US, two of them modified for improved surveillance, giving Manila greater reach and endurance to monitor Chinese coastguard, naval and research vessels across the South China Sea. Under a US$39.6 million contract awarded by the United States Navy on September 28, the three second-hand, extended-range King Air 350-series aircraft will be fitted with extended-range fuel systems, upgraded Garmin avionics and high-frequency... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370027/how-will-new-longer-range-aircraft-boost-manilas-south-china-sea-surveillance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370027/how-will-new-longer-range-aircraft-boost-manilas-south-china-sea-surveillance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Around 150 Chinese language teachers in the Philippines are returning home following mounting criticism from Philippine security officials that educational exchanges involving China could pose national security threats. The withdrawal affects teachers stationed at schools including the Immaculate Conception Academy in Greenhills and Jubilee Christian Academy in Quezon City, both in Metro Manila, according to local media. The Manila-based Chinese Commercial News reported on Friday that the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369601/chinese-language-teachers-leave-philippines-over-safety-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369601/chinese-language-teachers-leave-philippines-over-safety-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:16:21 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Thitu Island and its residents have come under the spotlight after the Philippines, in a bid to reinforce its claims in the South China Sea, announced plans to file an updated maritime chart with the United Nations. Observers say the filing would not establish Philippine sovereignty but could help Manila identify and challenge competing claims in more precise legal terms. More than just a technical document, the updated map is a means for the government to formally document its presence and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369510/what-does-philippines-seek-new-thitu-map-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369510/what-does-philippines-seek-new-thitu-map-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 03:43:38 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Fan Chen Alyssa Chen,Fan Chen China and the Philippines have launched a war of words after their coastguards challenged each other in the waters off the Batanes Islands, an area that has become the latest maritime flashpoint as Beijing ramps up pressure against Manila-Tokyo delimitation efforts. The Philippine coastguard said on Thursday it had sent one of its biggest vessels and an aircraft to “disrupt and drive away” a Chinese research ship – the Jia Hai Ke 7 – which has been operating in the waters off the islands over... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369334/chinese-research-ship-near-batanes-sparks-undersea-cable-concerns-manila?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369334/chinese-research-ship-near-batanes-sparks-undersea-cable-concerns-manila?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:00:15 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The Chinese and US embassies in the Philippines have exchanged sharp accusations following Washington’s defence of its treaty ally after a stand-off in the South China Sea last week. In a statement issued on Sunday, the US embassy in Manila backed the Philippines and said Beijing’s “dangerous blocking and irresponsible manoeuvres” had threatened a collision and prevented a lawful resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal, one of the flashpoints in the South China Sea disputes. The statement called... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369033/second-thomas-shoal-stand-sparks-sharp-exchange-between-us-china-embassies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369033/second-thomas-shoal-stand-sparks-sharp-exchange-between-us-china-embassies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:06 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez,Lawrence Chung Gabriel Dominguez,Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s transfer of a former coastguard vessel to the Philippines has triggered a dual controversy – raising concerns over the interests of Taiwanese fishermen and prompting strong criticism from Beijing. The matter centres on a 61-metre (200-foot) retired cutter handed over to the Philippine Coast Guard through a non-governmental organisation on Monday, as Taipei and Manila expand practical maritime cooperation despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368788/why-taiwans-coastguard-vessel-transfer-philippines-has-sparked-double-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368788/why-taiwans-coastguard-vessel-transfer-philippines-has-sparked-double-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 05:00:12 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Inside a car wash lounge in the southern Philippine city of Davao, Shenilane Formento scrolls through messages on her Chinese-made Oppo phone as she waits for a customer to pay. Formento, 29, has worked as a cashier for about a year. She follows developments in the South China Sea through news reports shared on her social media feeds, including frequent confrontations between Philippine and Chinese forces in the disputed waters. While she found such incidents “disappointing”, she ultimately... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368528/why-younger-filipinos-are-warming-china-despite-maritime-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368528/why-younger-filipinos-are-warming-china-despite-maritime-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:15:30 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Brunei’s measured defence ties with Beijing reflect its low-key approach to South China Sea disputes, with analysts saying that goals such as peacekeeping offer the safest room for both sides to maintain diplomacy. A meeting between Bruneian and Chinese defence officials in Beijing last week, when both nations pledged closer practical cooperation and support for regional stability, underscored that tact. But observers also expect ties to remain modest, constrained by maritime claims and Bandar... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368497/why-brunei-prefers-quiet-diplomacy-over-confrontation-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368497/why-brunei-prefers-quiet-diplomacy-over-confrontation-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:00:29 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China and the Philippines exchanged blame over a clash on Friday in disputed waters in the South China Sea, further fuelling tensions over the strategic waterway that has become a dangerous regional flashpoint. In a brief statement released on Friday afternoon, China’s coastguard accused a Philippine vessel of deliberately ramming a Chinese patrol vessel near the contested Sabina Shoal. “Philippine vessel No 3015 intentionally adjusted its course and suddenly accelerated to cut across the bow of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368023/collision-near-sabina-shoal-sparks-fresh-escalation-between-china-and-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368023/collision-near-sabina-shoal-sparks-fresh-escalation-between-china-and-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:30:05 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr has won a burst of online support among Filipinos who see him as one of Manila’s most outspoken senior officials against China, with some already asking whether it could give him enough political momentum to carry him into the 2028 elections. His latest boost came after a viral moment at the Seoul Defence Dialogue on September 8, where he read out a handwritten note reiterating Beijing’s rejection of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367820/teodoro-president-philippine-defence-chief-draws-2028-election-buzz-after-china-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367820/teodoro-president-philippine-defence-chief-draws-2028-election-buzz-after-china-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 07:18:33 +0000 Amber Wang,Albee Zhang Amber Wang,Albee Zhang China should strengthen its maritime militia to be an extra force to collect information and maintain a regular presence in the South China Sea, where it is coming into frequent conflict with the Philippines. That was the suggestion Wu Shicun, the founding president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies, made on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, an annual defence gathering in the capital attended by security officials and researchers from nearly 100... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367678/should-china-use-its-maritime-militia-backup-force-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367678/should-china-use-its-maritime-militia-backup-force-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 07:00:08 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is set to be the first Philippine leader to join the Brics Summit in New Delhi this weekend – presenting him with the perfect “low-risk opportunity” to engage the grouping as Manila continues to diversify its ties, analysts say. “The president seeks to ensure that our modern partnerships remain open, resilient and capable of delivering prosperity to our people,” Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Analyn Ratonel said in a press briefing on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367226/why-marcos-brics-trip-low-risk-opportunity-philippines-make-new-friends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367226/why-marcos-brics-trip-low-risk-opportunity-philippines-make-new-friends?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:30:06 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China has accused Philippine officials of “grandstanding and lying” after Manila’s defence secretary publicly read aloud a Chinese diplomat’s note on the South China Sea that the Philippine minister described as “coercion, bullying and aggression”. “We urge certain people in the Philippines to stop this grandstanding and lying, and to protect China-Philippine relations and the peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. Mao was responding to a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366935/beijing-tells-manila-stop-lying-after-minister-exposes-south-china-sea-note?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366935/beijing-tells-manila-stop-lying-after-minister-exposes-south-china-sea-note?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:31:04 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China sent armed trainer jets to drive away Philippine light aircraft over the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday, in a potentially more cost-effective tactic for its increasingly frequent air confrontations over the South China Sea. At least three JL-10 trainers carrying PL-5 air-to-air missiles were involved in the incident over the shoal, according to a video clip posted to social media by the People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command. The footage showed the Chinese jet’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366364/chinese-armed-trainer-jets-drive-away-philippine-aircraft-over-scarborough-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366364/chinese-armed-trainer-jets-drive-away-philippine-aircraft-over-scarborough-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Beijing said it conducted a routine patrol in waters east of Taiwan on Thursday, the latest in weeks of ramped-up activity by coastguard and other vessels that has alarmed the island. China Coast Guard spokesman Jiang Lue said a formation led by the Putuoshan vessel carried out a “law enforcement” patrol “in accordance with the law”. He said the formation had strengthened control over the waters since last month, safeguarding the rights and interests of Chinese citizens. “The China Coast Guard... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366189/beijing-sends-coastguard-conduct-law-enforcement-patrol-near-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366189/beijing-sends-coastguard-conduct-law-enforcement-patrol-near-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Sep 2026 05:03:54 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong companies should accelerate their expansion into the Middle East, the Asean bloc and Central Asia to reduce their exposure to geopolitical risks, a lawmaker has said, as the US moved to disrupt immigrant-visa appointments worldwide. Jonathan Lamport, the representative for the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) in the Legislative Council, said the visa uncertainty reinforced the need for companies to broaden their overseas presence beyond traditional Western markets. “The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365365/hong-kong-lawmaker-urges-firms-expand-middle-east-asean-amid-us-visa-pause?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365365/hong-kong-lawmaker-urges-firms-expand-middle-east-asean-amid-us-visa-pause?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:12:22 +0000 Reuters Reuters The Philippines plans to expand its unmanned ⁠capabilities, including through development ⁠and acquisition of drones as part ⁠of efforts to modernise its military, its defence chief said on Tuesday. US defence ally the Philippines also planned to acquire additional guided-missile corvettes and other major defence assets to strengthen its external defence capabilities, Defence Secretary Gilberto ‌Teodoro told a budget hearing in the lower house of Congress. The Philippines has shifted its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3365188/philippines-expand-military-drone-fleet-south-china-sea-tensions-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3365188/philippines-expand-military-drone-fleet-south-china-sea-tensions-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:24:23 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez,Albee Zhang Gabriel Dominguez,Albee Zhang Mainland Chinese government vessel sightings around Taiwan have reached record levels for a third straight month, as Beijing expands its law enforcement footprint east of the island following the announcement in late May of Tokyo-Manila maritime boundary talks over the area. Taiwan’s defence ministry said that in the first 24 days of August it detected mainland coastguard, survey and other official vessels a total of 118 times, surpassing the 117 reported in July and 111 in June. Those numbers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365081/mainland-chinas-ship-activity-near-taiwan-hits-record-third-month-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365081/mainland-chinas-ship-activity-near-taiwan-hits-record-third-month-row?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has approved the construction of a marine environmental observation station to monitor an area that includes the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a persistent flashpoint in tensions with the Philippines in the South China Sea. The Zhongsha Islands Marine Ecological and Environmental Field Observation and Research Station, proposed by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was given the green light on July 31, the SCSIO announced on Tuesday. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364581/china-build-environmental-monitoring-station-near-disputed-scarborough-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364581/china-build-environmental-monitoring-station-near-disputed-scarborough-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:19:14 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Tensions between Beijing and Manila appear to have spilled over from the South China Sea to immigration, just as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr indicated he wanted to “reset” ties. Manila on Sunday dismissed Beijing’s criticism of Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr over his role in the arrests of Chinese workers at a steel plant in Misamis Oriental in May. A Chinese embassy official in Manila late on Saturday accused Teodoro of carrying out “anti-China activities” to “disrupt”... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364178/beijing-and-manila-clash-over-arrests-illegal-workers-tensions-worsen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364178/beijing-and-manila-clash-over-arrests-illegal-workers-tensions-worsen?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Aug 2026 08:00:12 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on Friday said talks with China on joint oil and gas exploration had “moved forward” – signalling hopes of a deal before he leaves office in mid-2028, despite ongoing tensions in the South China Sea. Marcos also confirmed for the first time a “provisional understanding” with Beijing over resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal, although he insisted this did not mean Manila was seeking China’s permission or surrendering... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3364098/philippines-marcos-says-china-oil-talks-have-moved-forward-despite-south-china-sea-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3364098/philippines-marcos-says-china-oil-talks-have-moved-forward-despite-south-china-sea-row?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:16:38 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines is seeking to move its South China Sea row with Beijing into classrooms, a push that analysts say could shape how young Filipinos understand the country’s maritime claims while raising questions over potentially blurred lines between education and state narrative-building. Congressmen in the House of Representatives introduced legislation on Thursday requiring the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to develop standardised teaching materials on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3363307/philippines-south-china-sea-education-push-blurs-teaching-truth-lines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3363307/philippines-south-china-sea-education-push-blurs-teaching-truth-lines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:28:38 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou The Philippine National Police and their counterparts in a coastal Chinese province have agreed to deepen intelligence sharing and crack down on international crimes, in a rare display of cooperation between the nations as they clash in the South China Sea. Police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jnr hosted Wang Xizhang, the executive director general of Fujian’s Public Security Department, on Tuesday, according to the official Philippine News Agency. The two sides emphasised the importance of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363272/despite-south-china-sea-clashes-chinese-and-filipino-police-boost-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363272/despite-south-china-sea-clashes-chinese-and-filipino-police-boost-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:06:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China honoured two coastguard personnel who died in a vessel collision in the South China Sea last year, state media reported on Thursday, marking the first official confirmation that the incident resulted in fatalities. The People’s Armed Police (PAP) on Thursday announced the latest recipients of its “Loyal Guards of the Chinese People’s Armed Police” honour. Among the four posthumous awardees were Yi Xinyu and Cheng Long, two China Coast Guard officers. They died during a “maritime rights... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363212/china-confirms-2-deaths-scarborough-shoal-crash-during-philippine-ship-chase?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363212/china-confirms-2-deaths-scarborough-shoal-crash-during-philippine-ship-chase?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:18:12 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles A Philippine Navy personnel who previously served aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, one of Manila’s most sensitive military outposts in the South China Sea, is under investigation over alleged illegal drug use, sources have told This Week in Asia. The 34-year-old sailor was also involved in resupply missions to and from the grounded warship, which has long served as an Armed Forces of the Philippines outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal, which Manila calls the Ayungin Shoal. One source who tipped off... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3363165/philippine-sailor-south-china-sea-outpost-under-investigation-drug-use?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3363165/philippine-sailor-south-china-sea-outpost-under-investigation-drug-use?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:40:47 +0000 Holly Chik,Carol Yang,Liu Zhen Holly Chik,Carol Yang,Liu Zhen The Chinese military held joint naval and air drills near Scarborough Shoal, a disputed reef in the South China Sea, on Saturday. The training exercise came after Beijing hit out at the Philippines for an “illegal” attempt to extend its seabed rights off the coast of Palawan and map out its claims to the reef. “This is a necessary action taken in light of the current situation in the South China Sea and in response to the acts of certain countries within the region that have undermined regional... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362628/pla-stages-south-china-sea-drills-days-after-illegal-philippine-territorial-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362628/pla-stages-south-china-sea-drills-days-after-illegal-philippine-territorial-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Aug 2026 05:11:09 +0000 Sophie Wushuang Yi Sophie Wushuang Yi As the Philippines hosted Southeast Asian foreign ministers in late July, the sea would not stay quiet. On July 20, Chinese and Philippine crews fought beside the BRP Sierra Madre with oars and batons; one Filipino sailor was reportedly injured while each side blamed the other. Days later, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the security forum, Philippine vessels went to the Scarborough Shoal. Manila said Chinese ships used water cannons on Philippine ships,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3362228/reduce-south-china-sea-friction-beijing-and-manila-need-it-writing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3362228/reduce-south-china-sea-friction-beijing-and-manila-need-it-writing?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Aug 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Beijing accused Manila of “flagrantly infringing” on Chinese sovereignty and undermining regional peace after the Philippines formally presented its bid to the United Nations this week for extended seabed rights in the South China Sea. The rebuttal, issued by China’s mission to the UN on Thursday, followed Manila’s presentation before the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Beijing said the filing violated its sovereignty, sovereign rights and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3362407/china-accuses-manila-flagrantly-infringing-sovereignty-un-seabed-claim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3362407/china-accuses-manila-flagrantly-infringing-sovereignty-un-seabed-claim?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:28:06 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Asean’s optimism in concluding a long-awaited code of conduct (COC) for the South China Sea by year’s end is not shared by observers, who point to major differences of opinion between Beijing and the Philippines especially. Analysts say any eventual consensus on a code is likely to be broad and symbolic, noting the importance of keeping dialogue flowing even as “negotiation fatigue” sets in. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China were making “good progress” in negotiations,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3362247/negotiation-fatigue-risks-stalling-south-china-sea-code-conduct-progress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3362247/negotiation-fatigue-risks-stalling-south-china-sea-code-conduct-progress?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels near the fiercely contested Scarborough Shoal continued for the second day on Friday, marking the third such encounter between the rival South China Sea claimants this week. The latest stand-off came as China launched military drills in other parts of the contested waterway, which are expected to run until the end of July. The Chinese coastguard said its actions near Scarborough were “standardised and lawful”. “On July 24, the China Coast Guard... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361723/south-china-sea-beijing-and-manila-trade-blame-second-day-scarborough-shoal-clashes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361723/south-china-sea-beijing-and-manila-trade-blame-second-day-scarborough-shoal-clashes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:24:47 +0000 Liu Zhen,Orange Wang Liu Zhen,Orange Wang Fresh tensions flared near a disputed South China Sea shoal on Thursday, a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned his Philippine counterpart of “bitter consequences” if Manila provoked Beijing with outside backing. China’s coastguard said it drove away two Philippine government vessels near Scarborough Shoal after the ships “ignored repeated Chinese warnings and deliberately entered waters under China’s jurisdiction”. The Chinese coastguard took “necessary measures in accordance with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361523/after-latest-clash-sea-china-warns-philippines-bitter-consequences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361523/after-latest-clash-sea-china-warns-philippines-bitter-consequences?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jul 2026 01:08:04 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Philippine counterpart in Manila on Wednesday, with both sides highlighting the need for “reducing the risk of miscalculation” and maintaining stability in the South China Sea. The meeting on the sidelines of the Asean foreign ministers’ gathering marked the first formal talks between the top diplomats since Maria Theresa Lazaro assumed office in July last year. It also came days after fresh tensions in the disputed waters, with Chinese coastguard and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361490/china-philippines-should-avoid-south-china-sea-miscalculation-top-diplomats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361490/china-philippines-should-avoid-south-china-sea-miscalculation-top-diplomats?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:38:21 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Chinese researchers have called for more coordination among the country’s maritime authorities to counter an American strategy that has put pressure on Beijing across three critical waterways in the first island chain. By synchronising operations across flashpoints in the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, Washington’s “three seas linkage” strategy aims to force Beijing into multi-front operations and strategic overextension, warned Yue Shengsong, an associate professor... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361375/us-mounts-pressure-across-3-maritime-flashpoints-how-should-china-respond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361375/us-mounts-pressure-across-3-maritime-flashpoints-how-should-china-respond?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:00:27 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran New findings on Chinese financing in the Philippines are challenging the assumption that Beijing reduced its funding under President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr because of worsening tensions in the South China Sea. Instead, Chinese capital had continued to support Filipino businesses in recent years, including a US$3.9 billion syndicated loan to telecommunications company Dito Telecommunity in 2023, the largest ever China-backed private-sector loan to the Philippines, AidData, a US-based research... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3361327/chinese-loans-philippines-stay-resilient-despite-maritime-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3361327/chinese-loans-philippines-stay-resilient-despite-maritime-row?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:48:04 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen China has lodged a formal protest with the Philippines, accusing it of initiating an attack on its coastguards following the latest clash between the two sides in the South China Sea. Monday’s clash near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal involved a Chinese coastguard vessel and two Philippine Navy rubber dinghies. The China Coast Guard said the Philippines had “illegally” launched the dinghies from the BRP Sierra Madre – an old warship that was intentionally grounded on the shoal in 1999 – then... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361325/china-lodges-protest-philippines-after-latest-clash-near-second-thomas-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361325/china-lodges-protest-philippines-after-latest-clash-near-second-thomas-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:33:24 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Beijing and Manila have exchanged fresh accusations over a clash in the South China Sea, just as China’s top diplomat is due to attend the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting in the Philippines. On social media late on Monday, the China Coast Guard said that at around 9am that morning as a small Chinese coastguard vessel was patrolling near Second Thomas Shoal, two rubber dinghies were launched “illegally” from the Philippine Navy’s BRP Sierra Madre, a vessel grounded on the shoal by Manila about... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361250/chinese-and-philippine-maritime-forces-clash-second-thomas-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361250/chinese-and-philippine-maritime-forces-clash-second-thomas-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:52:25 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Chinese scholars have drawn fierce pushback from Manila by claiming Beijing should have sovereignty over the Batanes Islands, while analysts said the academic assertions served as a warning shot amid Japanese-Philippine maritime border talks. The archipelago, located between Taiwan and the northernmost tip of the Philippine island of Luzon, was the focus of an academic discussion on June 30 at Jinan University in Guangzhou. At the meeting, scholars from different institutions, including the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360828/does-beijing-own-batanes-why-chinese-scholars-claim-warning-shot-manila?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360828/does-beijing-own-batanes-why-chinese-scholars-claim-warning-shot-manila?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:18:53 +0000 Jianlu Bi Jianlu Bi On July 12, a coalition of 14 nations – the United States, Philippines, Australia, Canada, Britain, Japan, New Zealand, and seven European states including Germany, Italy and the Baltic nations – issued a statement marking the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea ruling at The Hague in 2016. The document recycled familiar arguments, urging compliance with the ruling and framing it as a cornerstone of the rules-based international order. But beneath it lies a fundamental disconnect from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3360419/14-nation-south-china-sea-statement-expansionist-overreach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3360419/14-nation-south-china-sea-statement-expansionist-overreach?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou A decade after Beijing rejected a ruling on its South China Sea claims by an arbitral tribunal in The Hague formed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, rival nations continue to manoeuvre for control. In the third of our series on the anniversary, Laura Zhou looks at why the gap between international law and geopolitical reality on the water has never been wider. On a scorching morning this summer, more than a hundred Chinese tourists stepped ashore on Tree Island in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360496/how-beijings-islands-control-are-reshaping-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360496/how-beijings-islands-control-are-reshaping-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:00:07 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen A decade after the Hague’s South China Sea ruling, Beijing should continue engaging in good-faith diplomacy and explore international mediation, analysts say, arguing that the unenforced decision had failed to curb regional maritime tensions. The assessments came after a weekend of fresh accusations over the 2016 decision by an international tribunal that most of China’s claims to historical and economic rights in the South China Sea were invalid, a ruling that Beijing firmly rejected. On... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360541/how-beijing-proposes-solve-south-china-sea-disputes-10-years-after-hague-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360541/how-beijing-proposes-solve-south-china-sea-disputes-10-years-after-hague-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:11:37 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Beijing has cast US-led military deployments as the “primary threat” to peace in the South China Sea, hitting back at a multinational declaration that marked the 10th anniversary of an arbitral ruling it does not recognise. In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted China’s “historic rights” while condemning “militarising and coercive behaviour” from the US and its allies as the “foremost challenge currently facing the South China Sea”. “It is the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360275/beijing-renews-attacks-landmark-south-china-sea-tribunal-rulings-10th-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360275/beijing-renews-attacks-landmark-south-china-sea-tribunal-rulings-10th-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jul 2026 08:50:41 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles For a man sanctioned by Beijing, barred from visiting China and accused of damaging bilateral ties, Gilberto Teodoro Jnr sounded remarkably composed. Composed, that is, until the conversation turned to the South China Sea – the very subject that landed him in hot water in the first place. In an interview this week, the Philippines’ defence chief said that Manila would keep only limited military communication channels open with Beijing, while ruling out broader engagement unless China changed its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3360153/philippine-defence-chief-says-china-talks-not-possible-anti-spy-laws-loom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3360153/philippine-defence-chief-says-china-talks-not-possible-anti-spy-laws-loom?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jul 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Wu Shicun is the founding president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies and chairman of the Huayang Centre for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance. In this interview he discusses ways Beijing can respond to rival claimants in the disputed waters. SCMP Plus readers get early access to articles in the Open Questions series. With Manila intensifying its “transparency” campaign, how does China view the current situation and what challenges does it face? Manila’s so-called... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360135/south-china-sea-expert-wu-shicun-beijings-red-lines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360135/south-china-sea-expert-wu-shicun-beijings-red-lines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:01:05 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines is preparing to create a military space centre by 2028, a move that could help Manila strengthen surveillance, communications and command across its archipelago and in contested areas of the South China Sea. But analysts said the ambition would be constrained by the technical, financial and personnel hurdles of turning space assets into military capability. Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner Jnr said on Tuesday that the initiative would enhance communications,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3360007/philippines-looks-space-birds-eye-view-south-china-sea-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3360007/philippines-looks-space-birds-eye-view-south-china-sea-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:24 +0000