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China-Philippines relations

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China-Philippines relations
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.
Open Questions series

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

videocam
5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

videocam
18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

videocam
93
Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

videocam
40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

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29
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
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Protesters wearing masks depicting the faces of Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr march during a rally to mark the International Human Rights Day in Manila on December 10. Photo: AFP
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China accuses Philippines of ‘premeditated’ provocations near Sabina Shoal

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New South China Sea clashes erupt as Beijing pushes for better Philippine ties

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South China Sea

Beijing seeks ‘fair and just maritime order’ in South China Sea

Vice-minister Sun Weidong says China rejects 2016 arbitration ruling on disputed waters because it breaches fundamentals in international law.

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A Chinese coastguard vessel (right) fires its water cannon at the Philippine’s BRP Datu Pagbuaya in the South China Sea on October 12. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP
South China Sea

China sends seasoned ‘America hand’ to serve as top envoy to Philippines

New ambassador arrives in Manila as South China Sea tensions flare and the Philippines draws closer to Washington on defence.

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The Philippines

Chinese involvement stalls Manila Bay bridge project due to security fears

Philippines delays US$124 million infrastructure project after a maritime group raised concerns against China Harbour Engineering Company.

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China-Japan relations

China bristles as Japan weighs missile export to Philippines

Japan’s possible sale of Type 03 missiles to Manila comes as Tokyo moves to loosen arms-export rules, raising fresh concerns in China.

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The Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile, the same model Japan plans to deploy on Yonaguni, an island just 110km (68 miles) from Taiwan. Photo: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
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Zhou Bo ponders Japanese PM Takaichi’s recent remarks, lessons from the Ukraine conflict and why China won’t be world’s policeman.

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Video | Ex-Philippine mayor Alice Guo gets life term for human trafficking

The verdict comes at a time when Asean leaders have expressed alarm over rising cybercrimes perpetrated by transnational gangs.

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Opinion | How does China’s modernising navy stack up against the US seventh fleet?

Between what the US can sustain in the region vs what China can concentrate near its shores, the calculation increasingly favours Beijing.

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The Philippines

Opinion | Why China need not fear US-led ‘Squad’ evolving into Asian Nato

Uncertainty surrounds the ‘Squad’, including the US’ ability to support another grouping and Trump’s push for a grand bargain with China.

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Asean

Philippines courts East Timor as new South China Sea ally in Asean

Next year’s Asean chair has shown interest in formalising defence cooperation with the latest member of the 11-nation bloc.

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The Philippines

The Philippines wants Xi to visit. It wants a South China Sea code more

Chinese President Xi Jinping hasn’t set foot in Manila since 2018. His invitation to return comes with conditions attached.

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The Philippines

South China Sea: does new US-Philippine task force mark turning point in ties?

The task force aims to enhance interoperability and crisis responses of American and Filipino troops, particularly in the disputed sea.

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US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth (right) with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro at the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. Hegseth has said Task Force Philippines is another step in the allies’ cooperation. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Filipinos rally behind coastguard amid sea tensions, US alliance debate

A poll revealed high ratings for the force despite pro-Duterte lawmakers disparaging it over growing Manila-Washington defence ties.

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A Chinese coastguard ship (right) fires a water cannon at a Philippine vessel near the Manila-occupied Thitu Island in the South China Sea on October 12. Photo: Philippine coastguard/AP
South China Sea

South China Sea: what does Europe see in the Philippines?

Sweden is eyeing a permanent defence attaché in the Philippines to secure trade lanes against a ‘changed China’ in the Indo-Pacific.

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The Philippines

Canada, Philippines take ‘next step’ with joint forces pact amid China concerns

The deal is mutually beneficial to both countries, particularly as Canada moves out from under the US’ shadow in the region, analysts say.

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The Philippines

Philippine military fires back as Duterte’s son takes potshot at US ties

Paolo Duterte’s claims of the military ‘showing off for America’ are aimed at undermining the current administration, analysts say.

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Paolo Duterte, son of former Philippine president Rodrigo, represents Davao City, the hometown of the Duterte clan. Photo: Reuters
The Philippines

Why the US is eyeing Philippines’ coastguard with 3-year training plan

The multimillion-dollar plan, while seemingly a routine partnership, will deepen Washington’s regional footprint under a non-military banner.

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South China Sea

China deploys new floating barrier at Scarborough Shoal, satellite image shows

Barrier seen blocking entrance to lagoon at the contested atoll where tensions between Beijing and Manila have intensified.

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The Philippines

Doubts greet Philippines-China coastguard deal to calm disputed waters

Analysts are cautiously optimistic about the proposed pact as past efforts to lower the temperature in the waterway have had limited success.

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A Chinese coastguard ship (right) fires a water cannon at a Philippine vessel near the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island in the South China Sea on October 12. Photo: Philippine coastguard/AP
South China Sea

China says it expelled Philippine planes from disputed South China Sea reef

Beijing says the aircraft had ‘illegally entered’ Chinese airspace over Scarborough Shoal, but Manila said its planes had been put in danger.

Scarborough Shoal is one of the main flashpoints between the two countries. Photo: AFP
South China Sea

South China Sea tensions spike again as Chinese, Philippine ships collide

China claims ‘illegal intrusion’ into waters near contested Sandy Cay, while the Philippines condemns ‘clear threat’ and bullying tactics.

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US-China relations

US Congress urged to curb China’s influence in Indo-Pacific

Delegates maintain Beijing’s grey-zone campaign against Taiwan is a deliberate strategy designed to erode confidence, and it must fail to deliver any political concessions.

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The Philippines

Philippines to boost US presence with naval base deal amid ‘entrapment’ fears

While the US presence serves as a deterrent, experts warn the Philippines risks becoming a target should tensions with China rise.

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This screenshot shows a Philippine navy vessel anchored at Oyster Bay naval facility in Palawan province, west of Manila. Photo: AFP
South China Sea

Chinese coastguards ‘committed to sacred mission’ in Scarborough Shoal dispute

National Day message for state television says patrols will resume around the South China Sea reef that is also claimed by the Philippines.

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A Chinese coastguard ship patrols near Philippine fishing boats near Scarborough Shoal. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Will Philippines-Vietnam naval ties reshape South China Sea diplomacy?

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South China Sea tensions downplayed as Manila warmly farewells Beijing envoy

Exchange resurrects diplomatic language that stresses maritime issues are ‘not the sum total’ of bilateral relations.

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