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The Philippines
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The Philippines

The Philippines
The Philippines
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on the Philippines, covering politics, economy, society, and Manila’s relationships with China and its Southeast Asian neighbours.
Illustration: Mario Cameira
China-Philippines relations

Opinion | Manila speaks with 2 voices on China

Conflicting statements from the Philippines’ diplomatic and security arms add uncertainty to an already fraught relationship with Beijing.

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US-China relations

5 things to watch out for in 2027 US defence bill aimed at countering China

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China’s military

Dong Jun to miss Asean defence talks as Beijing’s fifth plenum convenes

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Rodrigo Duterte

Philippines’ bounty on ‘Bato’ dela Rosa exposes Marcos’ dilemma in Duterte feud

The massive reward for the ex-police chief highlights deepening political fallout as the ICC manhunt exposes executive vulnerabilities.

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Philippine Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa attends a Senate session in May. Manila has offered a 50-million-peso bounty for the former police chief, who remains at large despite an ICC arrest warrant over his role in Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug crackdown. Photo: AFP
Get to Know

All about the late Roslyn Loveless, ex-wife of Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Snr

Before her death in 2024, the mother of Samantha and Thomas Jnr revealed that her ex-husband had abandoned his family and lived a ‘single life’.

Aviation accidents

Philippine Air Force faces hard questions after deadly crashes

Budget constraints mean the air force has had to repeatedly use aircraft for missions beyond their intended roles, analysts say.

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Meghan Markle

‘Disgusting monster’: Meghan Markle’s dad slammed by son amid Philippine probe

Investigators expect to complete digital forensics on alleged child abuse material linked to Thomas Markle Snr by the end of the week.

Thomas Markle Snr, Meghan Markle’s estranged father, seen in a still from an interview he gave with a British television show in 2021. Photo: YouTube/GMB
SCMP Highlights

Why paper straws are worse than plastic; haze in Indonesia: 7 Asia highlights

From Malaysian teen held after live-streaming axe attack to haze in Indonesia, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Luxury Hotels

Review | Inside Lagen Island Resort, El Nido’s tranquil Michelin-key escape

A short speedboat ride from mainland Palawan, this two-Michelin-key retreat pairs dramatic karst scenery with authentic Filipino dining and wellness.

Asean

Southeast Asia’s housing paradox: too many homes, too few buyers

Analysts point to speculative investment, financing hurdles and poor locations as factors leaving properties empty.

People wait for the elevator at a public housing building in Kuala Lumpur on October 19. Photo: AFP
Climate change

Climate damage to Philippine ports could cost US$70b a year by 2100

Rising seas and fiercer typhoons threaten to paralyse trade lines, driving up food costs and devastating coastal communities.

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Workers walk beside containers at the Manila North Harbour Port in the Philippines. Photo: AP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Pentagon chief Hegseth to visit Philippines to meet US allies at Asean events

SCMP has previously reported that Quad and Squad meetings were being planned on the sidelines of Asean events.

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Get to Know

Meet Meghan Markle’s estranged half-brother, Thomas Markle Jnr

As the Duchess of Sussex’s father faces an investigation over alleged child sexual abuse material in the Philippines, her estranged half-brother has made headlines by contacting authorities and issuing a public apology.

China society

Opinion | China may well be the next big competitor for Asian migrant labour

The country that once transformed global labour markets by exporting workers could reshape Asian migration by beginning to import them.

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Labourers at a construction site in Shanghai, China, on April 15, 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE
Law

Philippines plans ‘appropriate legal action’ against Thomas Markle

Philippine police are investigating a laptop found alongside images of child abuse at the former home of Meghan Markle’s estranged father.

Meghan Markle (left), former actress and wife of Britain's Prince Harry, and her estranged father Thomas Markle Snr. Photo: EPA
China’s military drills

China’s Liaoning and US aircraft carrier may sail in Philippine Sea at same time

Northeastward course could see Liaoning group sail close to waters where US, Japan and other allies are carrying out Keen Sword exercise.

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South China Sea

Filipinos split on Marcos’ sea handling amid row over Chinese envoy’s remarks

A survey shows that many people back diplomacy, but rising rhetoric between Manila and Beijing could undermine this peaceful stance.

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Singapore

Singapore embraces AI for cyber defence, with one caveat: breach transparency

The city state will take a ‘pragmatic’ approach to AI adoption as it seeks to bolster protection for its critical infrastructure.

Anthropic co-founder Benjamin Mann and Kai Fong Chng, permanent secretary of Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information, sign an agreement on AI cooperation on October 13. Photo: MDDI
Aviation accidents

4 pilots killed in mid-air collision of Philippine military planes

The crash involved two SF-260 aircraft during a training flight at the Fernando Air Base in Batangas province, the air force says.

Jobs

Overseas Filipinos feel heartache over missing parcels for loved ones

Balikbayan boxes bound for the Philippines are an important source of comfort for families of Filipinos working overseas.

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Hong Kong

Letters | Philippines, Hong Kong can contribute together to a more productive Asia

Readers discuss a stronger economic relationship between the Philippines and Hong Kong, Singapore’s balancing act, the Lugard Road lighting project, and MTR rules.

A view of the skyline from Manila Bay on December 16, 2025. The Philippines has achieved upper-middle-income status and holds investment-grade ratings from credit rating agencies. Photo: AFP
Britain

Meghan Markle ‘distressed’ as Philippines probes father over child abuse images

Prince ⁠Harry’s wife said she had known about the allegations against Thomas Markle since 2018.

Meghan Markle. Photo: Indigo/Getty Images
Malaysia

‘Videos made me panic’: France unrest gives jitters to Southeast Asian tourists

Safety alerts and riots lead to itinerary changes at a time when tourism from the region to France is experiencing an uneven recovery.

China-Asean relations

‘Opportunistic’: experts weigh Manila’s minilateral agenda ahead of Trump-Xi talks

Philippine push for US-linked security ties alongside Asean chair duties triggers debate on regional unity and flexibility towards China.

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Rodrigo Duterte

Philippines offers US$786,000 bounty for ‘dangerous’ senator wanted by ICC

Fugitive Ronald dela Rosa is one of the ‘co-perpetrators’ in the deadly drug crackdown that took place during Duterte’s presidency from 2016.

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An activist displays a sign with a slogan calling for the arrest of Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s in Pasay City, Metro Manila, on May 13. Photo: Reuters
Kuwait

How the Philippines’ energy crisis is opening doors for deeper US military ties

A proposed US-backed oil stockpile offers the Philippines energy relief while strengthening American military logistics in the region.

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A pedestrian reads a sign at a petrol station in Tacloban City, Philippines, in March, as the nation’s sole refinery looks to replenish dwindling fuel reserves. Photo: AFP
North Korea

Another historic Trump-Kim meeting unlikely this year: US, South Korean officials

Trump has downplayed the prospects of a summit happening next month, saying: ‘I’m not sure that anybody’s asking for a meeting’.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | Quad confirmed, Manila envoy signals likely ‘Squad’ talks before Trump-Xi summit

Philippine ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez also says he hopes Asean will become like Nato, capable of handling its own security.

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