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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.
last updated:
29 November, 2024
Chinese and Philippine coastguards have clashed repeatedly this year. Photo: Reuters
South China Sea

Beijing urged to strengthen legal talent pool in South China Sea dispute

A workshop in Beijing heard that the country needs to boost its legal talent pool as Manila threatens action in the international courts.

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Defence

‘Extremely irresponsible’: Philippine army’s Typhon purchase plan angers China

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Luxury yachts

The all-Filipino crew set to make history in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race

North Korea

Revolution, elections and a baby hippo, this was the year in Asia

From climate change to political storms and a Taylor Swift world tour, Asia in 2024 was characterised by turbulence and surprises.

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Students and other activists carry Bangladesh’s national flag during a protest march to mark one month since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down after a mass uprising, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on September 5. Photo: AP
China-Philippines relations

Drop in number of Chinese students in Philippines ‘deeply concerning’

Experts say the decline is a result of stricter visa rules and country’s current atmosphere of paranoia that discourages Chinese visitors.

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Ferdinand Marcos, Jnr

‘Erasing history’?: Marcos Jnr accused of political bias over new banknotes

A critic of Ferdinand Marcos Jnr accuses him of attempting to reshape the country’s history by removing the Aquinos from the 500-peso notes.

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Rodrigo Duterte

Outrage over deep cuts forces Marcos to halt US$108 billion budget signing

Critics accuse lawmakers of diverting funds from pro-poor services to their own pet projects, raising concerns of corruption.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr shakes hands with residents during the distribution of food aid in Manila on December 14. Photo: EPA-EFE
China-Philippines relations

Why closing Pogos won’t solve the Philippines’ China problems

The battle against corruption, crime and Chinese interference that offshore gaming operators represented is far from over, experts say.

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South China Sea

To keep calm in the South China Sea, Beijing reaches for the bilateral playbook

China’s often-used bilateral consultation mechanism doesn’t always work, but it does help defuse conflicts, experts say.

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Beauty

Manila pageant school that’s like boot camp for world’s beauty queens

One of the world’s leading pageant schools, in the Philippines, puts willing contestants from around the world through a total body workout.

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Rodgil Flores (right) shows his students a pose. Photo: dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images
China-Asean relations

Defence minister on first overseas trip since Beijing denied he was investigated

Dong Jun meets the head of the Vietnamese Communist Party in Hanoi on visit to mark military anniversary.

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Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun visited Vietnam this week to attend a celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong

Dragon Boy Lee makes dream debut at World Darts Championship, eyes more glory

Lee Lok-yin bounces back from losing set to beat Chris Landsman and set up clash with world No 30 Brendan Dolan.

Death row survivor jailed after return to Philippines

Mary Jane Veloso received a last-minute reprieve from execution in 2015 after being sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia  

Hong Kong property

Hong Kong outshines Singapore as demand for flexible office space grows: report

Bengaluru and Makati are the hottest spots as demand surged by 107 and 47 per cent, respectively, according to a study.

People crossing a busy street in Central business district, Hong Kong , in October 2024. Photo: Dickson Lee
South China Sea

Philippines and India hold first maritime talks – are rows with China at play?

During their talks in Manila, Philippine and Indian officials commit to a rules-based international order and discuss maritime cooperation.

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A clash between Chinese coastguard and Philippine Navy personnel near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea in June. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysia’s marginalised Sabah sea nomads left homeless after security crackdown

The indigenous Bajau Laut have been living in wooden homes built over water in what have been gazetted as a marine park.

Indonesia

Death row Filipino arrives home from Indonesia – then goes straight to jail

Mary Jane Veloso just wants to spend Christmas with her family. She has been imprisoned since 2010 on drug trafficking charges.

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South China Sea

China permits Philippine ship to deliver supplies to Second Thomas Shoal outpost

The move appears to be rare act of de-escalation as Beijing and Manila continue to clash over territorial disputes in South China Sea.

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A Philippine flag flutters atop the BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated ship Manila stationed on a contested reef in the Spratly Islands in 1999. Photo: Reuters
South China Sea

‘China will take what it wants unless we push’: Manila-Tokyo deal to spark tensions?

The deal strengthens defence ties between the nations, but analysts warn it could entangle the Philippines in Japan’s regional security role.

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Human trafficking

Hopes high Mary Jane Veloso will get clemency upon her return to Philippines

Veloso, who was sentenced to death in Indonesia in 2010, is set to fly to Manila on Wednesday as her supporters fight to see her freed.

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South China Sea

South China Sea: why Philippines’ new legal case against Beijing may fall flat

Instead of filing a new arbitration case against China, analysts suggest the Philippines use alternative strategies, including a judicial review of the 2016 ruling.

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A Chinese coastguard vessel, right, fires a water cannon on a Philippine fisheing vessel near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea on March 5. Photo: AFP
China-Philippines relations

Will China capsize the Philippines’ ‘most powerful coastguard’ ambitions?

Manila plans to add dozens of ships over the next few years. But experts doubt that will unnerve the world’s largest coastguard fleet.

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A Chinese coastguard ship shadows a Philippine vessel on patrol in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP
Asia elections

Will AI enhance or undermine Asia’s elections?

Deepfakes and disinformation aside, artificial intelligence also holds the potential to strengthen electoral integrity, a new report says.

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Old Hong Kong

When a Dior-clad socialite killed her lover, horrifying Hong Kong

Maria Coady was photographed with Chris Patten and rubbed shoulders with the Brunei royal family – before being jailed by a Hong Kong court.

Crime

‘Stranger than fiction’: how Alice Guo’s case grips Filipinos

The case of former mayor Alice Guo has exposed weaknesses of local agencies in dealing with security gaps linked to Chinese crime syndicates.

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Alice Guo, former mayor of Bamban town, attends a Senate hearing in Manila over accusations of human trafficking and links to Chinese organised crime. Photo: AFP
Philippines Country Report

Volcano coats Philippine town in ash

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US-China relations

US conducts first ballistic missile intercept in Guam amid contest with China

Spokesman says ‘it confirmed our ability to detect, track and engage a target missile in flight, increasing our readiness to defend’.

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Rodrigo Duterte

Sara Duterte skips questioning over alleged threat to kill Philippine president

The Philippine vice-president insisted her remarks were taken out of context and said she did not trust authorities.

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