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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.
The Indian Army’s BrahMos missile launcher on display during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26. Photo: Reuters
Defence

Is Philippines’ aim to become an arms exporter like India overly ambitious?

The timeline for the Philippines to develop self-reliance in defence is long, while the political will may be lacking, analysts say.

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South China Sea

Beijing and Manila clash over arrests of ‘illegal’ workers as tensions worsen

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US-China relations

Will US Indo-Pacific allied deterrence strategy trigger deeper division and rivalry?

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South China Sea

Beijing issues ecological report to solidify South China Sea claims amid US row

In new assessment, China blames Philippines for environmental harm and coral loss at disputed Sandy Cay and Second Thomas Shoal.

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Live coral coverage at Sandy Cay in the South China Sea has plummeted by nearly 70 per cent compared with 2016 levels, according to a Chinese ecological report. Photo: Handout
US-China relations

From TikTok to war weariness, a new generation of Americans’ view of China

On US college campuses, a generation shaped by China’s rise is challenging the assumptions behind Washington’s approach to Beijing.

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South China Sea

Philippines’ Marcos sees progress on China oil deal despite maritime row

The president also confirms for the first time a ‘provisional understanding’ with China over the resupply of WWII warship Sierra Madre.

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Myanmar

UN atrocity report adds friction to Myanmar junta’s push for legitimacy

The report says abuses escalated around the time Myanmar was conducting junta-led elections that saw Min Aung Hlaing elected as president.

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Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing reviews a Thai guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at Bangkok’s Government House on August 6. Photo: Reuters
China-New Zealand relations

China claims New Zealand’s spy report is product of foreign interference

Chinese embassy hits back at espionage claims, alleges Wellington is serving as a ‘pawn for anti-China forces’.

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WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

‘I want to be Eala’: star sparks tennis boom in Philippines, but at what cost?

Alexandra Eala’s success has parents rushing their children to courts across the country, and a National Tennis Centre in the works.

Asean

AI threatens nearly a quarter of Southeast Asia’s workforce but not all is lost

Being most exposed to AI does not mean that jobs would be replaced – just that some could move up the value chain or evolve, analysts say.

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A man looks at a screen depicting a person made out of pixels. AI is affecting some jobs in Southeast Asia. Photo: dpa
China-Asean relations

PLA holds first joint naval drill with Indonesia in waters east of Taiwan

As Washington and its allies tighten cooperation in the region, Beijing steps up defence ties with Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.

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Crew members of the Chinese navy vessel Qi Jiguang wave as the ship prepares to dock at Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, Indonesia, on August 2. Photo: AFP
United States

Will Philippines win race to secure Pax Silica hub before neighbours do?

Top diplomat warns Manila risks losing out on the opportunity if it ‘drops the ball’, even as environmental and sovereignty concerns grow.

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Video | Days of heavy rain clogs Manila’s waterways

Some areas in the northern Philippines saw a month’s worth of rain in only nine days.

Video | At least 12 dead in Philippine floods and landslides

More than 500,000 people are affected across 33 provinces as monsoon rains hit Luzon.

A man carrying plastic bags of food wades through floodwater amid southwest monsoon rains in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, Philippines, August 10, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
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Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Philippine VP Sara Duterte faces criminal charge over Marcos death threat

She was hit with a ‘grave threats’ charge in an ongoing Senate impeachment trial over an alleged assassination plot against the president.

Sara Duterte-Carpio, Philippine vice-president and daughter of former leader Rodrigo Duterte, speaks during a protest outside the International Criminal Court in The Hague in July. Photo: AP
SCMP Highlights

Malaysia’s Liow released; Lee Kuan Yew’s pen up for auction: 7 Asia highlights

From North Korea’s dog meat advice to Prabowo at odds with Indonesia’s rich, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Asean

US swaps ideology for ‘flexible realism’ and deterrence in Southeast Asia

Pentagon’s Colby urges allies to invest more in defence as Washington prioritises pragmatic Indo-Pacific partnerships over moral values.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Why did US defence official Colby avoid mentioning China in Manila speech?

Some analysts attribute the restraint to a desire to avoid antagonising Beijing ahead of next month’s expected Xi-Trump summit.

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Despite speaking of Washington’s oldest treaty ally in Asia, US defence official Elbridge Colby avoided addressing the escalating maritime tensions between the Philippines and China. Photo: AP
South China Sea

Powerful anti-drone laser spotted on PLA amphibious ship in South China Sea

Analysts say deploying the LY-1-equipped vessel during Scarborough Shoal drill was meant to send a message to Manila and Washington.

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South China Sea

As US marks 75 years of defence pact with Philippines, can it stay the course?

Despite increased drills between the two allies, there are concerns that Washington’s aversion to conflict could weaken its commitment.

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United States

US ‘digging in’ to Asia but seeks partners ‘not dependency’: Pentagon

Senior official Elbridge Colby tells Manila audience the US is committed to the Indo-Pacific but expects allies to invest in defence.

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The aircraft carrier USS George Washington patrols waters off the Korean peninsula. Photo: US Navy
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Philippines floods, landslides, kill at least 12, 8 missing

Over 500,000 people are affected across 33 provinces as monsoon rains batter the main island, Luzon, including the nation’s capital, Manila.

Police and officials remind residents to evacuate to higher ground as floodwaters inundate a village in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Photo: AP
Mainland China

Video | Typhoon Dolphin batters China’s eastern provinces

China’s most powerful typhoon of the year has forced the evacuation of over 1 million people and led to thousands of flight cancellations.

American cinema

Review | Forgotten Island: DreamWorks’ trippy animated dive into Filipino folklore

Forgotten Island blends Filipino folklore with a distinct 1980s feel as two childhood friends navigate a surreal world of fading memories.

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Japan

Opinion | Japan’s defence white paper is the opening move in a longer game

Japan’s latest defence white paper confirms Chinese strategists’ fears that post-war pacifist guard rails are being dismantled under the guise of ‘self-defence’.

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Illustration: Mario Rivera
Myanmar

Myanmar rebuffs Asean call to free Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar will continue to work with Asean’s special envoy but does not see the need to continue when Singapore takes over on January 1.

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Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing reviews the honour guard during a welcoming ceremony at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday. Myanmar’s former army chief who had originally seized power in 2021 from Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government, has been trying to win political legitimacy since the takeover and resume relations with Asean. Photo: EPA
Hong Kong transport

Manila-bound flight returns to Hong Kong after suspected cargo door issue

Police say flight CEB143 landed safely at airport, with no injuries reported.

Religion

Video | Inside Asia’s only dedicated exorcism centre

Manila facility trains priests and clergy as cases of alleged possession continue to rise.

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