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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.
Filipino nurses, many of whom were bound for work abroad as carers, take an oath in Manila in 2009. Filipino carers have become an expensive “gold standard”, according to a recent white paper. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Who will look after ageing Asia when its carers grow old?

Asia’s care economy is booming, but its biggest supplier nations are ageing too, raising fears of a coming carer shortfall.

Asian cinema

Review | Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors: Lav Diaz’s gruelling colonial epic

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Philippine Coast Guard

Bodies from Philippine ferry arrive at port after fire killed at least 76

Infrastructure

Philippines bets big on rail, but can it fix a broken transport network?

A US$4.8 billion transport budget will not end Manila’s gridlock unless bus and jeepney services also improve, analysts say.

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Heavy traffic is seen along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) highway during evening rush hour in Manila, the Philippines. Photo: AFP
Asean

Up in smoke: why Southeast Asia failed to halt the haze

Asean was going to eliminate transboundary haze by 2020. What happened?

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Singapore

As Singapore weighs joining China-led AI body, does it risk US retaliation?

Joining the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation gives Singapore influence, but may affect its Pax Silica role, analysts say.

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Philippine Coast Guard

Death toll from Philippine ferry fire jumps to 35

Rescuers recover 30 bodies on Friday after managing to gain access to the vessel, which had caught fire on its way from Manila to Palawan.

A drone view shows emergency workers accessing the burned MV June Aster ferry off the coast of Palawan, the Philippines, on Friday. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters
Asean

Why Marcos’ Brics trip is ‘low-risk’ chance for Philippines to make new friends

The president, attending in his capacity as Asean chair, should not miss the opportunity to diversify ties beyond the US, analysts say.

US-China relations

US coastguard sails into troubled waters with mission to counter China in Pacific

An increased role for the service may be seen as less politically sensitive but any cooperation with Taiwan risks a response from Beijing.

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SCMP Highlights

Manila exposes South China Sea note; Chinese coal mine farming: 7 highlights

From Chinese leader Xi’s diplomatic visits to a female powerlifter calling out sexism, here are top stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Photo: AFP
South China Sea

South China Sea: Manila says flares fired at aircraft near Subi, Mischief reefs

Philippine coastguard releases footage, accuses PLA of targeting the unarmed plane as it flew over Spratly Islands on Monday.

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Part of a video clip released by the Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday which it said was filmed by one of its aircraft. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard
US-China relations

US Navy plans compact Silent Anvil torpedo as China’s submarine fleet surges

The weapon is expected to be air-launched and suitable for use across a range of platforms.

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Thailand

‘Not for sale’: Thais take to streets in rare protest against Israel

The protest follows months of complaints about illegal landholding, cultural disrespect and proliferation of Israeli religious houses.

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Indonesia

Indonesia orders Netflix to pay US$4.3m in music royalties or face shutdown

Netflix has agreed to pay music royalties it owed in South Korea and faces a tax demand on its income in Australia, media reports say.

Netflix has not paid music royalties since entering the Indonesian market in 2016, according to a government agency. Photo: Netflix

Video | At least 5 dead in Philippine ferry fire

The Philippine coastguard reported 87 people missing and 47 rescued from the ship that listed 134 passengers and crew on board.

MV June Aster burns as flames and smoke rise after a fire broke out on the ferry, off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on September 9, 2026. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Philippines races to find survivors of ferry fire that killed at least 5

The MV June Aster had departed from Manila and was near a tourist hotspot in Palawan province when the blaze started.

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South China Sea

Is the Philippine military ‘massively underfunded’?

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr has warned there could be no military recruits next year due to budget cuts.

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South China Sea

Beijing tells Manila to ‘stop lying’ after minister exposes South China Sea note

At Seoul Defence Dialogue, Gilberto Teodoro Jnr brands China’s handwritten memo on arbitration ruling as ‘coercion and bullying’.

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Gilberto Teodoro Jnr read aloud from a note from a Chinese emissary, prompting China’s foreign ministry to protest and accuse Manila of "grandstanding and lying". Photo: X/ Department of National Defence - Philippines
Indonesia

More schools close in Indonesia as haze worsens

Schools in Palembang switch to remote learning as haze from forest and peatland fires pushes air pollution to unhealthy levels.

Semiconductors

Philippines wants to be a global semiconductor giant by 2030. Can it get there?

An ‘ambitious’ road map aims to more than double annual exports of chips and electronics to US$110 billion by 2030.

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Martin Romualdez

Philippine ex-speaker stashed wealth ‘he could no longer hide’: prosecutors

Ex-House speaker Martin Romualdez is accused of buying mansions and shares in an attempt to hide ill-gotten gains.

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House Speaker Martin Romualdez (right) speaks as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr looks on at the House of Representatives in Quezon City last year. Photo: Getty Images
China-Japan relations

In Focus | How Tokyo is widening regional defence ties to complicate Beijing’s Taiwan calculus

Tokyo is strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, possibly bolstering its ability to withstand a prolonged armed conflict.

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Illustration: Brian Wang
Jesus Crispin Remulla

Philippine president’s cousin charged over US$118 million flood scandal

Ombudsman vows ‘no sacred cows’ as former House speaker faces life imprisonment over bogus project scheme.

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United States

Filipino-Americans rattled by Trump’s anti-migrant ‘xenophobia’ games

Immigrant advocates say the ‘frightening’ games normalise human suffering and violence, deepening fear among the migrant communities.

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US military

How Asian shipyards in Japan, Korea, Philippines keep US warships battle ready

Legal flexibility and regional partnerships allow US Seventh Fleet vessels to undergo complex overhauls closer to potential conflict zones.

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The USS Kitty Hawk backs into pier in Yokosuka, Japan. The ship repair capacity of regional allies in the western Pacific is essential to US naval capabilities. Photo: US Navy
Get to Know

Meet Filipino tennis star Alex Eala’s parents, Mike and Rizza

Her dad Mike is a corporate executive, while mum Rizza is a former national swimmer and comes from a family of athletes.

As Filipino tennis star Alex Eala rides a career upswing, her supportive parents Mike and Rizza are also in the spotlight. Photo: @alex.eala/Instagram
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Philippine VP Duterte-Carpio posts bail over alleged Marcos death threat

The legal battle threatens Duterte-Carpio’s 2028 presidential bid as a Senate impeachment trial reaches the 10th week.

South China Sea

Chinese armed trainer jets drive away Philippine aircraft over Scarborough Shoal

At least three JL-10s carrying PL-5 missiles were involved in incident at disputed atoll in what could be a more cost-effective tactic.

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