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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.
HMS Prince of Wales became the first warship to dock at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore on June 23. It hosted public tours and a defence and security expo with British companies. Photo: Handout
Asean

Opinion | Britain’s Asia-Pacific ties all the more vital in an uncertain world

On trade, technology, digital rules and security, the UK is shoring up its friendships in the region in an increasingly volatile world.

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South China Sea

Filipino film that China wanted to cancel wins at New Zealand festival

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Crime

Sack of bones, Duterte drug war add to growing Philippine cock fighters mystery

South China Sea

Wang Yi dismisses South China Sea ruling as ‘farce’ ahead of ninth anniversary

Chinese foreign minister says ruling was ‘manipulated by external powers’, while embassy in Manila dismisses it as ‘political circus’.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the annual East Asian foreign ministers’ meetings in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Photo: Xinhua
Asean

Fulfil ‘wish list’ for peace before holding election, Asean urges Myanmar junta

Asean foreign ministers continue to urge implementation of the Five-Point Consensus despite the junta’s refusal to cooperate.

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South China Sea

Trump to host Philippines’ Marcos Jnr to discuss Asia trade, security

The Philippines and the US have boosted mutual defence engagements to step up deterrence against China’s increasing aggression in Asia.

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South China Sea

South China Sea: expect ‘more provocations’ from Manila, and Hanoi could be next

Beijing ‘must be prepared to respond’, and it might be headed for confrontation with Vietnam over land reclamation, analyst warns.

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There is no sign of tensions easing over maritime disputes in the South China Sea, according to a Chinese analyst. Photo: Xinhua
Crime

No more Alice Guos? Philippine lawmaker seeks new law against fake citizenship

Sherwin Gatchalian says the bill is a priority for Congress to pass, but analysts warn Manila must tackle patronage politics as well.

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Middle East

Rescuers save 4 more survivors from Houthi-struck ship in Red Sea

The ship Eternity C was the second Greek bulk carrier sunk this week by the Iran-aligned rebels.

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Donald Trump

Philippines urged to ‘double down’ in talks over 20% tariff with Trump

Trump says the tariff on Philippine exports to the US is necessary to address what he calls Washington’s ‘unsustainable’ trade deficit.

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The Manila International Container Terminal in Manila. Philippine officials are heading to the US for trade talks after Washington announced a 20 per cent tariff on Philippine imports. Photo: Reuters
Pakistan

48 Chinese among 149 arrested in Pakistan scam centre raid

Citizens from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar were also arrested for allegedly running Ponzi schemes and collecting money illegally from the public.

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A Pakistani police raid uncovered a scam call centre in Faisalabad, arresting 149, including 71 foreigners. Photo: Shutterstock
Crime

Philippines’ search for missing cock fighters at Lake Taal begins

Acting on witnesses’ accounts, the police are moving fast to try and locate the bodies before the typhoon season starts.

Middle East

Ship attacked by Houthis sinks in Red Sea, 10 of 25 mostly Filipino crew rescued

Rescuers search for missing crew from Red Sea attack as US alleges Yemen rebels ‘kidnapped’ them.

United States

Trump announces new tariffs on Brazil, 6 smaller economies

‘Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal,’ letters say, adding alleged deficits are threats to US national security.

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US President Donald Trump dispatched tariff letters to six more countries on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Crime

‘More dangerous’ than Pogos: should Philippines ban online gambling?

A surge in online gambling sites and Filipinos hooked on them has led to lawmakers seeking a ban against the ‘silent epidemic’.

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More Filipinos are seeking help for their online gambling addiction, says Jon Ty, founder of Bridges of Hope. Photo: Shutterstock
Defence

Old but still gold? What Philippines can gain from Japan’s used warships

Factors such as maintenance costs and system upgrades will determine the true value of the Abukuma-class vessels’ transfer, analysts say.

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China-EU relations

Berlin says Chinese ship targeted German plane with laser over Red Sea

Beijing’s ambassador to Germany has been summoned over the incident that reportedly took place during an EU-led mission.

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South China Sea

Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over travel ban on former senator

Manila said the ban on ex-senate majority leader Francis Tolentino was ‘inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect’ between countries.

Former senator Francis Tolentino said the ban was a “badge of honour”. Photo: AP
South China Sea

F-35 drills in Philippines signal US ramp-up in combat readiness in Asia-Pacific

Analysts say the advanced fighter jet’s deployment shows Manila’s deep integration into US deterrence planning in the region.

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SCMP Highlights

Australia gets ‘unsolicited advice’; Indonesian mine concern: 7 Asia highlights

From Duterte ending his womanising era to defence concerns over an Indonesia mine, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Asean

Will Myanmar block East Timor’s Asean entry? The junta draws a red line

Myanmar’s military regime is attempting to block East Timor’s accession over its engagement with the ousted National Unity Government.

East Timor’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao gestures as he arrives to attend a gala dinner during an Asean summit in Vientiane, Laos, last year. Photo: Reuters
Middle East

Ship attacked in Red Sea after Houthis claim earlier bulk carrier sinking

Liberian-flagged cargo ship hit Monday, marking the second assault on a vessel in about 24 hours.

A crew member from the commercial ship Magic Seas is pictured after being rescued in the Red Sea following a recent attack that forced the vessel’s abandonment. Photo: UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AFP
US-China relations

Opinion | To quieten drumbeats of war in US and China, cool heads must prevail

Sabre-rattling might rally a domestic political base, but true statesmanship lies not in inviting disaster but in mastering its prevention.

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Asean

Eating plastic: the hidden cost of convenience in Southeast Asia

If plastic pollution continues to worsen in the region, its people could face a wide range of health issues, medical experts warn.

Crime

Philippine police detain 15 of its own officers in missing cock fighters case

The officers are under investigation for the suspected killings of 34 cock fighters, whose bodies were dumped in a lake after cheating accusations.

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Roosters fight during a cockfighting match in Laguna province, Philippines. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong tourism

Football fever grips Hong Kong as Cristiano Ronaldo museum officially opens

Excited fans queue hours before doors open to visit exhibits featuring Ballon d’Or, Golden Boot awards and Fifa Club World Cup Golden Ball.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s CR7 Life Museum officially opened at the K11 Musea shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Japan

Japan to bolster Philippine defence with used warships amid China tensions

The export plan involves six Abukuma-class vessels in service by Tokyo’s navy for more than 30 years.

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European Union

Political dynasties threaten Philippines’ democracy, EU observers warn

Political power remains concentrated within a small circle of elite families, the team monitoring the Philippines midterm polls say.

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