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.
An American B-2 Spirit takes off from the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on June 20 to support the US attack against Iranian nuclear sites. Photo: US Air Force via AFP
US-China relations

China should be alert to risk of US being drawn into war by allies, analyst says

Donald Trump’s return to the White House is seen to have brought ‘increased military conflicts and heightened uncertainty’.

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Japan

My Take | Who are these ‘like-minded countries’ politicians are talking about?

South China Sea

China says Philippines face ‘self-inflicted destruction’ by hosting US missiles

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Australia

Why Filipinos are exploring a move to Australia – and seeking advice on TikTok

Viral videos created by Filipinos who’ve already made the leap offer relatable, real-life insights into a complex migration system.

Filipinos in Australia listen to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr during an event in Melbourne last year. Photo: AFP
Iran

Will Philippines help US in another Middle East conflict?

With the US embroiled in the Israel-Iran war, there is speculation over whether Manila would help Washington, like it did in the Iraq War.

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Rodrigo Duterte

In the Philippines, AI fakes duel over VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment

Even after being exposed as fakes, supporters of Sara Duterte remained unfazed, claiming the AI-generated content still made a valid point.

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South China Sea

Opinion | How data-sharing can help defuse South China Sea tensions

A project to share maritime information could contribute to turning the region from a geopolitical flashpoint into a model for preventive diplomacy.

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Chinese sailors wave to their Vietnamese counterparts after a joint patrol in the South China Sea in 2024. Photo: Xinhua
International Criminal Court

Will Australia host Duterte’s interim release from The Hague detention?

Duterte’s daughter, Sara, said her father’s lawyers were looking at Australia for his release to a third-party country.

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South China Sea

Indo-Pacific or Middle East? US dilemma leaves Philippines exposed

As US attention and resources pivot to a volatile Middle East, experts warn of a strategic vacuum in the Indo-Pacific.

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Currencies

Trade war worries push Asian central banks to curb currency intervention

India, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea are all easing their grip on currencies as the US dollar tumbles – to avoid a Trumpian backlash?

The Reserve Bank of India logo is seen outside its head office in Mumbai. The central banks of both India and Malaysia have reduced the size of some derivatives positions they use to weaken their currencies. Photo: Reuters
South China Sea

Philippines’ Sara Duterte takes aim at US ties, attacks missile deployment

The vice-president urged Manila to pursue an independent foreign policy, arguing it should not ‘cling’ to either the US or China.

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Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio. Photo: AFP
Japan

Japan flags record 216 days of Chinese ships near disputed islands

The unprecedented streak of Chinese vessel sightings was capped off by four coastguard vessels that were observed on Sunday, Tokyo said.

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South China Sea

The net tightens: how China squeezes Filipino fishers at Scarborough Shoal

A new report warns of China’s growing de facto control, as analysts say ‘grey-zone coercion’ is slowly by surely reshaping the South China Sea.

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Hong Kong transport

Exclusive | Japan overtakes Hong Kong as Cebu Pacific’s most-travelled destination

But airline saw a record 1.13 million passengers travelling between the Philippines and Hong Kong last year, a jump of 34 per cent from 2023.

Cebu Pacific currently operates flights to 37 domestic and 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Photo: Shutterstock
US-Asean relations

Crisis calculations: Trump’s America has Southeast Asia in a spin

Punitive tariffs and severe aid cuts are shaking the foundations of the US relationship with Asean, deepening a sense of ‘unreliability’.

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Illustration: Huy Truong
SCMP Highlights

China-EU friction in spotlight, Beijing’s growing clout: SCMP daily highlights

From a new mainland China-Hong Kong payment scheme to Beijing’s influence in Central Asia, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

South China Sea

China uses water cannon to expel Philippine vessel from Scarborough Shoal

Incident on Friday follows earlier coastguard confrontations near Half Moon and Royal Captain shoals.

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Israel-Iran conflict

By air, land and sea, nations race to evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran

Caught between warring nations, thousands of foreign nationals are being moved out of Israel and Iran in complex logistical operations.

Bulgarian citizens evacuated from Israel, along with dozens of foreign nationals from Slovenia, the US, Belgium, Albania, Kosovo and Romania, arrive in Sofia. Photo: AP
Asia travel

These extreme adventures in Asia are not for the faint-hearted

From cave diving in Palawan to volcano hikes up Mount Bromo, Asia delivers some of the most thrilling experiences on the planet.

United Nations

Why a UN Security Council seat is ‘crucial’ to the Philippines

Manila is hoping for a bigger say in global conflict resolution and its South China Sea dispute with Beijing.

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Social media

TikTok fuelling rise of fascist youth movement in the Philippines, experts warn

The far-right Philippine Falangist Front seeks to evoke nostalgia for Spanish rule while calling for Catholic authoritarianism.

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A hooded figure types on a laptop in a dark room, symbolising the anonymous spread of extremist content online. Photo: Shutterstock
Malaysia

Southeast Asia scrambles to get citizens out as Israel-Iran conflict escalates

Thailand, which has 40,000 citizens living in Israel and 300 in Iran, has mobilised military planes to bring them home.

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People arrive with their luggage in Tel Aviv before the departure of buses slated to evacuate foreign passport holders out of Israel on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Israel

Filipinos in Israel caught between duty and fear as Iran conflict escalates

As 75 per cent of overseas foreign workers are carers, worries about their wards and livelihood are holding most back, an advocate says.

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South China Sea

Philippines says more US Typhon missiles ‘very welcome’ despite China’s warnings

Army spokesman says more of the advanced missile launchers would accelerate training as regional tensions simmer.

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SCMP Highlights

Philippines’ ‘mole people’, 1 survivor in Air India crash: 7 Asia highlights

From plight of homeless living underground to man walking away from Air India crash, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

A woman is photographed emerging from a drainage hole along a street in Makati City in the Philippines. Photo: William Roberts
SCMP Highlights

China’s economic data, PLA’s patrols in disputed waters: SCMP daily highlights

From supply chain competition between Beijing and Washington to domestic consumption picking up in China, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

The Chinese military conducted patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday while a Philippine-Japan joint drill was under way. Photo: PLA Southern Theatre Command
South China Sea

Does Philippines have ‘credible’ undersea might against China?

Japan’s advanced submarine warfare expertise could play a critical role in helping Manila develop undersea warfare capabilities, experts say.

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My Life

Rowena Cortes on her life, and working with Elton John and Leslie Cheung

The Filipino-Hong Kong singer and actress talks about cutting her first record at age 5, working with stars, and getting married in front of 3,500 people.

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