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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.
Photo: SCMP

Philippine police report injuries at high school shooting

The shooting happened at a high school in the southern ⁠Philippines.

SCMP Highlights

China opens Pinglu Canal; Hong Kong unveils first 5-year plan: 7 highlights

South China Sea

Filipino fishers count the cost of South China Sea dispute

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Russia

Poland eyes deeper Philippines defence ties following Black Hawk deal

Warsaw is targeting drones, air defence and artillery exports to Manila as European rearmament fuels global arms ambitions.

A Philippine Air Force officer speaking during the acceptance ceremony for the seven and last batch of S-70i Black Hawk helicopters at Villamor air force base in Manila in August. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

China edges US, EU on AI regulation trust in middle-income countries: Pew survey

US think tank study finds middle-income countries have ‘more positive views of China’ when it comes to regulating AI effectively.

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Taiwan

Taipei donates coastguard vessel to Manila amid South China Sea tensions

As it faces off against Beijing in the region, Manila has been expanding its unofficial security cooperation with Taipei.

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South China Sea

Philippines’ Teodoro draws 2028 election buzz after China clash

His viral moment in Seoul has raised his profile among supporters, but analysts say weak polling and past losses remain hurdles.

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Philippine defence chief Gilberto Teodoro Jnr responds to a note during the Seoul Defence Dialogue 2026 on September 8. Photo: X/Philippine Department of National Defence
South Korea

Video | South Korean drug lord’s jailbreak plan foiled

The plan was reportedly set to be carried out earlier this year, just before Park Wang-yeol was to be repatriated to South Korea to face charges for allegedly importing 4.8kg (10.5lbs) of drugs.

Central banks

Casino, not bakery: Philippine e-payment firms urged to improve merchant vetting

The central bank found thousands of payments of as little as 80 US cents being made to generally unremarkable merchants past midnight.

John Lee policy address 2026

Hong Kong launching pilot scheme to bring in foreign carers for the elderly

Chief Executive John Lee says in policy address that the government will admit carers under a scheme modelled on domestic helper regime.

In rapidly ageing Hong Kong, the number of people aged 65 and above is projected to nearly double from 1.45 million in 2021 to 2.74 million by 2046. Photo: Sam Tsang
South China Sea

Chinese research ship completes month-long mission near Scarborough Shoal

The vessel surveyed the geology and environment of a South China Sea feature claimed by Beijing and Manila.

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The Haiyang Dizhi Shihao spent a month surveying the waters near Scarborough Shoal. Photo: CCTV
South China Sea

Should Beijing use its maritime militia as backup force in South China Sea?

On the sidelines of the Xiangshan Forum, a leading Chinese researcher says there could be a role for the vessels at critical moments.

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South Korea

South Korean killer’s drone escape from Philippine prison foiled by test footage

Convicted killer Park Wang-yeol reportedly spent some US$74,000 on his planned drone-assisted prison break.

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India

‘Growing stronger’: India and Russia push to expand defence ties

Analysts say offers of Su-57 stealth jet tech and BrahMos upgrades signal an exit from simple buyer-seller deals.

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Brics summit in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: Kremlin/dpa
Rodrigo Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte appears in ICC courtroom for pretrial proceedings

The former Philippine president’s trial over his ‘war on drugs’ that killed thousands will start on November 30.

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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte appears before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, on Wednesday. Photo: AP
US-China relations

US-China ties haunted by lack of mutual trust, Beijing Xiangshan Forum told

No ‘illusion that things will be easy’ ahead, former Chinese ambassador to US says before President Xi Jinping is expected in Washington.

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SCMP Highlights

Thais stage rare Israel protest; India-Pakistan water row: 7 Asia highlights

From Thai PM Anutin’s US$90,000 amulet to the Philippines’ big bet on railways, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

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Sara Duterte-Carpio

Philippine VP faces scrutiny over disputed funds amid bitter Marcos feud

Prosecutors have so far tried to prove that Sara Duterte-Carpio’s office could not properly account for millions of pesos in confidential funds.

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio (centre) arrives at the Hall of Justice for a scheduled arraignment in Quezon City, Metro Manila, on Friday. Photo: EPA
Diplomacy

US-led Luzon corridor in Philippines faces growing scrutiny over real local benefits

Filipinos, especially Gen Z, are concerned that the corridor and other US-led projects are ‘more exploitative than beneficial’, analysts say.

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Rodrigo Duterte

3 killed, 15 wounded in gunfire ahead of historic Philippine regional election

Bangsamoro, a region long marred by political violence and blood feuds, is voting for its first elected president on Monday.

Ukraine war

‘Cannon fodder’ Asians tricked to fight for Russia spur calls for intervention

A group of Indonesians was duped into fighting for Russia, Ukraine says, with other ruses involving Filipinos and Indians.

Firefighters work at the site of a supermarket hit by a Russian air strike in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, in July. Photo: Reuters
Mental health

Why men account for 80% of suicide deaths in the Philippines

Filipino men rarely seek help for mental illness, despite making up 80 per cent of suicide deaths. Advocates say it’s time for change.

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Men push a small boat along a flooded street after intense monsoon rains in Quezon City, the Philippines, last month. Photo: AP
War and conflict

Philippines holding historic election in Muslim autonomous region

Under a 2014 peace deal brokered by Malaysia, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front gave up its goal of a separate state in exchange for autonomy.

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

Director Lav Diaz’s latest film explores colonial terror, faith and resistance in a perilous 17th century jungle in the Philippines.

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Christian Bables (centre) in a still from Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors.
Philippine Coast Guard

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

There were 43 survivors among the 132 people on board.

Rescuers carry the remains of victims of the recent fire on the MV June Aster ferry as they arrive on board a Philippine Coast Guard vessel at the Borac port in Coron, Palawan province, western Philippines on Saturday. Photo: AP
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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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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