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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.
A giant mushroom cloud from Mount Pinatubo’s eruption is seen towering over a deserted Clark Air Base in Pampanga, then operated by the United States, on June 12, 1991. File photo: AFP
Natural disasters

On This Day | Thousands flee as Philippines’ Mount Pinatubo erupts in 1991 – SCMP archive

On this day 35 years ago, Mount Pinatubo’s eruption stranded dozens of tourists in Philippines, with special flights for Hongkongers.

Semiconductors

How massive AI-driven demand for MLCCs triggered a supply bottleneck

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Banking & finance

Open Questions | AIIB head Zou Jiayi on multilateralism as ‘infrastructure of global trust’

Taiwan

The quiet escalation unfolding around Taiwan’s remote outposts

Taipei says it is the first time mainland Chinese government vessels have entered waters near Taiping.

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Taiping is the largest naturally formed island in the vicinity of Mischief, Subi and Fiery Cross reefs in the southern part of the contested Spratly Islands. Photo: AFP
Earthquakes

Deadly Mindanao quake raised seabed, causing marine die-off

The 7.8-magnitude tremor on Monday killed at least 61 people in the Philippines and left at least 40 people missing.

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Hong Kong’s domestic helpers need safe places to work and play

As climate change intensifies and urban space dwindles, migrant workers’ needs must be prioritised.

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Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

‘Number of missing rising’: Filipino helpers in Hong Kong rally for aid after quake

Community groups are seeking to raise HK$20,000 to supply victims in Philippines with food, water and medicine.

Filipino domestic workers staff a donation booth outside City Hall in Central. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Athletes

How drowning of 2 athletes exposes gaps in Philippine collegiate sports safety

The tragedy shows how young players could be pushed into risky training situations as universities compete for prestige, sports experts say.

Japan

Japan adds Indonesia to its ‘network of navies’ after Australia, Philippines

By exporting warships, analysts say Tokyo is sidestepping military pacts to bind partners through shared hardware.

China-Asean relations

Dear You – the Chinese migration film igniting a propaganda debate in Southeast Asia

Some are worried that the Teochew-language drama represents a new, softer era of propaganda targeting the diaspora.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Rodrigo Duterte

Philippines’ Duterte to undergo another health check to decide fitness for trial

The ex-president’s team requested the procedure after saying last month that the 81-year-old’s ‘condition continues to deteriorate’.

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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is sworn in during a senate inquiry on the”war on drugs” during his administration in Manila on October 28, 2024. Photo: AP
Asean

Asean at 60: peace, prosperity and polite paralysis

Non-interference bought decades of stability, but now breeds inaction. Is Asean due an overhaul?

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South China Sea

Opinion | Philippines’ belligerence towards China out of step with Asean trend

Manila’s security-first approach and alignment with extra-regional powers is at odds with the pragmatic direction of China-Asean relations.

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South China Sea

China’s ban on Philippine defence chief, family seen as warning shot to Manila

Analysts say Beijing may be trying to ‘kill the chicken to warn the monkeys’, as Manila faces calls for a tit-for-tat response.

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Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro talks to the media as he attends the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 29. Photo: AP
Diplomacy

Why US and China are watching Philippines’ Marcos at Russia-Asean talks

The visit comes amid expanded military ties with the US but is unlikely to signal a shift in Philippine foreign policy, analysts say.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr will head to Kazan from June 17 to 18 for the Asean-Russia Commemorative Summit. Photo: Pool via Reuters
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Will Marcos’ shipbuilding push deliver lasting capacity for Philippines?

The expansion of the West Cebu Industrial Park aims to strengthen the Philippines’ defence and economy, and cement dominance in shipbuilding.

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Taiwan

What’s behind Beijing’s seabed mapping east of Taiwan?

Expert says knowledge of the waters and seabed could allow ‘more effective submarine and anti-submarine operations’.

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Rodrigo Duterte

Hacking of Philippine Senate’s website spotlights widening political crisis

In earlier messages seen on the hacked website, which has been restored, a group demanded accountability and slammed ‘corrupt networks’.

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Armed Senate security personnel at the entrance of the Senate building in Manila on May 13 after gunshots were heard inside the Senate building. Photo: AFP
China-Philippines relations

China sanctions Philippine defence chief Gilberto Teodoro

Chinese foreign ministry says Teodoro is banned from entering China because of his ‘erroneous remarks’ on the country.

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Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)

‘Hour of desperation’: gambling helpline calls surge in the Philippines

Counsellors say the profiles of gambling addicts range from housewives to young Filipinos and urge Manila to tighten related rules.

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Earthquakes

Filipino mayor begs for helicopters to fly food to isolated quake survivors

The Glan mayor says 10 villages in his town of more than 100,000 people remain inaccessible, mostly due to landslides from Monday’s quake.

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Debris from a damaged house in Glan is scattered along the road following Monday’s magnitude 7.8 quake. Photo: Reuters
South China Sea

Mystery platform? China says it was carrying out research at Scarborough Shoal

Announcement comes after Manila lodged diplomatic protest over ‘illegal presence’ of a floating structure at the disputed atoll.

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A Chinese research institute says it deployed a floating platform at Scarborough Shoal for environmental monitoring and sampling. Photo: Handout via Reuters
Romeo Brawner Jnr

Philippine military chief vows to stay neutral as Marcos-Duterte feud deepens

Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr says the military will stay out of politics despite some unease within the ranks.

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Banking & finance

New York leads, but Asia-Pacific’s financial hubs are on the rise

The centre of gravity is shifting east in the financial services world, but New York remains the global benchmark, says Colliers report.

Taiwan

Beijing detects suspected Japanese spy planes near Taiwan

Two crewed electronic reconnaissance aircraft sent to ‘snoop around’ and observe mainland Chinese vessels, leading PLA analyst says.

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One of the two aircraft detected by Beijing sported the signature blue-and-white livery and markings of the Japan Coast Guard. Photo: Weibo
South Korea

Filipino ex-cop in South Korean’s murder caught after 2 years on the run

Rafael Dumlao had been in hiding since the Philippine Supreme Court upheld a lower court conviction for Jee Ick-joo’s murder.

Rafael Dumlao is seen in his booking photos. Photo: Department of the Interior and Local Government
Singapore

Singapore PM Lawrence Wong to visit Russia, first since Ukraine war sanctions

Ties between Singapore and Russia nosedived after the city state imposed sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Taiwan

Cheng Li-wun talks Trump, Taiwan and a future leadership run

KMT chief calls Trump’s anti-independence remarks a ‘positive step’, says her party’s return to power is the only path to peace.

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