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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.
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Environment

China court auctions 100 tonnes of live crocodiles for US$550,000, no delivery

A court in China is auctioning off 100 tonnes of live crocodiles at a starting price of US$550,000, sparking much amusement online. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

China

Trump threatens China with added 50% tariffs if Beijing does not drop levies

US President Donald Trump, seen on Sunday, has threatened China with more tariffs after Beijing imposed its own levies on US goods in the rapidly escalating trade war. Photo: AFP

Global Economy

China’s retaliatory tariffs on US show Beijing has adapted since 2018: analysts

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Analysts say an escalation in the US-China trade war does not come as a big surprise to Beijing. Photo: AFP

Opinion

My Take | The United States, not China, turns out to be the real bogeyman

A screen showing stock prices at the end of the trading day on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on April 4, 2025. World financial markets are continuing to react to reciprocal tariffs that US President Donald Trump implemented. Photo: EPA-EFE

Trending in China

Impressive China son pays off parent’s US$2.8 million debt by teaching calligraphy

An artist in China has paid off his parent’s massive debts by teaching calligraphy and writing ornate scrolls. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
Philippines’ Kanlaon Volcano erupts, spewing ash 4km high
Volcanoes

Video | Kanlaon Volcano erupts in Philippines

South China Sea

South China Sea: is Beijing’s code of conduct ‘milestone’ progress or a tactic?

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Volcanoes

Volcano erupts in central Philippines, spewing ash 4km high

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Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine politician’s ‘sleep with single mums’ remarks spark misogyny row

The action against Christian Sia is ‘a test case’ on the use of sexually charged remarks while campaigning, elections commission says.

Christian Sia at a campaign rally. Photo: Facebook/Christian “Ian” Sia
India

Letters | Why India is both world’s happiest place and No 118 behind Ukraine

Readers discuss the widely varying results of different global happiness surveys, Duterte’s arrest by the ICC, and waste reduction at the Hong Kong Sevens.

Asia travel

In Philippines, illegal fishermen turn ecotourism operators

Siargao islanders who used to catch fish illegally and cut down mangroves now replant the trees and run ecotours to the community’s benefit.

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Rodrigo Duterte

From The Hague to home: Sara Duterte returns to Philippines for midterm clash

‘My job here is done’, Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter said before her departure from the Netherlands, where her father is in ICC detention.

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Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio arrives to address people gathered outside the International Criminal Court in The Hague on March 14. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

My Take | The United States, not China, turns out to be the real bogeyman

The significance of Trump’s tariffs is that they have destroyed the credibility of America on which its global alliances have long depended.

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South China Sea

Philippines disputes China’s arrest of alleged Filipino spies

The Philippines says the three were ordinary citizens and the arrests could be retaliation for Manila’s arrest of alleged Chinese spies.

Law

‘Limits’ to Filipino hospitality: Russian vlogger arrested over harassment

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, 33, faces a litany of complaints lodged against him, after he filmed himself verbally abusing locals and causing a nuisance.

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, a Russian vlogger who went viral on social media for harassing Filipinos in Taguig City. Photo: Philippines Bureau of Immigration
China-Philippines relations

Mounting China-Philippine spy cases risk rattling economic relations

Chinese firms might consider the atmosphere ‘not friendly enough’ to continue investing in the Philippines, analyst says.

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On February 25, Philippine authorities showed seized equipment and Chinese nationals, pictured in the background with alleged Philippine accomplices, arrested on espionage charges. Photo: AFP
Rodrigo Duterte

US horror writer mistaken for Duterte’s lawyer: ‘not how I wanted to get famous’

Diehard supporters of the Philippine ex-president flooded Nicholas Kaufmann’s Facebook page, demanding he bring their hero home.

China-Asean relations

China detains 3 Philippine nationals on suspicion of spying

State media publishes images of the trio being questioned by the police after Manila detained a number of alleged Chinese spies.

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South China Sea

Opinion | Why the Philippines can’t count on the US’ strategic love

The Trump administration has offered reassurances to Manila, but mixed signals and global tariffs mean there are still reasons to be wary.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
US-ally trade wars

‘Bad news for all’ as Asia hard hit by Trump tariffs, amid trade war fears

‘Disproportionately stiffer’ tariffs for the region will be detrimental to growth for export-reliant Asian economies, experts warn.

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Cargo ships are loaded with containers while docked at the port of Bangkok on Thursday. The US imposed a 36 per cent levy on Thailand. Photo: Reuters
South China Sea

Philippines offered 20 US F-16 fighter jets in major defence upgrade

Experts stress the urgent need to upgrade the Philippine Air Force due to its limited capabilities in defending against China’s military presence.

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Asean

Southeast Asians expect more US engagement amid Trump’s tariff call: survey

Singapore, one of the US’ closest partners in the region, is the most worried about the impact of Trump’s second term, a new survey shows.

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China-Philippines relations

Sinophobia among Philippine officials? China’s travel advisory spurs reflection

The advisory comes after incidents of harassment of Chinese citizens and a series of espionage and online gaming crackdowns by Manila.

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Seized equipment on display as Chinese nationals and their alleged Philippine accomplices arrested for alleged espionage are presented at a press conference in Manila in February. Photo: AFP
China-Philippines relations

Philippines tells China possible F-16 jet deal not a threat to any nation

A security official said the planned acquisition is merely part of Manila’s efforts to modernise its military.

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Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine influencers grilled over Duterte ‘fake news’ admit errors amid tears

Some critics welcomed the accountability for social media figures, while others felt the hearing focused more on settling scores than addressing structural issues.

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Earthquakes

Deaths from future big quake in Philippines may surpass 50,000: seismologist

The forecast comes after a 7.7-magnitude quake in Myanmar last week left over 2,700 people dead and caused a building in Bangkok to collapse.

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A building collapsed after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit Santiago, Ilocos Sur province, Philippines, in 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE
US-China relations

China-US summit hopes fade as Trump 2.0 goes hard on tariffs, Taiwan: analysts

Washington has changed its tune on Beijing, mistakenly believing that China will yield, observer says.

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US President Donald Trump’s aggressive playbook towards China includes slapping tariffs, playing the Taiwan card, and flexing muscle through Indo-Pacific allies. Photo: EPA-EFE
Taiwan

Philippine military chief warns troops to prepare in event of Taiwan conflict

Manila’s involvement ‘inevitable’ given large presence of Filipino workers in Taiwan and Philippines-US defence ties, analysts say.

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SCMP Highlights

Singaporeans rediscover China, what Duterte’s downfall means: 7 Asia highlights

From rescuers’ battle in Myanmar quake to Japan’s ‘major disaster’ action plan, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

South China Sea

South China Sea: poor diplomacy and deep mistrust may spark crisis, expert warns

Region is in ‘stable tension’, analyst tells Boao Forum. ‘We already have so many actors in the region … It’s so crowded, this place’.

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Analyst Lucio Pitlo says the situation in the South China Sea, particularly in light of China-Philippines clashes, is becoming “untenable”. Photo: AFP
International Criminal Court

Duterte’s lawyer says ICC case ‘a kidnapping’, has grounds to throw out case

Duterte’s lawyer called for the ICC case to be dismissed, citing the Philippines’ withdrawal, and labelled Duterte’s detention a “political hit job”.

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gesturing as he delivers his state of the nation address at Congress in Manila. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Opinion | Why Duterte drama should inspire Malaysia to reconsider joining ICC

If Malaysia is serious about its global legal credibility and commitment to justice, it must take this chance to return to the Rome Statute.

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South China Sea

Can Manila become Beijing’s ‘plus one’ amid South China Sea tensions?

The Philippines’ economic zones chief says Manila is being eyed as ‘the next preferred destination’ for China’s ‘plus-one’ strategy for firms dodging US tariffs.

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