Advertisement
Advertisement
South China Sea
TOPIC
 / location

South China Sea

South China Sea
South China Sea
The latest news on South China Sea territorial disputes. The contrasting claims have been an ongoing point of contention among several countries including China, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines.
LATEST China Science NEWS

Qian Jiang, former Johns Hopkins’ eye institute expert, joins Chinese hospital

videocam
Professor Qian Jiang, (centre) was welcomed at a ceremony on October 5 at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou, part of Zhejiang University. Photo: Handout

Landmark China trial achieves 84% efficacy treating cancer with waste water tech

videocam
Chinese scientists have conducted a first-of-its-kind clinical trial treating malignant tumours the way they treat waste water – by forming a nano-carbon iron injection. Photo: Getty Images

New details emerge in US probe of Chinese-American scientists over China ties

videocam
30
Critics argue that investigations such as the China Initiative selectively and unfairly target scholars of Chinese descent by criminalising standard international academic partnerships. Photo: Shutterstock

China’s R&D spending grows by 8.2% as US seeks further funding cuts

videocam
15
The corporate sector drove the bulk of China’s R&D investment in 2025, with enterprise spending accounting for over 77 per cent of the total. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Sorry, Darwin: Chinese fossil shows that not all early birds evolved to fly

videocam
4
Yuezhuornis yangyuanensis is the earliest known flightless bird. Illustration: Cheung Chung-tat
MORE China Science NEWS
US soldiers stand beside an air defence system during joint military exercises in Zambales province, the Philippines, in April. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

How land power could help US forces counter China in the Indo-Pacific

US commanders say the army’s long-range missiles, air defences and ground operations are vital to deterring China and protecting its forces.

videocam
8
Asean

Trump’s second Asean summit presence comes at a price for region

videocam
The Philippines

Opinion | Philippines’ ‘China-free’ manufacturing strategy is a high-risk bet

videocam
9
The Philippines

Envoy says China could win conflict, Manila claims it’s a ‘thinly veiled threat’

Philippine President Marcos Jnr says comments by ambassador Jing Quan run counter to efforts to ease South China Sea stand-offs.

videocam
11
China’s ambassador to the Philippines, Jing Quan, says parties accusing China of being a troublemaker “try to hype up the false narrative theory, try to incite that kind of hatred between the two countries”. Photo: Handout
2026 Xi-Trump summits

US holds ‘unusual’ civil-military meeting in Tokyo ahead of Trump’s China trip

Diplomatic, administrative and military officials said to have exchanged intelligence and aligned Asia-Pacific priorities and messaging.

videocam
6
China’s military drills

China’s Liaoning carrier heads to Pacific as US, Japan prepare for drills

Timing of PLA naval training in western Pacific could overlap with expanded Keen Sword exercise near Taiwan involving 57,000 troops.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Philippines

Will South China Sea’s code of conduct remain elusive as deadline looms?

The proposed code can only succeed if it sets clear rules to prevent clashes at sea rather than to resolve territorial claims, analysts say.

Philippine Navy and China coastguard personnel clash near a grounded Philippine warship at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea in July. Photo: cnsphoto/Reuters
A Philippine resupply vessel is hit by a Chinese coastguard water canon blast, causing injuries to multiple crew members as they tried to enter the Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea in March 2024. Photo: AP
The Philippines

No ‘new model’: Philippines stands firm on cutting maritime hotlines with China

Manila says the channels failed to improve trust and were used by Beijing as a ‘smokescreen’ to mask ‘aggressive actions’ at sea.

videocam
6
SCMP Highlights

Marcos on South China Sea row; Thailand’s iron cage beds: 7 Asia highlights

From US stealth jets in Indian drills to Luckin Coffee’s Singapore expansion, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

US military

Systems to counter missiles and drones take centre stage at US defence expo

Emphasis on air and missile defence at AUSA exhibition reflects concern over aerial threats as conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East drag on.

The Leonidas GV, a mobile defence system to counter drones developed by General Dynamics and Epirus, on show at the AUSA exhibition in Washington. Photo: Seong Hyeon Choi
China-Philippines relations

Beijing and Manila trade blame over South China Sea medical mission

The Philippines also reports seeing 101 Chinese vessels near contested features in September, nearly double August’s total.

videocam
Philippine Navy personnel transfer a colleague to a Philippine Coast Guard rigid boat while Chinese Coast Guard personnel aboard their rigid boat watch on, during a medical evacuation near Second Thomas Shoal. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/AFP
US-China relations

US’ transactional Taiwan policy puts Indo-Pacific at risk, ex-officials warn

The United States has ‘not been in a weaker position in the western Pacific’ than now, former American commander says.

videocam
Mainland China

Did a US warship lose power chasing a PLA destroyer in the South China Sea?

PLA Navy officer tells state media the unnamed foreign ship’s ‘radar stopped transmitting and its navigation lights went dark’.

videocam
48
The Philippines

Marcos says Philippines ‘resigned’ to managing South China Sea dispute

Speaking in Singapore, the Philippine leader warned a simple misstep at sea could trigger an out-of-control clash.

9
A reporter takes a video over Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea in February 2024. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Opinion | Can US-China AI talks keep autonomous weapons within bounds?

Rapid military AI development makes agreed limits on mission scopes, operational areas and target parameters an urgent priority.

videocam
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth gives a State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico on September 30 in Quantico, Virginia. Photo: Getty Images/TNS
The Philippines

How will new longer-range aircraft boost Manila’s South China Sea surveillance?

The more ‘other countries aid the Philippines, the more likely that they will take an interest’ in the waters, analyst says.

videocam
8
Singapore

Why Singapore must be able to say ‘no’ to US, China to preserve trust

Vivian Balakrishnan says Singapore must maintain trust with Washington and Beijing without becoming a proxy for either.

7
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China-Latin America relations

Bogota mayor urges Chinese metro builders to speed up work

Colombia’s comptroller found road works 52 per cent behind on the US$5.75 billion line, due for trial runs in September 2027.

videocam
Bogota’s first metro line is scheduled to open in March 2028. Photo: Handout
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Open Questions | Zheng Yongnian on battling for the upper hand ahead of the next China-US summit

Political scientist evaluates China-US relations, AI dialogue, and why head-of-state diplomacy remains vital for global stability.

videocam
Taiwan

Taiwan coastguard uses water cannons to warn off mainland Chinese fishing vessel

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration reveals incident occurred 27 nautical miles east of Dongsha Island in the South China Sea on Friday.

videocam
20
US-Asean relations

Exclusive | Donald Trump is planning trip to the Philippines for Asean summit

Trump may also be accompanied by his wife, Melania, who has not travelled to Asia with her husband since 2020, sources say.

videocam
11
The White House is discussing plans for Donald Trump to go to Manila for the Asean summit, a trip on which he could be accompanied by his wife, Melania. Photo: Reuters
China-Asean relations

Chinese language teachers leave the Philippines over safety fears

Educational exchanges are in the firing line as tensions between the two countries spill over into the classroom.

videocam
Jinan University in Guangzhou has trained Chinese-language teachers in the Philippines. Photo: Shutterstock
Malaysia

Why Sabah has Malaysia watching South China Sea tensions more closely

The proximity of US-backed Philippine bases on Balabac Island has raised concerns in Malaysia of a possible spillover in a regional conflict.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Open Questions | Zheng Yongnian on what to expect from future Xi-Trump meetings

After so-called G2, Chinese and US presidents have more to accomplish on trade and mutual security when they meet at G20 and Apec summits, political scientist says.

videocam
The Philippines

What does Philippines seek with new Thitu map in South China Sea?

By publishing coordinates, charts and the legitimate basis of its position, the Philippines is aiming to reduce legal ambiguity, experts say.

videocam
Thitu residents fish off the island. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem
US military

Why US missile shortfalls raise stakes for a potential Taiwan Strait conflict

Ammunition could prove to be the defining issue as mainland China’s defence industry appears to be operating at an elevated tempo.

videocam
42
Taiwan is set to receive all 29 Himars systems from its initial orders by the end of this year, with another 82 systems approved for purchase. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Did Beijing and Washington agree on a crisis prevention deal, or not?

While the Chinese side says the nations agreed to conclude a deal, a US official reportedly denies the discussion took place.

videocam
7
The Philippines

Philippine coastguard warns ‘we will run out of ships’ as budget cuts bite

Ronnie Gil Gavan says his agency is functioning at almost ‘90 per cent operational tempo’, leaving a very short time between overhauls.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement