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South China Sea
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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

PLA highlights ‘major danger signal’ from Japan in nuclear terror study

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China and four other nuclear powers have stated “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought”. Photo: Reuters

China and Russia launch first sea ice survey as Arctic tensions swell

Members of China’s 16th Arctic Ocean Expedition team collect samples on August 9, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese naval study finds Trump’s love for ‘big guns’ may not be crazy after all

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US President Donald Trump unveils a new class of warships in December 2025, as part of the Golden Fleet naval initiative. Photo: AFP

China will never allow any country to achieve AI dominance: Victor Gao

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The United States is “weaponising and militarising AI”, according to Victor Gao. Photo: TNS

Study saying China’s solar policy hurt birds may have miscounted 2 billion egrets

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Egrets rest amongst solar panels at a “fishing and light complementary solar photovoltaic base” in Jiangsu province, China. Photo: AFP
MORE China Science NEWS
The USS Kitty Hawk backs into pier in Yokosuka, Japan. The ship repair capacity of regional allies in the western Pacific is essential to US naval capabilities. Photo: US Navy
US military

How Asian shipyards in Japan, Korea, Philippines keep US warships battle ready

Legal flexibility and regional partnerships allow US Seventh Fleet vessels to undergo complex overhauls closer to potential conflict zones.

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China-Philippines relations

Chinese armed trainer jets drive away Philippine aircraft over Scarborough Shoal

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China-Japan relations

How Japan aims to convert ageing warships into leverage to counter China

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Vietnam

South China Sea island build-up heightens Vietnam’s security concerns

Hanoi voices strong objections after reports emerge about Chinese construction works in the Paracels archipelago.

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A satellite image taken by Vantor on August 17 shows China’s construction work at Yagong Island. Photo: Vantor / AFP
Hong Kong weather

Higher typhoon warning possible based on Saudel’s course after rare resurgence

T1 signal will remain in force in Hong Kong, but tropical cyclone could change course after rare resurgence, bringing uncertainty.

China's military weapons

Tanker, transporter, controller: China’s Y-20 family expands its Pacific reach

Answer to strategic airlift shortage is becoming a family of support aircraft able to sustain combat missions deep into western Pacific.

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The Philippines

UK-Philippines troop deal to boost Nato’s South China Sea reach

If finalised, the UK would be the fourth Nato member to reach a deal with the Philippines allowing troops to train on each other’s soil.

Troops from the Philippines, Britain, the US, Japan and South Korea take part in a military exercise in the Philippines in 2023. Photo: Philippine Marine Corps / Handout
Accidents and disasters in China

‘Unprecedented’ path: revived Typhoon Saudel eastern and southern China

Heavy to torrential rain is forecast over the next three days, with authorities warning of floods, landslides and mudslides.

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Mainland China

Hong Kong keeps T1 signal in force as storm edges closer to Guangdong coast

Hong Kong Observatory says unless Saudel intensifies significantly, chance of strong winds generally over Hong Kong is not high.

Science

Chinese map of South China Sea floor has ‘twice the resolution’ of Western ones

More than two decades of effort sees Chinese researchers develop maps of ocean terrain up to five times more accurate than global models.

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Chinese researchers have developed maps of ocean terrain in claimed waters including the South China Sea, using methods up to five times more accurate than global models. Photo: Shutterstock
Singapore

Small state, big agenda: Singapore prepares to steer Asean through crisis

The city state takes the helm on Asean’s 60th anniversary amid civil war, tariff threats and rising global tensions.

Singapore’s Lawrence Wong attends an Asean meeting in 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE
Shanghai

Could joint oil and gas projects ease Beijing-Manila South China Sea tensions?

China and the Philippines could build trust by cooperating in ‘low-sensitivity’ areas such as energy and the environment, analysts say.

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Asean

Opinion | Why Southeast Asia isn’t buying the US’ offer of ‘flexible realism’

Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby talked up US partnerships with Asean nations during his trip to the region, but Washington’s actions contradict its ‘Asia first’ rhetoric.

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US-China relations

What China can do to secure trade routes in its coming high-seas struggle with US

Di Dongsheng argues it could take three decades for China to dominate access to ports, straits, canals and shipping lanes around the world.

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The era of open oceans could be drawing to a close, says academic Di Dongsheng, who urges Beijing to prepare “for struggle in a coming contest over sea power and the security of shipping routes”. Photo: Getty Images
The Philippines

Philippines’ rising military pensions risk triggering budget ‘time bomb’

The surge in pensions may weaken the country’s push to buy modern military assets to strengthen its deterrence.

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Philippine military servicemen take part in a live fire exercise during the annual US-Philippines joint Balikatan exercise in Rizal, Palawan, last year. Photo: AFP
SCMP Highlights

‘Smart’ diabetes probiotic; China’s missile AI tracker: 7 science highlights

From a proposed South China Sea robotic fortress to HIV cases at Wuhan port, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

Malaysia

‘I want to survive’: Malaysian commando adrift in South China Sea for 15 hours

The seaman was the last of six navy special forces personnel to be rescued after they missed their landing site and ended up in the sea.

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US-China relations

Trump pick Darline Graham wins election despite struggling over Taiwan question

The political newcomer wins Republican Senate nomination after failing to answer questions about South China Sea issues.

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Republican Senator Darline Graham addresses supporters on Tuesday after winning a special primary run-off to replace her brother, the late Lindsey Graham in the November general election. Photo: AP
The Philippines

Philippines to expand military drone fleet as South China Sea tensions rise

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has pitched a 6.3 per cent budget increase to fund the advanced drones and warships.

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The Philippines

Has Philippines’ Marcos missed his chance to stop the Dutertes?

Analysts say Marcos’ strategy of ‘accommodation over confrontation’ allowed the Duterte camp time to regroup and rebuild its political base.

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Asean

Opinion | How China can turn its ‘blue cradle’ into a bridge with Southeast Asia

A jointly governed, tiered South China Sea ocean data framework would transform knowledge of a contested sea into stewardship of a shared one.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Malaysia

Exclusive | Malaysia fears military ‘miscalculation’ near Sabah amid US-China rivalry

Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin says any escalation in areas close to Malaysia could have wider implications for its security.

Malaysia’s Minister of Defence Mohamed Khaled Nordin speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore in May. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong weather

Observatory keeps eye on low-pressure area, to consider issuing T1 over weekend

Forecaster says area of low pressure over northern part of South China Sea is moving westward and edging closer to Hainan.

China-Philippines relations

China to build monitoring station near disputed Scarborough Shoal

Beijing’s ecological initiatives around the South China Sea flashpoint have been a growing source of tension with Manila and Washington.

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US-China relations

Is South China Sea warship breakdown a sign US is ‘taxing reserve capacity’?

After USS Benfold lost power for four days last month, analysts say prolonged operations in the Middle East could be taking a toll.

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The USS Benfold was adrift without power in the South China for four days in July. Photo: Handout
Science

Chinese coastguard proposes turning South China Sea isles into robotic fortress

Paper details autonomous defence system of air, sea and underwater drones to counter growing threat of uncrewed swarm attacks.

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Underwater drones, along with their aerial and surface counterparts, could be used to transform defences in the South China Sea. Photo: Reuters
The Philippines

Is Philippines’ aim to become an arms exporter like India overly ambitious?

The timeline for the Philippines to develop self-reliance in defence is long, while the political will may be lacking, analysts say.

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China-Philippines relations

Beijing and Manila clash over arrests of ‘illegal’ workers as tensions worsen

Manila rejects criticism of defence chief – who accused China of ‘squid tactics’ – just as president indicated he wanted to ‘reset’ ties.

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