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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

Chinese researchers achieve ‘slow motion’ in quantum chaos for better data

Liu Zhenghe of the Institute of Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences is part of the team that recently observed a prethermal plateau in a 78-qubit quantum processor. Photo: Xinhua

‘Romance’ between scientists and AI leads to progress on age-old maths problem

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The kissing number: how many identical spheres can touch a central sphere of the same size without the spheres overlapping? Photo: Handout

China on track to complete world’s ‘most difficult’ railway project before 2030

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A train seen during a trial run in 2022 on the Dali-Baoshan section of the railway line in Yunnan province. Photo: Xinhua

Everything we know about China’s mysterious, futuristic Nantianmen Project

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A CCTV report said the “space-sky integrated” fighter jets of the sci-fi Nantianmen Project would one day become reality. Photo: CCTV

Chinese scientists hit breakthrough on 2D semiconductor wafers

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One of the core obstacles to commercialising 2D materials has been the difficulty of producing them uniformly over large areas and at a high quality. Photo: Shutterstock
MORE China Science NEWS
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses parliament in Tokyo on Friday. Photo: AP
China-Japan relations

What next for China ties as Japan’s Takaichi targets Chinese ‘coercion’?

Analysts say Japanese leader is walking a fine line to ensure Trump’s support ahead of US visit while also hedging her stance on Beijing.

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Japan

Takaichi vows to make Japan ‘strong’, says no to ‘reckless’ fiscal policy

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The Philippines

US missile deployments in Philippines signal deeper strategic shift in region

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China’s coastguard

Chinese coastguard reveals growing reliance on drones at Scarborough Shoal

Lunar New Year post gives rare look at the role of uncrewed aircraft in training and operations near disputed South China Sea reef.

Qiu Canhui operates a drone aboard the Chinese coastguard vessel Wanshan near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on February 11. Photo: Xinhua
The Philippines

‘Knowing your friend’: Japan to join US-Philippines drills for first time

Australia also joins the fray as the US and its allies shift away from simple bilateral deals towards tighter regional security networks.

Asean

Why big power rivalry poses ‘main threat’ to Asean maritime security

Smaller players ‘become pawns’ in a bigger geopolitical game as ‘strategic mistrust among major powers’ grows, Asean leaders say in Munich.

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China's military weapons

Why the growing network of American MQ-9 drones is a challenge for China

Reapers can carry out both reconnaissance and strike missions and an increasing number of US allies and partners are buying them.

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The MQ-9 Reaper has been deployed as part of the US military’s surveillance network in the Indo-Pacific. Photo: Reuters
China-Philippines relations

Opinion | Can Manila’s South China Sea strategy of defiance and diplomacy hold?

China and the Philippines are both signalling openness to diplomacy alongside continued military flexing, but this may not be sustainable.

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China’s navy

Why Chinese navy still trails the US in high-stakes game of underwater recovery

PLA Navy risks exposing sensitive technology as factors including more open-sea operations heighten crash risks, military magazine warns.

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China’s military

Xi’s new year greeting reveals PLA Cyberspace Force post in South China Sea

Analyst says deployment signals Chinese military’s cyber warfare capabilities ‘are no longer confined to the mainland’.

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CCTV shows a section of China’s cyberspace force stationed on Fiery Cross Reef. Photo: Xinhua
China-Philippines relations

The Philippines rebukes China over travel ban on Kalayaan officials

Beijing responds to local government declaration that the Chinese ambassador is persona non grata.

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Chinese and Philippine coastguards have tussled repeatedly over the South China Sea. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP
China-Philippines relations

Amid Chinese embassy row, Philippines eyes boosting Spratlys population

Filipino leaders from Kalayaan and Chinese embassy officials in Manila have clashed over entry bans for personnel on either side.

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US-China relations

US establishes new army foothold in Southeast Asia to ‘contain China’: analyst

US deploys new rotational force to Southeast Asian ally, a move experts say is aimed at deterring China and supporting Typhon missile system.

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China-Philippines relations

How Manila’s ‘naming and shaming’ challenges Beijing’s South China Sea stance

Analysts say the Philippines’ approach of ‘assertive transparency’ may be wearing thin at home and in the region.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
The Philippines

Leaked letter spotlights Philippines’ South China Sea tug of war

The letter by Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro warns against public exchanges that could narrow the country’s ‘diplomatic space’.

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A Philippine coastguard vessel sails in disputed waters of the South China Sea during a maritime drill. Photo: EPA-EFE

Challenges and pathways in the South China Sea

Beijing and its neighbours are leveraging new frameworks and diplomacy as they navigate the challenges of their competing claims and ambitions in the contested waters. This three-part series explores the evolving diplomatic and strategic tools being used to reshape the South China Sea in 2026.

The Philippines

The Philippines wants to seal South China Sea code of conduct. Can it deliver?

As 2026 Asean chair, Manila has highlighted its push to finalise within its term a code of conduct covering the contested waters.

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US-China relations

China may overtake US economically, still risk war in Taiwan Strait: survey

Most forecasters expect US military dominance to endure, even as many believe mainland China may try to seize Taiwan within a decade.

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The report surveyed 447 geostrategists and foresight practitioners from government, private-sector, academic and non-profit institutions. Photo: AdobeStock
China Conference: Southeast Asia

Ambassador urges ‘shared prosperity’ in China-Asean ties as protectionism grows

Wang Qing says both sides should uphold multilateralism and oppose external interference, even as Asean members seek trade deals with US.

China's military weapons

China lifts veil on secretive underwater combat vehicle at Saudi defence show

Shipbuilding giant showcases new surface-to-subsurface wet submersible as Beijing eyes buyers in large Middle Eastern market.

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Malaysia

‘Balancing act’: why Malaysia is boosting its missile arsenal amid maritime row

The navy is adding new Norwegian and Turkish missiles to replace its ageing arsenal of decades-old Exocets.

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A Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace naval strike missile is test launched from a ship. Photo: Kongsberg
Russia

Why High Seas Treaty could change ‘rules of the game’ in South China Sea row

Effective January 17, the framework protects unique marine biodiversity and ecosystems in areas beyond any individual country’s jurisdiction.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
The Philippines

Why Australia is picking up the tab for Philippine military upgrades

Canberra’s security interests are more closely aligned with Manila than those of Washington, observers say.

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China-Philippines relations

China, Philippines hold first talks in over a year: South China Sea thaw ahead?

Philippine president rejects calls for Manila to declare Chinese ambassador persona non grata even as frictions spike in South China Sea.

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Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign

Hainan official who helped build South China Sea reefs faces corruption probe

Xiao Jie’s detention is said to have shocked local officials given his lead role in running the Beijing-held islands in the disputed waters.

Official media credited Xiao with helping to “safeguard” the South China Sea and building facilities on the disputed reefs. Photo: Getty Images
Indonesia

Australia, Indonesia sign security deal in ‘watershed moment’

Canberra has signed a series of defence, police and aid deals across the Pacific region to try to boost its influence and limit China’s.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) chats with Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto as they walk to their meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Friday. Photo: EPA
Malaysia

Malaysian waters see return of oil transfer by ‘dark fleet’ of tankers

A crackdown against two vessels off Penang was the first disruption of such a ship-to-ship oil transfer in the state for over 10 years.

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The Philippines

Calls grow for tougher rules to track foreign-paid ‘trolls’ in Philippines

Retired justice says updating the Foreign Agents Act will help deter individuals from espousing pro-Beijing content.

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