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South China Sea
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South China Sea

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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

‘Reduce reliance’: can US and Europe break free from China’s rare earth grip?

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

China completes key lander test in preparation for crewed moon mission by 2030

A prototype of the four-legged Lanyue (“embrace the moon”) lander. Photo: China Manned Space Agency

China plots pathway to tech supremacy through brain-computer interfaces

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Doctors inspect a brain-computer interface in Shanghai in March. Neuroscience will be a key player in the US-China tech rivalry. Photo: Xinhua

Scorch marks at Deep Blue’s test site in China point to reusable rocket failure

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Deep Blue Aerospace, which last year suffered a crash landing when testing its Nebula-1 prototype (pictured) is believed to have encountered another failure in recent weeks. Photo: handout

China and Pakistan expand tech collaboration to nuclear power, space and AI

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A rocket carrying the Pakistan Remote-Sensing Satellite blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China’s Sichuan Province on July 31. Photo: Xinhua
MORE China Science NEWS
The Observatory says there are still uncertainties about the movement and intensity of a tropical cyclone in the North Pacific. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong Observatory expects showers early next week

Weather will also be mainly fine and very hot across southern China over next couple of days, forecaster says.

The Philippines

Philippines, India mark strategic leap in 75 years of ties amid China tensions

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China-India relations

Beijing ‘on high alert’ for disruption after Philippine-India navy patrol: PLA

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The Philippines

Philippines rejects Chinese ‘fake news’ broadcast of South China Sea clash

Manila claims the video of a maritime confrontation broadcast by state media was old, recycled footage from a past encounter.

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Armed Chinese personnel intercept Philippine troops on a resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal on June 17, 2024. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines/AP
Taiwan

Taiwan and mainland China coastguards engage in close Dongsha Island encounter

Vessels come within a nautical mile of each other in a day-long stand-off in the northern South China Sea.

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The Philippines

India, Philippines launch first joint South China Sea patrol

The historic joint patrol began as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr travelled to India for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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China’s coastguard

China’s coastguard tows Philippine ship after tense maritime clash in new video

Beijing uses strongest language yet to describe South China Sea confrontations with Manila in footage aired by CCTV.

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Footage released by CCTV on Friday shows a six-minute confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Renai Jiao, in the South China Sea. Photo: Junhao
China-Japan relations

Will US-Japan nuclear talks ease Tokyo’s concern over a Taiwan Strait conflict?

Chinese defence ministry says Japan should have a deep understanding that nuclear war must not be fought, and can never be won.

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The Philippines

India sends warships to Philippines for joint South China Sea patrol

Analysts suggest this marks a shift in India’s regional presence, extending its ‘necklace of diamonds’ strategy eastward.

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The Philippines

Philippines to ask ‘friendly countries’ for help freeing Houthi-held sailors

The Iran-backed Houthis released footage on Monday of crew members missing after Red Sea attacks on the Eternity C and Magic Seas cargo ships.

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Plumes of smoke rise from reported explosions on the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas, which was attacked by Houthi-affiliated fighters this month. Photo: Ansarullah Media Centre/AFP
Thailand

Thailand-Cambodia truce holds, but Asean faces ‘reality check’

While a ceasefire offers relief, the crisis has exposed the limitations of Anwar’s informal diplomacy and Asean’s foundational principles.

Armoured personnel carriers are seen on a road near the Cambodia border in Thailand’s Sisaket province on Tuesday, a day after the ceasefire was agreed. Photo: Reuters
The Philippines

‘You should be ashamed’: Marcos Jnr blasts corrupt officials in annual address

In his shortest Sona to date, the Philippine president mostly avoided talking about foreign policy issues.

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The Philippines

Beijing promised Manila billions in development aid. Why did it fall so short?

New study shows China disbursed US$700 million out of a promised US$30.5 billion, with analysts blaming political tensions for the gap.

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Taiwan

Opinion | Which countries will pick sides in a US-China conflict over Taiwan?

Not only would few countries wish to get involved in such a conflict, it’s not clear that the US itself has an appetite for it.

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Illustration: Stephen Case
The Philippines

Will more US missiles in Philippines deter or provoke South China Sea conflict?

With the placement of missile and drone systems, analysts debate if the Philippines will become a forward-operating platform or a flashpoint.

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A US Marine Air Defence Integrated System fires at a drone during a joint Philippines-US military exercise in San Antonio, Zambales province, northern Philippines, on April 27. Photo: AP
Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong Observatory issues amber rainstorm warning

Broad trough of low pressure is bringing showers and thunderstorms to the coast of Guangdong, forecaster says.

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China’s military drills

China, Vietnam set for first joint army drills, Beijing’s defence ministry says

Military ties have deepened in recent months as the close economic partners seek ways to navigate US tariffs.

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Vietnam

35 dead as tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay

The vessel was carrying 46 passengers and three crew members when it overturned because of sudden heavy rain.

The tourist boat (centre) that capsized is towed back to the port in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, on Sunday. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Philippines seeks economic strength as Marcos heads to US for Trump talks

The Philippine president aims to secure a US trade deal and bolster security ties with Washington during his visit.

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China-Philippines relations

Beijing warns Chinese students of security and safety risks in Philippines

Ministry of Education says public security in the Philippines has been unstable and Chinese have frequently been targeted.

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SCMP Highlights

US-China trade deal clues, flight to Hong Kong diverted: SCMP daily highlights

From what a US-China trade deal could look like to the Type 076 Sichuan amphibious assault ship, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

US trade representative Jamieson Greer, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng and China’s international trade representative Li Chenggang discuss trade relations and tariffs in Geneva on May 10, 2025. Photo: Keystone/EDA/Handout via Reuters
US-China relations

Will US-built naval facilities strengthen Philippines’ hand in South China Sea?

The maintenance facilities in Palawan are in a strategically important location and one analyst says they may help Manila ‘counter’ China.

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The Oyster Bay naval facility in Palawan province, where the US is planning to build new repair capacity. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

Indonesia steps into the spotlight at France’s Bastille Day parade

The Indonesian president’s state visit allows him to show himself as a leader who can negotiate on equal terms with the West, analysts say.

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The Philippines

Will the Philippines sue China over coral reef destruction?

Investigators said divers were unable to remove a huge anchor still blocking sunlight from corals near Thitu Island in the South China Sea.

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The Philippines

US-backed boat hub aims to boost Philippines' strategic South China Sea edge

Located on Palawan Island, the facility will enhance Manila’s operational resilience and help counter ‘grey-zone’ tactics, analysts say.

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Philippine vessels anchored at Oyster Bay naval facility in Palawan province. The US Navy plans to build two boat repair facilities for smaller craft at the site. Photo: AFP
China’s Communist Party

Beijing scholars map out Taiwan’s post-reunification governance, including force

Survey of academic papers points to a noticeable increase since 2019 in consideration of a ‘one country, two systems’ framework for the island.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Science

Chinese scientists thank Nasa for sharing data critical to deep-sea mining

Chinese oceanographers say information from Nasa satellites is indispensable for determining ‘distribution of mineral resources’.

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SCMP Highlights

Overcrowding in Bali, secret past of Kim Jong-un’s mother: 7 Asia highlights

From the secret past of Kim Jong-un’s mother to Mahathir Mohamad marking a milestone, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

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