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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

Why China’s new estimate on Greenland ice loss speed is 55% lower than America’s

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Visitors look out at melting icebergs near Ilulissat, Greenland, in July 2024. Photo: Getty Images

Tibetan river hosting world’s biggest dam is facing increasing flood risk: study

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The Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Tibet autonomous region of China. Photo: China News Service via Getty Images

China’s J-20 stealth jet designers plan to put powerful radar into aircraft wing

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A diagram of the multi-machine collaborative detection system. Photo: Handout

China carries out in-depth investigation of Turkey’s largest rare earth deposit

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China’s Bayan Obo holds the world’s largest rare earth element deposit. Photo: Reuters

Rocket debris hitting US homeland is ‘embarrassing’ for China, says astronomer

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The mystery object is likely to be a fragment from a Chinese satellite rocket, space experts say. Photo: Handout
MORE China Science NEWS
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will “reaffirm America’s commitment to peace through strength”, according to the Pentagon. Photo: dpa
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Pentagon chief Hegseth to visit Philippines to meet US allies at Asean events

SCMP has previously reported that Quad and Squad meetings were being planned on the sidelines of Asean events.

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China’s military drills

China’s Liaoning and US aircraft carrier may sail in Philippine Sea at same time

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The Philippines

Filipinos split on Marcos’ sea handling amid row over Chinese envoy’s remarks

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China-Asean relations

‘Opportunistic’: experts weigh Manila’s minilateral agenda ahead of Trump-Xi talks

Philippine push for US-linked security ties alongside Asean chair duties triggers debate on regional unity and flexibility towards China.

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The Squad informal defence grouping of the United States, Philippines, Japan and Australia aims to counter China’s influence in the region. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | Quad confirmed, Manila envoy signals likely ‘Squad’ talks before Trump-Xi summit

Philippine ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez also says he hopes Asean will become like Nato, capable of handling its own security.

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US military

Could US advances in drone command give it an edge over the PLA in a Taiwan war?

F-22 and aircraft carrier tests showcase new ways to command drones that could redefine air and naval warfare.

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China-Philippines relations

China says it allowed Philippines to resupply warship amid diplomatic tensions

Latest mission to disputed South China Sea shoal comes after Manila summoned Beijing’s ambassador over remarks it deemed threatening.

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The BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era warship deliberately grounded by the Philippines at Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to reinforce its territorial claim in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

Taiwan’s Iran-style attack drone could swamp PLA air defences: analysts

Newly tested Shahed-style model could reach military targets on Chinese mainland and force Beijing to spend heavily on interception.

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US-China relations

US troops in South Korea must be ready for missions beyond peninsula: commander

Eighth Army chief stresses regional readiness as Washington pushes Seoul to take greater responsibility for its own defence.

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US-China relations

China close to matching US spending on ‘new way of war’, senator warns

Dave McCormick calls for closer cooperation on hi-tech military equipment with American allies like Japan and South Korea to counter Beijing.

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The US is falling behind in drone production, US Senator Dave McCormick warned. Photo: Shutterstock
China-Japan relations

Chinese military vessels and spy drones track Keen Sword war games off Japan

Surveillance coincides with US anti-ship missiles and Japanese long-range weapons deploying near Taiwan during exercises.

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Japan says a BZK-005 reconnaissance drone was among aircraft flying between its islands on Monday as Tokyo and Washington commenced joint drills. Photo: Japan Ministry of Defence
Mainland China

PLA Navy followed US vessel on patrol in South China Sea hotspot, Beijing says

The USS Charleston allegedly entered waters near Sabina Shoal, where Chinese and Philippine coastguards clashed last month.

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China's military weapons

Is China building a fleet of drone motherships to extend its naval reach?

Images of a 150-metre vessel on the Pearl River show features resembling those of a larger ship recently launched in Shanghai.

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China-Philippines relations

Chinese envoy denies threatening Philippines after saying a war may be easy to win

Foreign ministry in Manila summoned ambassador Jing Quan after his comments further inflamed long-running tensions.

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Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro summoned the Chinese ambassador Jing Quan to issue a formal protest. Photo: AFP
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.

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US soldiers stand beside an air defence system during joint military exercises in Zambales province, the Philippines, in April. Photo: Reuters
Asean

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

On the president’s list are supply-chain security, critical minerals, technology cooperation, AI and investment in the US, experts say.

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The Philippines

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

Despite support and progress on the Luzon Economic Corridor and Pax Silica initiatives, Manila faces many challenges and much competition.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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
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.

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A screengrab shows a Chinese coastguard ship firing its water cannon next to a Philippine coastguard ship during a medical evacuation of a Philippine Navy personnel near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on October 8. Photo: Philippines Coast Guard / AFP
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.

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.

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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.

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The deployment of the USS George Washington to the Middle East was among moves Mark Montgomery says the effects of moving carriers from the Indo-Pacific may last until 2030. Photo: Reuters
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’.

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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.

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