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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

How Chinese forensics team ruled out murder in mystery of a dismembered woman

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A peer-reviewed paper published in China details a rare case in forensic science when postmortem analysis overturned investigators' initial assumptions. Photo: Shutterstock

China revives desert moss in space lab as it tests hi-tech tools for missions

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China’s prototype Qingzhou experimental cargo spacecraft and two small satellites were launched on March 30. Photo: CAS Innovation Academy for Microsatellites

China conducts ground test of hypersonic ramjet that can change shape in flight

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A Northwestern Polytechnical University hypersonic vehicle lifts off in northwestern China last year. The university’s researchers have reported a new breakthrough in graphite-sealed engine technology with implications for the US-China hypersonic race. Photo: Handout

Chinese tech makes desalinating seawater cheaper than producing bottled water

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The researchers developed a method to weave nanoparticles into a three-dimensional photothermal evaporation material, significantly boosting the efficiency of converting solar energy to drive desalination. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinese farmer’s forest of cameras fails to bear fruit in compensation bid

Images of the cameras set tounges wagging online. Photo: Handout
MORE China Science NEWS
Manila said four Chinese vessels shadowed a US-Philippine maritime exercise near the disputed Scarborough Shoal over the weekend. Photo: Handout
China-Philippines relations

PLA vessels shadow US-Philippine drills in South China Sea near disputed shoal

Beijing says joint patrols in waters near Scarborough Shoal undermined regional stability and vows to safeguard ‘territorial sovereignty’.

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US-China relations

Trump backs ‘Six Assurances’ to Taiwan but no arms sale timeline: US diplomat

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US military

US shifts South China Sea reconnaissance towards drones, Philippines: think tank

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Mexico

China discovers rare coral reef blue hole in disputed Scarborough Shoal

Beijing has used law enforcement patrols and scientific study to boost its control over the contested South China Sea area.

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Unlike most of the world’s blue holes – which were once caves on land – the newly discovered blue hole within the Scarborough Shoal was formed by a coral reef. Photo: Ministry of Ecology and Environment
China's military weapons

PLA’s advanced carrier Fujian transits Taiwan Strait amid military drills

The vessel’s passage comes a day after island starts a five-day exercise to boost its combat readiness.

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The Philippines

Chinese-Filipino groups downplay Sinophobia over earthquake aid in Philippines

The community is drawing attention partly due to the South China Sea row and spying cases involving Chinese nationals in the Philippines.

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Science

China builds record-breaking 100-metre observation tower in South China Sea

Built to withstand super typhoons, the structure will help collect detailed information about atmospheric conditions and extreme weather.

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The tower is designed to collect more detailed data about atmospheric conditions. Photo: Handout
China's military weapons

What is China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning testing – and why does it matter?

Forty days of training in South China Sea and western Pacific Ocean comes amid a push for extended range and amphibious coordination.

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China’s navy

China and Philippines in rare naval stand-off near disputed Scarborough Shoal

Media outlet says incident coincided with end of Salaknib 2026 joint military exercise also involving US, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

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The Philippines

Strong ties, even stronger dollar propel US to top of Philippine tourism market

The Philippines, however, attracted just 2.1 million of Southeast Asia’s 48.5 million tourist arrivals in the first four months of this year.

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Tourists take photos at Chocolate Hills on Bohol Island in Central Visayas province in the Philippines in December 2025. Photo: AFP
China-Japan relations

China says it warned off multiple Japanese ‘provocations’ during carrier drills

State media airs footage of several encounters involving warships and planes during the Liaoning carrier group’s recent operations in the Pacific.

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Screenshot from the video aired on Chinese state TV showing a Japanese warship. Photo: CCTV
Asean

Opinion | Beyond geopolitics: for Asean, China is a structural reality

Faced with the structural reality of China, Southeast Asia is trying to turn it into an advantage without losing control of its choices.

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The Philippines

Philippines taps ‘smarter, cheaper’ Australian drones to deter China

The underwater drones could enhance Manila’s capability to record Beijing’s intrusion in its waters, analysts say.

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Malaysia

How a surge in midnight sea incursions is threatening Malaysia’s blue economy

The success of Malaysia’s maritime economic development depends on its ability to monitor and protect its waters, experts say.

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Men row a sampan in front of a local fishing boat in Terengganu, Malaysia. Photo: Keith Mundy
US-China relations

John Mearsheimer’s talk to SCMP about US-China ties, Iran war

Video and transcript of international relations expert’s exclusive chat with SCMP Plus about the Middle East, long-term US-China competition, East Asia tensions.

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SCMP Executive Editor Zuraidah Ibrahim and political scientist John Mearsheimer. Photo: SCMP
US, Israel war on Iran

As Iran war comes to a close, is US pulling warships back to the west Pacific?

US Defence Department changes name of Indo-Pacific Command back to US Pacific Command, suggesting new focus.

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The Philippines

‘Not a single inch’: Philippines vows to block structures at Scarborough Shoal

Observers say Beijing could be using its ‘old playbook’ of deploying scientific activities to boost military presence in the South China Sea.

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Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong cancels amber rainstorm warning but more downpours expected

Unsettled weather expected to continue over the next few days.

Residents cross a street under the rain in Tai Wai. Photo: Sam Tsang
Australia

US military plans permanent war-ready weapons stockpile in Australia

US Navy documents show advanced planning for a large stockpile, with US$30 million allocated to build warehouses and offices in Victoria.

The Philippines

What is Marcos’ diplomatic end game? Inside Philippines’ South China Sea shift

By making undersea cables and fisheries the issue, analysts say Manila is trying to give all Asean members ‘skin in the game’.

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Australia

China’s direct strike threat to Australia is ‘growing’, think tank report finds

A Lowy Institute report said the main threat to Australia was from Chinese missiles fired from ships, submarines and a new ballistic missile.

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The Chinese People’s Liberation Army launches an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean in 2024. Photo: Chinese People’s Liberation Army News and Communication Centre / AFP
Taiwan

The quiet escalation unfolding around Taiwan’s remote outposts

Taipei says it is the first time mainland Chinese government vessels have entered waters near Taiping.

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Taiping is the largest naturally formed island in the vicinity of Mischief, Subi and Fiery Cross reefs in the southern part of the contested Spratly Islands. Photo: AFP
China-India relations

Bollywood drops Beijing as a villain – is a Russia-China-India axis next?

Softening portrayal of China in a movie about 2020 border clashes hints at warming ties, which Moscow wants to take further.

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The Philippines

Opinion | Philippines’ belligerence towards China out of step with Asean trend

Manila’s security-first approach and alignment with extra-regional powers is at odds with the pragmatic direction of China-Asean relations.

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The Philippines

China’s ban on Philippine defence chief, family seen as warning shot to Manila

Analysts say Beijing may be trying to ‘kill the chicken to warn the monkeys’, as Manila faces calls for a tit-for-tat response.

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Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro talks to the media as he attends the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 29. Photo: AP
Taiwan

What’s behind Beijing’s seabed mapping east of Taiwan?

Expert says knowledge of the waters and seabed could allow ‘more effective submarine and anti-submarine operations’.

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Beijing’s Haixun 08 vessel – China’s largest and most advanced survey ship – conducted survey operations covering 1,025 nautical miles during the five-day operation. Photo: Handout
China-Philippines relations

China sanctions Philippine defence chief Gilberto Teodoro

Chinese foreign ministry says Teodoro is banned from entering China because of his ‘erroneous remarks’ on the country.

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The Philippines

Mystery platform? China says it was carrying out research at Scarborough Shoal

Announcement comes after Manila lodged diplomatic protest over ‘illegal presence’ of a floating structure at the disputed atoll.

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