Country: Philippines
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‘Welcome to CHINA’ Greets Philippine Officials on Trip to Disputed South China Sea
By Karen Lema As the Philippine Coast Guard plane descended toward the country's most strategically important outpost in the disputed South China Sea, passengers' phones lit up with a roaming alert: "Welcome to CHINA." Among those on board were ...
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Philippine Senator Calls out China in Visit to Disputed Island
By Jam Sta Rosa A Philippine senator called for deepening defense relationships and "continuous" pushback against China's claims in the South China Sea while visiting one of Manila's tiny possessions in the disputed waterway on Saturday.
Philippines Says Communication Channels Still Open With Beijing on South China Sea
The Philippine foreign ministry said on Friday that it is maintaining open communication with China even as it strengthens cooperation with "like‑minded" countries that support its stance in the South China Sea. "Even as the DFA (foreign ministry) deepens alliances and ...
China Remains Undeterred in the Grey Zone
By Sam Mullins The final days of 2025 saw Taiwan surrounded by Chinese warships, aircraft and coast guard vessels in what the Chinese Ministry of Defense described as a serious warning to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and foreign interference. ...
Sara Duterte’s Presidential Run Signals Possible Philippines Shift From Washington to Beijing
By Mikhail Flores Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Wednesday that she will run for president in the 2028 elections while blaming incumbent leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr for the country's problems, including corruption. The ...
Philippines Says Takes Exception to China Embassy Comment on Job Losses
The Philippines takes "strong exception" to a statement by the Chinese Embassy in Manila that the simmering diplomatic spat between the two countries could result in the loss of millions of jobs, the foreign ministry said, adding that such comments could be seen as coercive.
Philippines Urges China to Keep Tone ‘Calm’ as Rhetoric Heats Up
The Philippine foreign ministry urged the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Wednesday to be "constructive" in its statements amid an escalating war of words between Chinese diplomats and public officials, including senators. The Department of Foreign Affairs' newly appointed maritime affairs ...
Philippines Aims to Wrap up Talks on South China Sea Code This Year
The Philippines said on Friday it will seek to accelerate long‑running talks on a South China Sea code of conduct to a conclusion this year as chair of the ASEAN regional bloc. Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro told a forum in Singapore ...
China Conducts Naval, Air Patrols Around Disputed South China Sea Shoal
China conducted naval and air patrols around the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Saturday, the China Southern Theater Command said. The shoal is in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, but China also claims it as part of its territory.
WEEK IN REVIEW: China and Vietnam Signal Stronger Strategic Cooperation
China’s role in the South China Sea will be high on the agenda as ASEAN foreign ministers gather in Manila this week. Ministers are expected to focus on progress toward a long-delayed South China Sea Code of Conduct with China, amid ongoing maritime tensions and competing territorial claims.
Philippines, U.S. Hold Joint Sail in Disputed South China Sea Shoal
The Philippine and U.S. militaries sailed together at a disputed South China Sea shoal this week, Manila's armed forces said on Tuesday, performing joint exercises to boost interoperability between the two treaty allies. The joint sail was held in the Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea waters lying within the Philippines' ...
China and ASEAN Enter a Pivotal Year, With Trade, AI and the South China Sea in Play
As 2026 begins, the China-ASEAN relationship is evolving across several fronts, including trade, Artificial Intelligence, infrastructure development, and South China Sea. With the ASEAN's chairmanship held by the Philippines, the year opens with distinct political and institutional dynamics for the region. ...
China Says It Rescued Philippine Crew From Cargo Ship Near Scarborough Shoal
China and the Philippines said on Friday they launched rescue operations after receiving reports of a sinking cargo ship near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea that was carrying 21 Philippine crew members. Scarborough Shoal is one of Asia's most contested maritime features and ...
China Says It Drove Away Philippine Aircraft Over Disputed Scarborough Shoal
China’s military said on Tuesday it mobilized naval and air forces to warn and drive away a Philippine government aircraft it said “illegally intruded” into the airspace over the Scarborough Shoal, a contested South China Sea feature. Beijing urged Manila to halt what it called provocations; Philippine ...
Myth and Misperception: Does China Always Bully Its Neighbors Over Territorial Disputes?
In this edition of M&M, I want to discuss how China handled its territorial disputes with Vietnam. This is an important topic considering China and Vietnam currently have disputes over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, and that they once fought a war over the disputed land border ...
China Protests Over Philippine Coast Guard’s Xi Images
The Chinese Embassy in Manila said Friday it has filed a diplomatic protest against a Philippine Coast Guard spokesman over a social media post that included cartoonish images of President Xi Jinping. Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela and an embassy official ...
China-Southeast Asia in 2026 Depends on Beijing’s Ability to Rise to the Occasion
Southeast Asia’s relationship with China is set to face a convergence of diplomatic, political, and societal pressures in 2026. While Beijing remains one of the region’s most influential actors, its expanding economic footprint intersects with governance challenges and public discontent in several countries.
Japan, Philippines Sign New Security Pacts as Regional Tensions Rise
By Mikhail Flores The Philippines and Japan signed two defence pacts on Thursday, including a deal allowing their forces to exchange supplies and services, with both countries seeking to strengthen security cooperation in response to rising regional tensions. The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, ...
Philippines Says Fishermen Injured in China Coast Guard Encounter
Three Filipino fishermen were injured when China Coast Guard vessels sprayed their boats with water cannons and cut their anchor lines in a disputed area of the South China Sea, Philippine authorities said Saturday. Beijing said Friday it had taken "necessary ...
China Seeks ‘Fair’ South China Sea Order as It Rejects 2016 Ruling
China’s vice-foreign minister told a major forum on Wednesday that Beijing wants to ease disputes with Southeast Asian neighbours in the South China Sea and build a “fair and just” maritime order. At the same time, China is still rejecting a ...
China’s Aerial Confrontations With Japan and Philippines Stoke Regional Anxiety Amid U.S. Silence
Tensions surged over the weekend after two dangerous mid-air confrontations between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets and another with a Philippine aircraft over disputed territory in the South China Sea. Tokyo and Beijing on Monday sought to portray the other ...
Japan Mulling Export of Weapons System to Philippines
Japan is reportedly preparing to export a command and control system to the Philippines. Designed by Mitsubishi Electric, the system would collect and analyze data about ships and planes passing through the area, and issue instructions to deployed military units. The transfer is aimed at improving cooperation ...
China Expanding Surveillance Hardware in South China Sea: Report
China has reportedly expanded its surveillance capacity in the South China Sea. A new report by the U.S. think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, used satellite images to track additions to three main Chinese facilities in the Spratly Islands.
China Amasses 30 Ships in South China Sea Near the Philippines
China amassed 30 naval and coast guard ships around several Philippine-claimed features in the South China Sea, the Philippine Navy said Tuesday. Manila says it’s one of the heaviest Chinese shows of force in waters the Philippines considers its ...
Chinese Woman Who Faked Nationality to Become Philippine Mayor Jailed for Trafficking
A Chinese woman who faked Philippine nationality to become a town mayor was sentenced Thursday to life in prison on human trafficking charges, a Manila regional court said. Alice Guo, who served as mayor of a town north of the capital, ...
Manila to Push South China Sea Code in 2026 ASEAN Chair Role
China and Southeast Asian governments are preparing for another round of talks on a South China Sea Code of Conduct, and the Philippines says it hopes to complete the document when it chairs ASEAN next year. The South China ...
China Escalates Pressure on Japan and the Philippines With Coordinated Military Moves
China put on a major show of military force across its maritime periphery over the course of three days beginning on Friday in a bid to send a warning to its rivals in both Japan and the Philippines. Beijing deployed ...
Philippines and Canada Seal Troop Pact, Expanding Manila’s Web of Defense Ties Amid China Tensions
The Philippines and Canada signed a visiting forces agreement on Sunday, allowing Canadian troops to conduct joint exercises, deepening defense ties amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea. The pact follows similar deals Manila signed with New Zealand, ...
China Denounces Philippines’ Joint Sea Exercises With U.S. and Allies, Calling Them a Threat to Stability
The People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command on Saturday accused the Philippines of undermining regional peace and stability for organizing joint naval exercises with Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Spokesperson Tian Junli accused Manila of acting as a "troublemaker" for its part ...
Philippines, Canada Sign Visiting Troops Deal
The Philippines signed a visiting forces agreement with Canada on Sunday, the latest in a series of pacts aimed at countering Beijing's assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines and China have engaged in frequent clashes in the crucial ...
ASEAN Heading Into Tense New Era as Philippines Takes the Helm
The Philippines became the new chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week, taking over from Malaysia. The shift marks a new phase that could see the 11-member body become more embroiled in U.S.-China geopolitics. Manila is expected ...
China and ASEAN Sign Updated Free Trade Deal
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed an updated free trade agreement on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. Negotiations on upgrading their earlier trade agreement started in 2022. The ASEAN-China Free Trade ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese Navy Destroyer Baotou Docks at Kenya’s Mombasa Port
China and Russia led efforts within the United Nations to weaken and defund human rights-related investigations, according to a new report by the NGO International Service for Human Rights. The report said the attempts to use budget cuts to redirect or blunt human rights intelligence happened in closed-door ...
Philippines Says Chinese Ship Rammed Government Vessel in Disputed Sea
Manila's coast guard accused a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming a Philippine government vessel anchored near an island in the South China Sea on Sunday. Confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels occur frequently in the disputed South China Sea, which Beijing ...
Japan, Philippines Inaugural Joint Exercises Begin as China Announces Plans for South China Sea Drills
Japan and the Philippines kicked off a five-day joint air force exercise this week on the central island of Cebu, marking the first time the two militaries have trained together since a Reciprocal Access Agreement was signed last year. The drills, known ...
China Uses Green Messaging to Bolster South China Sea Claims Amid Nature Preserve Push
There's been a noticeable increase in recent weeks in the number of environmentally themed news stories published by China's state-backed outlets Xinhua and CGTN, focused specifically on the South China Sea. On Tuesday, Xinhua distributed a video that showcased newly hatched ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China’s BYD Projects One Million EV Deliveries Abroad
China is reportedly curbing the use of European tech in its communication networks. State buyers of internet and mobile phone components have to submit contracts with companies like Sweden’s Ericsson and Finland’s Nokia for security review by the Cyberspace Administration of China before the purchase is allowed. The ...
China Sends Pointed Message with South China Sea Flag-Raising
The Chinese Coast Guard held a flag-raising ceremony to mark China’s National Day off the Scarborough Shoal, a zone in the South China Sea also claimed by the Philippines. The ceremony, which was broadcast on the state TV channel CCTV and social media, seemed designed to ...
China Defense Minister Slams ‘Hegemonic Logic’ at Beijing Forum
By Ludovic Ehret Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun denounced "hegemonic logic and acts of bullying" during remarks Thursday at a Beijing forum that were full of thinly veiled references to the United States. Organisers say ...
War of Words Follows Reports of Collision in South China Sea
The Chinese Coast Guard said a Philippine ship deliberately rammed one of its ships during an altercation near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday. The Chinese side alleged that more than ten vessels owned by the Philippine government entered the waters around the shoal from different directions
Philippines Says Water Cannon Attack Injured Crew; China Alleges Illegal Incursion at Disputed Shoal
The Philippines said one person was injured Tuesday when a water cannon attack by a China Coast Guard vessel shattered a window on the bridge of a fisheries bureau ship near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. Two Chinese ...
Chinese and Philippine Ships Collide Near Shoal, Tensions Flare
China’s coast guard used water cannons against Philippine ships and accused Manila of ramming, days after declaring a nature reserve. The Philippines said its vessel was heavily damaged and a crew member was injured during the confrontation. China’s Coast ...
China Warns the Philippines After Drills with U.S. and Japan in EEZ
China’s military on Sunday warned the Philippines to stop “provoking incidents” and bringing in “external forces” in the South China Sea. The warning from China came a day after Manila, the United States, and Japan finished joint maritime drills. The drill ...
Rubio Backs Philippines Against ‘Coercive’ Sea Nature Reserve
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday backed the Philippines in protesting Beijing's plan for a "nature reserve" on disputed Scarborough Shoal, saying it was part of a "coercive" strategy in the South China Sea.
Philippines to Protest Over China’s ‘Nature Reserve’ Plan
The Philippines said Thursday it will file a diplomatic protest and slammed as “illegitimate and unlawful” China’s plan to declare a “Huangyan Dao National Nature Reserve” at Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea. China rejected what it called “unreasonable” accusations and dismissed Manila’s “so-called” ...
China Declares Disputed Scarborough Shoal a Nature Reserve
The Chinese authorities announced on Wednesday that they had approved the establishment of a marine reserve around the Scarborough Shoal, an area in the South China Sea also claimed by the Philippines. The move will likely raise tensions in a region ...
Beijing Accuses Manila of Trouble, Warns of Firm Countermeasures
China has accused the Philippines of “causing trouble” in the South China Sea and warned of firm countermeasures. Beijing's accusation sharpens its claim that the United States and allied partners are driving instability as Manila deepens defense cooperation with Australia ...
China Slams Vietnam Over Island-Building in South China Sea
China condemned Vietnam over a report it had sped up island-building in an area of the disputed South China Sea that Beijing claims as its own. "China firmly opposes the relevant country’s construction activities on islands and reefs they have illegally ...
Vietnam Expands Island-Building in the South China Sea
Vietnam's development of 21 Vietnamese-claimed rocks and low-tide elevations in the South China Sea has expanded considerably since 2021 to the point where it will match and possibly even exceed Chinese reclamation activity in the region. The findings in a new report ...
China Looms as Australian and Philippines Defense Ministers Meet
China’s growing presence in the South China Sea is drawing U.S. allies closer. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles met Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Manila on Friday. The two signed a pledge to expand defense cooperation and improve military readiness.
China Tells U.S. to Restrain Forces Near Shoal in South China Sea
China condemned the U.S. after a naval vessel, USS Higgins, sailed near Scarborough Shoal just days after a China–Philippines at-sea pursuit. Beijing is calling the U.S. move an illegal intrusion and warning Washington to “restrain” its forces. The U.S. Navy ...
South China Sea Naval Collision: Beijing and Manila Trade Blame
China has accused the Philippines of “dangerous maneuvers” during a tense encounter near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea earlier this week that, according to Manila, led to a collision between two Chinese government vessels. Beijing has not publicly ...
Tensions Surge in the South China Sea as PLA Confronts U.S., Philippines Presence
Chinese warships and fighter jets were out in force on Wednesday near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea in a bid to push out a pair of U.S. warships and a Philippine Coast Guard surveillance plane flying overhead. ...
Marcos Downplays Taiwan Comments After Chinese Pushback
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. downplayed recent comments linking the Philippines to a possible conflict over Taiwan, following an angry reaction from China. During his visit to India last week, he said that “there is no way that the ...
Marcos Says Philippines Would Be Dragged ‘Kicking and Screaming’ Into Taiwan War
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos warned Monday that his country would be dragged "kicking and screaming" into any war over Taiwan, but must prepare for it. China considers self-ruled Taiwan, Manila's closest neighbor to the north, to be part of its territory ...
Chinese Vessels Collide While Pursuing Philippine Boat in South China Sea: Manila
A Chinese navy vessel collided with one from its coast guard while chasing a Philippines patrol boat in the South China Sea, Manila said Monday, releasing dramatic video footage of the confrontation. The incident occurred near the contested Scarborough Shoal as ...
Tariffed by the U.S., Shunned by China: India–Philippines Naval Drill Sparks Nationalist Glee on Chinese Social Media
As India and the Philippines held their first-ever joint naval exercise in the South China Sea on August 3–4, Chinese social media lit up not with surprise, but with sarcasm. The timing was key: both countries had just been hit with punishing U.S. tariffs. ...
Philippines Says 3 Chinese Ships Spotted Near Islets Close to Taiwan
Three Chinese coast guard vessels were being monitored in the waters off remote islands in the northern Philippines near Taiwan, maritime officials in Manila said on Friday. The vessels were first spotted on Thursday, a day after a YouTube video appeared ...
China’s Rocket Debris Prompts Philippine Condemnation
The Philippine government has issued a formal condemnation of China following the suspected descent of China's rocket debris from a Long March 12 launch into waters near Philippine maritime territory. The incident, which occurred late Monday, has triggered public ...
Philippines’ Marcos Strikes Defense Deals in India
The Philippines and India signed a raft of security deals Tuesday aimed at strengthening strategic ties between the nations as they navigate tensions with China across the Asia-Pacific. President Ferdinand Marcos, on a five-day visit to India, was accorded a red carpet ...
Philippines’ Marcos in India as Navies Hold Joint Drills
Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos arrived in India on Monday on a visit aimed at strengthening defence and strategic ties between nations as they navigate tensions with China across the Asia-Pacific. The five-day visit follows the Philippines' acquisition of India's BrahMos supersonic cruise ...
Philippine, Indian Navies Begin First Joint South China Sea Patrols
Indian Navy warships have begun patrolling areas of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time, Manila's military said Monday, as President Ferdinand Marcos departed for a state visit to New Delhi. The two-day sail, which ...
India and the Philippines to Launch Joint Military Exercises
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos reportedly will visit India next week, his first visit since taking office. The trip from 4 to 8 August will coincide with joint military exercises that will take place near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a focal point of ...
U.S.–Philippines Trade Agreement Terms Still Under Negotiation
Negotiations between the United States and the Philippines over the details of a new trade agreement remain ongoing, Philippine officials confirmed Thursday, even as both sides finalize the structure of a 19 percent tariffs on Philippine exports, slightly down from the previously proposed 20 percent.
Pacific Military Exercises Reveal Global South Countries’ Complex Choices
The Philippines joined other Global South countries like Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga in the U.S.-led Talisman Sabre military exercises currently taking place in Australia. The exercise, dubbed “the Olympics of war games,” has grown rapidly since its inception in ...
U.S. Agrees Trade Deal with Philippines Amid Geopolitical Tension
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social account that the United States will impose 19% tariffs on the Philippines, slightly reduced from the 20% he threatened earlier. The U.S. will have tariff-free access to the Philippine market.
China to Feature Prominently in Trump-Marcos Talks
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. faces a tough challenge as he meets with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, on Tuesday. He is expected to raise the long U.S.-Philippine defense relationship in the face of ongoing territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea as a rallying point. ...
U.S. Promises Philippine President to Ramp up Deterrence on China
Top U.S. officials promised President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines on Monday that Washington will defend its longtime ally and ramp up military resources aimed at deterring an assertive China. Marcos will meet Tuesday with President Donald Trump, who has rattled ...
U.S. to Build Philippine Boat Repair Facilities Near Contested South China Sea
The U.S. Navy plans to build two repair facilities for smaller vessels operating in the western Philippines, the U.S. embassy said Wednesday, with one about 240 kilometres east of a fiercely contested reef in the South China Sea. Located in the Spratly ...
Chinese Surveillance Ship Intercepted by Philippines in Disputed Waters
The Philippine Coast Guard intercepted what appears to be a Chinese intelligence vessel on Saturday that was accompanied by a pair of PLA Navy escort ships that were operating within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone. The presence of the Chinese spy ship
U.S. Aircraft Carrier Makes Philippines Port Call
The nuclear-powered U.S. carrier George Washington arrived off the Philippine capital Thursday for a port visit, as the two allies increase defense cooperation aimed at contesting China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The Nimitz-class vessel's port call came the ...
China Sanctions Philippine Senator Who Crafted South China Sea Claim
The Chinese announced sanctions against Francis Tolentino, the former Senate majority leader of the Philippines. The move bars Tolentino, whose term ended on Monday, from traveling to the Chinese mainland, Macau, and Hong Kong. Tolentino was the main author of the
China, Philippines Trade Accusations After Fresh South China Sea Clash
Chinese and Philippine vessels clashed anew on Friday near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, prompting both sides to blame the other for the confrontation. A China Coast Guard vessel prevented a much smaller Philippines Bureau of Aquatic ...
Japan-U.S.-Philippines Coast Guards Simulate Crisis Amid China Threat
By Andrew McKirdy Helicopters buzzed in the shadow of a smouldering volcano, and boats rescued dummies from the sea this week in a show of maritime unity by Japan, the United States, and the Philippines. ...
Japan-U.S.-Philippines Hold Coast Guard Drills With Eye on China
By Andrew McKirdy, with Katie Forster in Tokyo Japan's coast guard will simulate a collision between vessels Friday during joint exercises with the United States and the Philippines seen as a show of unity against Chinese activity in disputed regional waters. ...
Little-Known Country on Track to Join ASEAN Suddenly Sparks Interest in China
According to a May 28 report by Vietnam News Agency, ASEAN leaders have agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste as the bloc’s 11th member at the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October. The announcement initially flew under the radar on Chinese social ...
Philippines Buys More Korean FA-50 Jets Amid South China Sea Tensions
The Philippine government has signed a $700 million FA-50 jets contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the purchase of 12 new FA-50 Block 20 light combat aircraft, expanding its current fleet as it seeks to bolster its air defense posture in the South China Sea ...
Philippine Defense Chief in Testy Exchange at Shangri-La Dialogue
Gilberto Teodoro, the Defense Secretary of the Philippines, got into a tense back-and-forth with Chinese officials at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday. During a plenary session, two People’s Liberation Army officers asked him if Manila would adopt a friendlier attitude to China or serve as a U.S. ...
China in Focus as ASEAN Pushes Back on U.S. Tariffs at Kuala Lumpur Summit
By Jan Hennop and Isabelle Leong Southeast Asian leaders met Monday in Kuala Lumpur for their first summit since U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs upended global economic norms, with the trade-dependent nations expected to issue a joint message of deep concern. ...
Philippines Says China Coast Guard Fired Water Cannon,’Sideswiped’ Govt Vessel
The Philippines fisheries bureau accused the China Coast Guard on Thursday of firing water cannon and sideswiping a Filipino government vessel while it collected sand for a research project. China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the ...
Why Chinese Netizens Are Celebrating the Philippines Midterm Elections
After the Philippines’ midterm election results signaled a setback for President Marcos Jr. and a boost for allies of the Duterte family, Chinese social media lit up with cheers. Many netizens hailed it as a long-awaited “turning point” in China-Philippines relations.
Marcos Coalition Weakens in Philippine Midterm Election as China Policy Divides Campaign
The Philippines’ 2025 midterm elections are reshaping the Senate balance and will likely deepen the country’s political divisions, including over foreign policy, amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ruling coalition secured just six of ...
Philippines Trade Deficit Hits $4.13B as Import from China Surge Outpaces Exports
The Philippines' trade deficit widened sharply to $4.13 billion in March 2025, up 23.1% from a year earlier. Surging imports outpaced modest export gains, highlighting persistent structural vulnerabilities in the country’s trade dynamics. Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority ...
Sandy Cay Flag Standoff: A Brewing Firestorm in the South China Sea — Here’s Why
A flag war unfolded on a disputed sandbank in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines. No shots were fired, but the symbolism was deafening. Last week, four Chinese coast guard officials conducted maritime control and planted flags ...
Philippines Slams ‘High-Risk’ Chinese Naval Actions Near Contested Reef
The Philippines criticized on Thursday a "high-risk" manoeuvre by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in a rare incident involving warships from the two navies. The Scarborough Shoal -- a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the contested ...
Vietnam Protests China, Philippines Claims on South China Sea Reef
Vietnam on Saturday protested claims by China and the Philippines over a disputed reef in the South China Sea, which it considers its own territory. Manila and Beijing traded barbs last week over Sandy Cay, a group of small sandbanks in ...
Vietnam Protests China and Philippines Over Sovereignty Violations at Sandy Cay in South China Sea
Vietnam has formally protested recent actions by China and the Philippines at Sandy Cay, a feature it claims as part of its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands. It warns that such moves threaten regional peace and international maritime law. ...
Vietnam Protests China and Philippines Over Sovereignty Violations at Sandy Cay in South China Sea
Vietnam has formally protested recent actions by China and the Philippines at Sandy Cay, a feature it claims as part of its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands. It warns that such moves threaten regional peace and international maritime law. ...
Vietnam Protests China and Philippines Over Sovereignty Violations at Sandy Cay in South China Sea
Vietnam has formally protested recent actions by China and the Philippines at Sandy Cay, a feature it claims as part of its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands. It warns that such moves threaten regional peace and international maritime law. ...
New Zealand, Phillippines Sign Troops Deal in ‘Deteriorating’ Strategic Environment
By Pam Castro The Philippines and New Zealand signed an agreement on Wednesday allowing the deployment of troops on each other's territory, a move aimed at bolstering security in a "deteriorating" strategic environment. The visiting ...
Chinese National Arrested With Surveillance Device Near Philippine Election Commission
A Chinese national was arrested while operating a surveillance device near the offices of the Philippine election commission, authorities said Wednesday, less than two weeks before the country's mid-term polls. The man was allegedly using an "IMSI catcher", a device capable ...
Japan, Philippines Leaders Vow to Deepen Security Ties
The leaders of Japan and the Philippines pledged in Manila on Tuesday to deepen security ties, including increased intelligence sharing, as they grapple with territorial disputes with China. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, on his first visit to the Philippines since ...
Japan, Philippines Leaders Vow to Deepen Security Ties
The leaders of Japan and the Philippines pledged in Manila on Tuesday to deepen security ties, including increased intelligence sharing, as they grapple with territorial disputes with China. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, on his first visit to the Philippines since ...
Japan, Philippines Leaders Vow to Deepen Security Ties
The leaders of Japan and the Philippines pledged in Manila on Tuesday to deepen security ties, including increased intelligence sharing, as they grapple with territorial disputes with China. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, on his first visit to the Philippines since ...
China and the Philippines Both Assert Claims Over a Tiny Reef in the South China Sea
A small reef no larger than a few dozen square meters was the latest flash point in the escalating territorial feud in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China this weekend. The drama began last Thursday when a China ...
Philippines Denies ‘Irresponsible’ Chinese Report on Disputed Reef
The Philippines on Monday slammed an "irresponsible" Chinese state media report claiming a disputed reef in the South China Sea was under Beijing's control, saying the status quo was unchanged. The Sandy Cay reef lies near Thitu Island, or Pag-asa, where ...
China and the Philippines Both Assert Claims Over a Tiny Reef in the South China Sea
Chinese PLA Navy sailors arriving in port at the Ream Naval Base in Cambodia on May 12, 2025, to participate in joint naval exercises. Image via @China_Navy
China and the Philippines Both Assert Claims Over a Tiny Reef in the South China Sea
A small reef no larger than a few dozen square meters was the latest flash point in the escalating territorial feud in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China this weekend. The drama began last Thursday when a China ...
Philippines, U.S. Test Air Defenses as China Seizes Reef
By Ted Aljibe Missiles fired off the coast of the northern Philippines Sunday as U.S. and Filipino forces conducted their first integrated defense drills, hours after China said it had seized control of a reef claimed by Manila. ...
China Says Handled Philippine ‘Infringement’ at Disputed Reef
China's coast guard said Sunday it had "dealt with" a situation involving six Filipinos who it accused of illegally landing on a disputed reef, after Beijing's state media said the tiny sandbank had recently come under Chinese control. Beijing claims sovereignty ...
A Taliban security personnel operating an anti-aircraft gun keeps watch for Pakistani airstrikes near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Nangarhar province on February 27, 2026 following overnight cross-border fighting between the two countries. Photo by AIMAL ZAHIR / AFP
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared "open war" against Afghanistan on Friday amid a surge of fighting between the two South Asian neighbors. Pakistan said it's retaliating against Afghanistan for a series of attacks, including a suicide bombing in early February that killed at least 36 people ...
