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The Philippines
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The Philippines

The Philippines
The Philippines
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on the Philippines, covering politics, economy, society, and Manila’s relationships with China and its Southeast Asian neighbours.
Filipino chieftain Petronila Munoz points at the proposed land where the Pax Silica Hub might be built in Capas, Tarlac province, on September 2. Photo: AFP
United States

‘Listen to us’: Philippine tribe vows to stand ground against US-led Pax Silica

The Aetas have been offered just 50 US cents per square metre of land to make way for the sprawling tech hub. All have refused.

Thailand

Upgraded but underperforming: Philippines’ growth lags behind

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong secures expanded equal treatment and investment guarantees across Asean

Ethnic minorities in Hong Kong

Video | Hong Kong’s Filipino domestic helpers get second chance at university degree

NGO FullPhils was established in 2023, offering overseas Filipino workers a tertiary education to boost their career prospects.

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Asia travel

Escape Manila’s heat for northern Luzon’s pine-scented hills and Sagada’s hanging coffins

They may not make for a typical Philippine holiday, but the highlands of northern Luzon are a world apart from Manila and the tropical lowlands, finds Thomas Bird

US, Israel war on Iran

Saudi oil pipeline closure puts Asia’s economic resilience to the test

Experts say the loss will hit Asian refiners first before feeding through to inflation, currencies and economic growth across the region.

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Video | Three killed in Philippines school shootin

The attack marks the third Philippine school shooting since June.

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South China Sea

Collision near Sabina Shoal sparks fresh escalation between China, Philippines

Two sides blame each other for deliberate ramming near the contested atoll in the South China Sea, fuelling tensions over strategic waterway.

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International Criminal Court

Why the ICC is cracking down on ‘fake news’ as Duterte trial looms

Presiding Judge Joanna Korner warns parties to ‘avoid speculation’ and urges prosecutors to trim their witness list and evidence.

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Crime

3 students killed in Philippine school shooting, including gunman

The attack at Banga National ‌High School ‌in South ‌Cotabato also left eight others injured.

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Emergency personnel walk at the site of a deadly shooting at a school in Banga, South Cotabato, Philippines, on Friday. Photo: Philippine Red Cross via Reuters
SCMP Highlights

China opens Pinglu Canal; Hong Kong unveils first 5-year plan: 7 highlights

From Chinese defence chief’s forum speech to a Beijing Hyrox athlete’s faecal row, here are top stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

A trial vessel moving through the Pinglu Canal in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Photo: Xinhua
South China Sea

Filipino fishers count the cost of South China Sea dispute

Blocked from accessing Scarborough Shoal and hit by local dredging, Zambales fishermen say their weekly incomes have collapsed.

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Russia

Poland eyes deeper Philippines defence ties following Black Hawk deal

Warsaw is targeting drones, air defence and artillery exports to Manila as European rearmament fuels global arms ambitions.

US-China relations

China edges US, EU on AI regulation trust in middle-income countries: Pew survey

US think tank study finds middle-income countries have ‘more positive views of China’ when it comes to regulating AI effectively.

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A Pew survey found that China leads the US and the European Union in trust in AI regulation among mostly middle-income countries. Photo: Shutterstock
Taiwan

Taipei donates coastguard vessel to Manila amid South China Sea tensions

As it faces off against Beijing in the region, Manila has been expanding its unofficial security cooperation with Taipei.

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The Taiwanese coastguard’s Kinmen patrol vessel has reportedly been transferred to the Philippines. Photo: cga.gov.tw
South China Sea

Philippines’ Teodoro draws 2028 election buzz after China clash

His viral moment in Seoul has raised his profile among supporters, but analysts say weak polling and past losses remain hurdles.

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South Korea

Video | South Korean drug lord’s jailbreak plan foiled

The plan was reportedly set to be carried out earlier this year, just before Park Wang-yeol was to be repatriated to South Korea to face charges for allegedly importing 4.8kg (10.5lbs) of drugs.

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Central banks

Casino, not bakery: Philippine e-payment firms urged to improve merchant vetting

The central bank found thousands of payments of as little as 80 US cents being made to generally unremarkable merchants past midnight.

A woman use the GCash app in the Philippines. Digital payments accounted for around two-thirds of total retail transactions in the Philippines in 2025. Photo: Handout
John Lee policy address 2026

Hong Kong launching pilot scheme to bring in foreign carers for the elderly

Chief Executive John Lee says in policy address that the government will admit carers under a scheme modelled on domestic helper regime.

South China Sea

Chinese research ship completes month-long mission near Scarborough Shoal

The vessel surveyed the geology and environment of a South China Sea feature claimed by Beijing and Manila.

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South China Sea

Should Beijing use its maritime militia as backup force in South China Sea?

On the sidelines of the Xiangshan Forum, a leading Chinese researcher says there could be a role for the vessels at critical moments.

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A China Coast Guard ship (right) uses a water cannon on a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel near Scarborough Shoal in 2023. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard vias AFP
South Korea

South Korean killer’s drone escape from Philippine prison foiled by test footage

Convicted killer Park Wang-yeol reportedly spent some US$74,000 on his planned drone-assisted prison break.

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A person dangles from a drone in this still from footage obtained by Korean broadcaster JTBC allegedly showing a practice run for Park Wang-yeol’s escape plot from Philippine prison. Photo: YouTube/JTBC_News
India

‘Growing stronger’: India and Russia push to expand defence ties

Analysts say offers of Su-57 stealth jet tech and BrahMos upgrades signal an exit from simple buyer-seller deals.

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Rodrigo Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte appears in ICC courtroom for pretrial proceedings

The former Philippine president’s trial over his ‘war on drugs’ that killed thousands will start on November 30.

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US-China relations

US-China ties haunted by lack of mutual trust, Beijing Xiangshan Forum told

No ‘illusion that things will be easy’ ahead, former Chinese ambassador to US says before President Xi Jinping is expected in Washington.

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Cui Tiankai, a former Chinese ambassador to the US, speaks at a panel of the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: AP
SCMP Highlights

Thais stage rare Israel protest; India-Pakistan water row: 7 Asia highlights

From Thai PM Anutin’s US$90,000 amulet to the Philippines’ big bet on railways, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Protesters holding signs attend a rally demanding an end to alleged land-grabbing by foreigners in Bangkok on Thursday. Photo: AP
Sara Duterte-Carpio

Philippine VP faces scrutiny over disputed funds amid bitter Marcos feud

Prosecutors have so far tried to prove that Sara Duterte-Carpio’s office could not properly account for millions of pesos in confidential funds.

Diplomacy

US-led Luzon corridor in Philippines faces growing scrutiny over real local benefits

Filipinos, especially Gen Z, are concerned that the corridor and other US-led projects are ‘more exploitative than beneficial’, analysts say.

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