https://www.scmp.com/rss/19371/feed 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. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Despite land reclamation efforts in the fiercely contested South China Sea, an unusual silence has fallen between Beijing and Hanoi over their rival claims. Observers said this suggested both sides were prioritising pragmatism to keep tensions in check. In March, months into reports suggesting continued Chinese dredging activities at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, Hanoi broke its silence by lodging a protest with Beijing over what it called “illegal and invalid” foreign... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348763/why-china-and-vietnam-are-shifting-confrontation-calm-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348763/why-china-and-vietnam-are-shifting-confrontation-calm-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:01:08 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Asean’s neutrality in the Iran conflict is key to granting access to the coveted Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran likely seeking to win global opinion amid its war with the United States and Israel. Amid boiling tensions in the Gulf, Iran has wielded its control of the strategic channel to choke global oil supplies, especially to the US and its allies. Many countries – including those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – have turned to diplomatic efforts to secure safe passage for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348759/why-asean-neutrality-iran-war-key-unlocking-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348759/why-asean-neutrality-iran-war-key-unlocking-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:41:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Philippines said on Tuesday it will rename more than 100 island features in a bid to reinforce its “sovereignty” in the disputed South China Sea, including areas claimed by China. The features to be renamed under President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s executive order belong to the Spratly archipelago, site of repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels. Beijing claims the South China Sea in nearly its entirety despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348577/philippines-rename-disputed-south-china-sea-islands-boost-sovereignty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3348577/philippines-rename-disputed-south-china-sea-islands-boost-sovereignty?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:40:11 +0000 Richard Heydarian Richard Heydarian The Iran war could provide an impetus for the Philippines and China to reach an agreement on disputed energy resources in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said recently. Marcos, the rotational chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, emphasised the need for a “reset” in relations with China given that regional states are confronting “very serious” economic and foreign policy restructuring. Marcos’ statements came shortly after the Philippine... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348291/how-us-war-iran-pushing-philippines-closer-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348291/how-us-war-iran-pushing-philippines-closer-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Maritime tensions between China and the Philippines are likely to persist despite Manila’s call for energy cooperation, Chinese observers said after revived diplomatic talks on the weekend. Senior diplomats from the two countries met in the Chinese city of Quanzhou on Friday and Saturday for two rounds of talks, covering a range of issues from oil and gas cooperation in the South China Sea to renewable energy and coastguard communication. The foreign ministry consultations were held for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348303/why-revived-china-philippine-talks-wont-lead-energy-cooperation-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348303/why-revived-china-philippine-talks-wont-lead-energy-cooperation-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai A prominent Chinese political scientist has cautioned Southeast Asian countries against leveraging China-US tensions for short-term benefits, saying this strategy could backfire. Speaking on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia on Friday, Zheng Yongnian, dean of the school of public policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, said that in the context of South China Sea sovereignty disputes, the key challenge lay in how countries interpreted the China-US rivalry. “Many countries... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348238/asean-countries-warned-against-exploiting-us-china-tensions-short-term-gain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348238/asean-countries-warned-against-exploiting-us-china-tensions-short-term-gain?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Francis C. Domingo Francis C. Domingo The Philippines has exerted tremendous effort in conducting internal security operations since it gained its independence from the United States. Given the country’s reliance on Washington’s security umbrella until the 1990s, its military never effectively developed the capabilities for territorial defence operations. Indeed, the Korean war of 1950-1953 is the only overseas conflict in which Philippine military forces were deployed in combat operations. This preoccupation with internal security... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3348188/philippine-military-must-transform-not-just-modernise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3348188/philippine-military-must-transform-not-just-modernise?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Germany’s defence chief has called on the US to honour its security commitments to the Indo-Pacific and signalled that Berlin will keep raising its military presence in the region. During his visit to Australia this week, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius shared concerns about “dangerous activities” in the South China Sea and sounded an alarm over Beijing’s “close” monitoring of Washington and its allies’ management of the Iran and Ukraine conflicts. “To me, one thing is crystal clear.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348118/german-defence-minister-urges-strong-us-presence-indo-pacific-amid-china-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348118/german-defence-minister-urges-strong-us-presence-indo-pacific-amid-china-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:11 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles At least 1,000 Japanese armed combat troops will set foot on Philippine soil next month for the first time in 81 years since World War II. Their return, as part of the joint Philippine-US Balikatan military training drills, also signals a dramatic shift in the development of the Indo-Pacific security architecture from a “hub-and-spoke” strategy to one of multiple, overlapping minilaterals, with the region seen as one undivided theatre, experts say. Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348064/japanese-combat-troops-return-philippines-significant-indo-pacific-defence-shift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348064/japanese-combat-troops-return-philippines-significant-indo-pacific-defence-shift?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 02:01:47 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik An estimated 93 million pieces of debris could be floating on the surface of the South China Sea, based on data collected by China in a projection of its marine monitoring and remote sensing prowess. Using technologies such as fixed-ship monitoring, underway surveys and satellite remote sensing, marine scientists and ecologists audited 26 spots in the central and southern parts of the disputed waters. In a report released this month, Beijing’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment said it... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347973/how-much-junk-south-china-sea-beijing-flexes-surveillance-muscle-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347973/how-much-junk-south-china-sea-beijing-flexes-surveillance-muscle-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:30:09 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Beijing’s long-standing geopolitical playbook – stay in your lane, avoid military entanglement, prepare exhaustively and issue bland “win-win” statements about the UN charter and calls to talk not fight – could see China emerge favourably from the Iran war, said economists, analysts and former US officials, as the conflict enters its fourth week with little end in sight and the US barrelling ahead. “People always say that China doesn’t understand the Mideast,” said Jeremy Chan, senior analyst... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347827/why-chinas-strategy-stay-out-iran-war-working-and-crisis-may-spur-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347827/why-chinas-strategy-stay-out-iran-war-working-and-crisis-may-spur-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Japan’s structural reform of its maritime force reflects a shift towards quasi-carrier operations and preparations for a potential conflict with Beijing, according to Chinese analysts. The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) on Monday revamped its organisational structure to accelerate decision-making and improve ship operations, according to Kyodo News. The agency described the move as part of Japan’s efforts to strengthen defence amid China’s growing assertiveness. As part of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347889/should-china-be-worried-about-japans-maritime-force-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347889/should-china-be-worried-about-japans-maritime-force-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters The Philippines is working with Washington to secure waivers and exemptions that will allow it to obtain oil from US-sanctioned countries and guarantee supplies, its ambassador to the United States said. The Philippines, which relies heavily on imported fuel, declared a state of national energy emergency on Tuesday to deal with the fallout from the Middle East war, including ‌the disruptions to oil procurement. “We are working with the State Department to get waivers or exemptions to purchase... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347899/philippines-says-it-working-us-obtain-oil-us-sanctioned-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347899/philippines-says-it-working-us-obtain-oil-us-sanctioned-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:59:07 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Testing conducted by Chinese scientists has found that a solid rocket engine can ignite at 200 metres (656 feet) underwater – far deeper than submarine-launched missiles – suggesting new possibilities for deep-sea weapon systems. Ballistic missiles that can be launched from subs are central to strategic deterrence for nuclear powers – for example, the M51 used by France, America’s Trident system, and China’s Julang series. With these missiles on board, submarines, moving stealthily through deep... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347675/missile-launch-pad-seabed-chinese-simulation-suggests-its-possible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347675/missile-launch-pad-seabed-chinese-simulation-suggests-its-possible?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:00:14 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou The strategic value to Beijing of a new military base in the contested Paracel Islands is likely to be limited, according to Chinese observers, as the South China Sea remains a focal point of regional tensions. The assessment comes amid rising concern over China’s land reclamation at Antelope Reef, believed to be its most significant project in the strategic waters since it declared a halt to such activities about a decade ago. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) of the Centre for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347748/why-military-base-contested-paracels-will-be-limited-value-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347748/why-military-base-contested-paracels-will-be-limited-value-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Potential US ground operations against Iran might constrain Tehran, but the prospects for reopening the Strait of Hormuz were “highly uncertain”, Chinese analysts said. They also cautioned that any such escalation was likely to result in heavy casualties, with one of them saying Iran “might even welcome” such close combat. US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a five-day halt to military strikes on Iranian power plants. He made the announcement on social media as the US’ 48-hour deadline... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347622/what-if-us-ground-forces-march-iran-chinese-experts-weigh-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347622/what-if-us-ground-forces-march-iran-chinese-experts-weigh-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:00:14 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Beijing has defended ongoing land-reclamation activities in the contested Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, saying they are aimed at improving living conditions and boosting the local economy. “The Xisha Islands are an inherent part of China’s territory and there is no dispute about it,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday, using the Chinese name for the archipelago. “China’s necessary construction activities on its own territory are aimed at improving the living conditions... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347603/no-dispute-about-it-beijing-defends-construction-paracel-islands-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347603/no-dispute-about-it-beijing-defends-construction-paracel-islands-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:01:20 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese engineers have designed the country’s first tourist submersible equipped to venture as deep as 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) below the ocean surface, giving eventual new momentum to the luxury travel industry. Engineers at the China Ship Scientific Research Centre in Wuxi, a city west of Shanghai, plan to build a prototype before the end of the year and enter commercial operation by 2030 for as many as four passengers per trip, state-run media outlets said this week. Key components including... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346863/china-developing-first-tourist-submersible-trips-1000-metres-under-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346863/china-developing-first-tourist-submersible-trips-1000-metres-under-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Hanoi has protested to Beijing over Chinese land-reclamation activities in the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, following reports of accelerated dredging and landfill operations at Antelope Reef. “Vietnam resolutely opposes such activities, makes representations and affirms its position on this matter,” Vietnamese foreign ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said on Saturday. She said Hanoi had “ample historical evidence and legal grounds” to assert sovereignty over the Paracel... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347467/vietnam-protests-chinas-paracels-build-escalates-antelope-reef?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347467/vietnam-protests-chinas-paracels-build-escalates-antelope-reef?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 07:00:08 +0000 Alan Robles Alan Robles At least three Filipinos with ties to the country’s military have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing, allegedly leaking information that sparked maritime confrontations in the disputed South China Sea. The case, which came to light last year during an ongoing multi-agency counter-intelligence effort, marks a new strategy of recruiting Filipinos for espionage instead of planting individuals with fake local identities in the country, according to Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347461/philippine-military-uncovers-alleged-new-beijing-spy-tactics-south-china-sea-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347461/philippine-military-uncovers-alleged-new-beijing-spy-tactics-south-china-sea-row?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 05:15:07 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Washington’s deployment of an amphibious assault ship from Japan to the Middle East could signal a temporary reduction in US military capacity in the Indo-Pacific region but will not necessarily diminish its deterrence of China, according to analysts. According to American media reports, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli has left its home port in Japan and is making its way to the Middle East, carrying 2,500 marines on board. According to Marinetraffic.com, which monitors ships based on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347438/does-uss-tripolis-deployment-middle-east-create-strategic-opening-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347438/does-uss-tripolis-deployment-middle-east-create-strategic-opening-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei US air strikes may have weakened Iran’s ability to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, but in the short term it is probably too risky to provide a military escort for oil tankers because of the threat from drones and mines, according to Chinese analysts. Multiple media reports have said the United States was considering the use of ground troops to open the waterway, but many military observers have argued this would not be enough without further protracted fighting. The strait is a vital shipping... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347370/can-us-reopen-strait-hormuz-many-military-analysts-are-sceptical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347370/can-us-reopen-strait-hormuz-many-military-analysts-are-sceptical?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:00:56 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As the Philippines forms partnerships with several countries to harness its potentially huge wealth of critical minerals, analysts have called for a coherent road map to develop the country’s mining industry to globally competitive standards. President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s administration has signed multiple agreements over the past months, including a memorandum of understanding with the United States to cooperate on diversifying global critical mineral supply chains. The accord, signed during... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3347369/why-philippines-struggles-tap-its-us1-trillion-mineral-wealth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3347369/why-philippines-struggles-tap-its-us1-trillion-mineral-wealth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:30:03 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Iran’s missile and drone stockpiles will last another two or three months as US-Israeli strikes continue, while the US military is also depleting its interceptors, Chinese analysts have noted. However, how long the war lasts would depend less on stockpiles alone than on the effectiveness of new US deployments and President Donald Trump’s political calculus, one of them cautioned. Iran has continued its attacks on Israel and on US assets across the Middle East since the conflict was triggered on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347212/how-long-will-us-israel-war-iran-last-chinese-analysts-offer-clues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347212/how-long-will-us-israel-war-iran-last-chinese-analysts-offer-clues?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem As war rages in the Middle East thousands of miles from the Philippines, a senior military official has urged Manila to reflect on its own vulnerabilities, stressing that military modernisation should not be mere “lip service”. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr earlier this week called on the country to strengthen its air defences, particularly systems capable of intercepting missiles from hostile states, stressing that Manila should ensure its security suppliers meet demand in the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347163/philippines-urged-seriously-address-defence-gaps-counter-aerial-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347163/philippines-urged-seriously-address-defence-gaps-counter-aerial-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:17:00 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Beijing is unlikely to attack Taiwan next year, given security and economic deterrents, including its belief that an amphibious assault could fail and that the technological, supply chain and investor costs would be huge, according to a US threat assessment released on Wednesday. The intelligence overview appeared to walk back a projection by the Pentagon last year that Beijing wanted to take the self-governing island by force as early as 2027 and comes as US President Donald Trump takes a more... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347083/us-assesses-mainland-china-not-planning-attack-taiwan-2027?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347083/us-assesses-mainland-china-not-planning-attack-taiwan-2027?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:12:46 +0000 Alcott Wei,Amber Wang Alcott Wei,Amber Wang A new type of autonomous helicopter has been seen operating on the Type 075 amphibious assault ship, possibly improving the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) capabilities in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. Mainland state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday released a video explaining the operational capabilities of China’s Type 075 amphibious assault ship. It showed a lightweight uncrewed helicopter parked on the ship with folding rotors that appeared to be slightly smaller than the PLA’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346655/could-plas-new-shipborne-drone-redefine-naval-operations-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346655/could-plas-new-shipborne-drone-redefine-naval-operations-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Chinese and Vietnamese personnel will carry out a joint naval patrol and training exercise in the Gulf of Tonkin this week, extending a practice that has continued despite long-standing competing maritime claims. The joint manoeuvres will take place as part of the China-Vietnam Border Defence Friendship Exchange, which will include medical and cultural exchange events, China’s defence ministry said on Sunday. They will be conducted in waters off China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346656/joint-patrols-china-vietnam-steers-course-between-two-powers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346656/joint-patrols-china-vietnam-steers-course-between-two-powers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China and Vietnam are to hold their first high-level ministerial talks under a new platform next week. This comes as the neighbours seek to cement their strategic alignment despite heightened tensions over Beijing’s purported new land reclamation work in the disputed South China Sea. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong and Defence Minister Dong Jun will be in Vietnam from Sunday to Tuesday to meet their respective... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346539/will-paracels-dispute-overshadow-china-and-vietnams-drive-stronger-strategic-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346539/will-paracels-dispute-overshadow-china-and-vietnams-drive-stronger-strategic-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai In January, the US-based magazine Newsweek reported that China had started dredging sand on an obscure feature in the Paracel Islands, the disputed archipelago known as Xisha by the Chinese and Hoang Sa in Vietnam. More recent satellite images suggest that China has significantly expanded its reclamation, with the once-submerged Antelope Reef appearing to have a substantially larger surface area. The reef, one of more than 30 islands that make up the Paracels in the South China Sea, is claimed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346476/whats-important-about-antelope-reef-south-china-seas-paracel-islands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346476/whats-important-about-antelope-reef-south-china-seas-paracel-islands?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:59:20 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s pitch for a United Nations Security Council seat this week was notable for his sidestepping of an issue at the core of Manila’s foreign policy in recent years. As he appealed to UN members in New York, Marcos framed the Philippines as a bridge connecting developing countries and middle-income economies, without making any direct reference to the South China Sea dispute. The president’s restrained speech, which avoided mentioning China despite ongoing... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346401/philippines-bid-un-security-council-seat-sidesteps-maritime-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346401/philippines-bid-un-security-council-seat-sidesteps-maritime-row?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:23 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The United States has sent a military patrol aircraft through the Taiwan Strait weeks before the Xi-Trump summit, triggering People’s Liberation Army jet manoeuvres near Taiwan after several days of pause. A US Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on Wednesday, the US Seventh Fleet said on Thursday. The passage through the waterway separating Taiwan and mainland China illustrated the US’ commitment to “a free and open Indo-Pacific”, Commander Matthew Comer, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346400/us-navy-patrols-taiwan-strait-xi-trump-summit-triggering-pla-manoeuvres?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346400/us-navy-patrols-taiwan-strait-xi-trump-summit-triggering-pla-manoeuvres?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:15:10 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China has significantly stepped up its land reclamation activities on a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, according to satellite images. One image, reportedly taken on Monday, suggested that the surface area of Antelope Reef, once a mostly submerged feature in the Paracel Islands, had expanded substantially. The picture, published on social media by Damien Symon, a researcher with global intelligence research network The Intel Lab, also showed more than 30 vessels, believed to be dredgers... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346257/beijing-stepping-island-building-south-china-sea-after-10-year-pause?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346257/beijing-stepping-island-building-south-china-sea-after-10-year-pause?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The United States has begun pulling missile-defence systems from South Korea to feed its war with Iran, prompting fresh questions in the Philippines about Washington’s military commitments to the Asia-Pacific. The transfer of Patriot batteries from the Korean peninsula, accompanied by reports that parts of a THAAD anti-missile system were also on the move, did not directly affect the US military presence in the Philippines. But the episode has forced a question that Manila would rather not have... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346226/us-missiles-leave-south-korea-philippines-asks-are-we-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346226/us-missiles-leave-south-korea-philippines-asks-are-we-next?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:00:23 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage of China’s ongoing “two sessions”. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Taiwan, trade war, PLA and AI: Li Qiang lays out priorities at ‘two sessions’ China’s premier pledged to champion “orderly” multipolarism and “inclusive” globalisation at the opening ceremony of the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing. 2. Xi Jinping calls on China’s provincial powerhouses to lead in tech, risk control President... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3346187/chinas-two-sessions-2026-everything-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3346187/chinas-two-sessions-2026-everything-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:15:08 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait remain Beijing’s foremost external security concern for 2026, fuelled by uncertainties surrounding the US midterm elections and the growing involvement of Japan, according to a prominent Chinese think tank. In its latest annual forecast of China’s external security risks, the Centre for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University framed this year as a pivotal moment in the profound reshaping of China’s outer defence... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345940/taiwan-tensions-no-1-beijings-top-10-geopolitical-risks-2026-think-tank?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345940/taiwan-tensions-no-1-beijings-top-10-geopolitical-risks-2026-think-tank?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:14:11 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China has signalled strong optimism for finalising negotiations with neighbouring Asian countries to seal a new institutional framework on contested South China Sea waterways. At China’s annual foreign policy press conference on Sunday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the negotiations as having entered a “critical phase” for talks on the South China Sea Code of Conduct – a proposed set of rules between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) aimed at easing tensions. “All... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345879/china-signals-high-hopes-south-china-sea-golden-rules-end-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345879/china-signals-high-hopes-south-china-sea-golden-rules-end-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 09:41:37 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Foreign Minister Wang Yi faced global media on Sunday morning to outline Beijing’s positions on key issues, ranging from the expanding crisis in Iran to China’s deepening dispute with Japan. The annual briefing, held as part of the annual “two sessions”, came as China sought to project its leadership and influence amid mounting global instability and manage its strategic rivalry with the US. This year, the top Chinese diplomat fielded 21 questions in a briefing that lasted nearly 90... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345852/takeaways-foreign-minister-wang-yi-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345852/takeaways-foreign-minister-wang-yi-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 04:38:36 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China has pledged to strengthen maritime law enforcement and bolster legal and institutional mechanisms to defend its claims in disputed waters. Outlined in Beijing’s latest five-year policy blueprint, the resolution reflects its effort to strengthen China’s position in increasingly contested waters. China’s 15th five-year plan, which covers the 2026-2030 period, also signals a push by policymakers to expand China’s influence in shaping global maritime governance and rule-making. Unlike the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345729/why-china-wants-stronger-policing-disputed-waters-under-new-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345729/why-china-wants-stronger-policing-disputed-waters-under-new-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao China must speed up military applications of AI and deepen civil-military fusion to narrow its strategic gap with the United States, a leading Chinese political scientist and adviser to Beijing has said. Citing US-Israeli precision strikes that eliminated Iran’s supreme leader, Zheng Yongnian warned that China risked repeating historical mistakes if it limited artificial intelligence (AI) mostly to civilian or entertainment uses and failed to convert frontier technologies into decisive hard... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345408/khameneis-fall-exposes-chinas-military-ai-lag-versus-us-beijing-adviser-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345408/khameneis-fall-exposes-chinas-military-ai-lag-versus-us-beijing-adviser-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters The ⁠Philippine government said on Wednesday it had apprehended some of its citizens on suspicion of spying for China in a “serious national security matter” that underscores the need for stricter laws against espionage and foreign interference. Authorities did not provide details about the case, including how many people had been apprehended or whether charges had been filed. “The operations of these individuals acting on the behest ‌of Chinese intelligence have been addressed and terminated,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345452/philippines-arrests-filipino-nationals-suspected-spying-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345452/philippines-arrests-filipino-nationals-suspected-spying-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:02:08 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang China and Iran may be strategic partners but, as was the case with America’s special operation in Venezuela in January, China has offered no security support to Iran over the US and Israeli attacks. The decision was based on a consideration of Beijing’s own interests, its ties with the US and other countries, and to minimise military and financial risks to China, according to analysts. Since the large-scale attacks against Iran began over the weekend, Beijing has limited its response to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345387/why-china-staying-sidelines-us-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345387/why-china-staying-sidelines-us-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei US land-based reconnaissance aircraft sorties over the South China Sea decreased by around 30 per cent month on month in February, according to a Beijing-based think tank, as the US deploys assets to the Middle East. The South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) said on Monday that only 72 US reconnaissance aircraft sorties were detected over the South China Sea in February. By contrast, 102 US reconnaissance aircraft sorties were observed over the waters in both January and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345278/us-patrol-flights-over-south-china-sea-drop-30-focus-shifts-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345278/us-patrol-flights-over-south-china-sea-drop-30-focus-shifts-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:00:27 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The massive American military strikes on Iran could add a new layer of uncertainty to US President Donald Trump’s high-stakes trip to China at the end of the month, observers warn. They said that while the visit was expected to go ahead as planned, the escalating conflict in the Middle East could fuel fresh concerns in Beijing over Washington’s global assertiveness and ambitions. Large-scale US and Israeli strikes on Iran since Saturday have killed senior Iranian figures including the supreme... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345181/will-iran-attack-derail-trumps-high-stakes-china-visit-meet-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345181/will-iran-attack-derail-trumps-high-stakes-china-visit-meet-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:06:00 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s decision to promote coastguard officer Jay Tarriela – despite Beijing’s calls for him to be sanctioned – is being read by analysts as a calibrated signal of how the Philippines intends to manage its maritime dispute with China. Rather than a routine personnel move, they say, the elevation of one of the government’s most outspoken maritime voices suggests Marcos is doubling down on a strategy that pairs public exposure of Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345174/philippines-promotes-coastguard-officer-deliberate-signal-south-china-sea-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345174/philippines-promotes-coastguard-officer-deliberate-signal-south-china-sea-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 13:17:04 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen A veteran South China Sea expert has cast doubt on the prospects of finalising a code of conduct for the contested waters this year, even as ties between rival claimants Beijing and Manila show signs of improvement. Wu Shicun, founding president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said it was “100 per cent not likely” that the document would be signed this year as the Philippines takes over the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). “I believe it... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345137/south-china-sea-expert-warns-2026-code-conduct-simply-not-achievable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345137/south-china-sea-expert-warns-2026-code-conduct-simply-not-achievable?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines cannot afford an aircraft carrier, could not sustain one if it had it and, according to most analysts, does not need one. What it needs is messier, cheaper and harder to photograph, they say: a web of missiles, patrol boats, frigates and surveillance assets designed not to project power, but to deny it. Two recent developments have made that choice harder to ignore. Last month, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr openly mused that an aircraft carrier with “accompanying... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344910/indonesia-getting-aircraft-carrier-philippines-isnt-does-it-matter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344910/indonesia-getting-aircraft-carrier-philippines-isnt-does-it-matter?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 02:00:22 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words For much of the past decade, Southeast Asia has been portrayed as a strategic prize in the intensifying rivalry between the US and China. Headlines often frame the region as a battleground for influence, as if Asean members are passive actors waiting to be pulled into rival... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344717/asean-not-choosing-sides-strategically-maximising-space?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344717/asean-not-choosing-sides-strategically-maximising-space?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China and the Philippines may soon start joint coastguard patrols in the South China Sea after years of tensions over the disputed waters, according to a Philippine senator. Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate’s foreign relations committee, met Chinese ambassador Jing Quan on Monday, and said afterwards that the two countries’ coastguards were expected to sign a memorandum of agreement by the end of March. He added that rather than “having disputes there … there will be cooperation”, such as... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344626/can-china-and-philippines-replace-disputes-cooperation-after-years-tension?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344626/can-china-and-philippines-replace-disputes-cooperation-after-years-tension?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:26:30 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s maritime militia was deployed in “record-high numbers” across the disputed South China Sea in 2025, according to a US think tank report. However, the report also cited a concentration of civilian fishing fleets near less contested reefs, saying this suggested their waning strategic role for Beijing. The report was published on Monday by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) – a research programme affiliated with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344474/record-chinese-maritime-militia-deployed-south-china-sea-2025-us-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344474/record-chinese-maritime-militia-deployed-south-china-sea-2025-us-report?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:18:23 +0000