https://www.scmp.com/rss/500772/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A proposed airport on a former US naval base in the Philippines near the entrance to Manila Bay is drawing fresh strategic attention after Washington agreed to fund a feasibility study, a move analysts say fits into US efforts to strengthen logistics, access and interoperability with the country in the South China Sea. Experts said the proposed Sangley Point International Airport in Cavite could become more than a commercial aviation project because of its access to the South China Sea and the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353548/why-us-backing-philippine-airport-former-sangley-point-naval-base?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353548/why-us-backing-philippine-airport-former-sangley-point-naval-base?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem It took less than six minutes for Japan’s Type 88 missile to find its mark, a decommissioned Philippine warship 75km (47 miles) off the coast of Ilocos Norte. The US-made Tomahawk took rather longer to hit its target, some 630km (390 miles) away. It was, analysts say, a pointed display of resolve: Japanese, American and Filipino troops bringing this year’s Balikatan joint exercises to a thunderous close with a volley of missiles fired from sites in the far northern Philippines. The Tomahawk... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352922/balikatan-2026-us-japan-philippines-flex-military-muscle-amid-china-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352922/balikatan-2026-us-japan-philippines-flex-military-muscle-amid-china-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 04:00:06 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The United States is planning a fuel depot in the southern Philippines to support humanitarian and maritime security missions for its long-time ally in Asia, as part of a growing network of forward-based refuelling hubs in the Western Pacific. Located far from the flashpoint reefs at the centre of Manila’s maritime dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea, the depot marks what one observer called a “more mature and more serious stage” in the US-Philippine alliance: a shift from base access... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350066/us-philippines-ties-enter-more-mature-phase-planned-fuel-depot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350066/us-philippines-ties-enter-more-mature-phase-planned-fuel-depot?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Philippine lawmakers have voiced hope that joint oil and gas exploration deals with China could proceed amid the global energy crunch, despite a former Supreme Court justice warning that accepting Beijing’s terms would be tantamount to “suicide” for Manila. Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier this week backed President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s intention to resume talks with China on such ventures, given the impact of the Middle East conflict. In 2023, Marcos Jnr and Chinese President Xi... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349350/philippine-lawmakers-call-oil-deals-china-prompts-warnings-trap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349350/philippine-lawmakers-call-oil-deals-china-prompts-warnings-trap?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:51:15 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Washington and its allies are drawing up plans to establish an ammunition production facility in the Philippines, a move critics warn would turn the Southeast Asian nation into a logistics arm of US “warmongering”. The proposal emerged last week from the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR), a US-led initiative founded in 2024 to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and help allies produce and sustain military equipment closer to potential flashpoints. Members agreed to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347561/us-eyes-philippine-ammo-facility-opposition-warns-warmongering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347561/us-eyes-philippine-ammo-facility-opposition-warns-warmongering?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:00:15 +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 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 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 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The United States’ plan to expand deployments of advanced missile systems and unmanned platforms in the Philippines is less about hardware than geography and what it signals about Washington’s long-term strategy in the region, analysts said. Announced after the 12th Philippines–US Bilateral Strategic Dialogue this week, the move reflects a steady effort to reinforce the so-called First Island Chain and bolster the US–Philippines alliance’s defensive posture in both the South China Sea and the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344020/us-missile-deployments-philippines-signal-deeper-strategic-shift-region?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344020/us-missile-deployments-philippines-signal-deeper-strategic-shift-region?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:58:23 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Japan plans to deploy 300 elite ground soldiers to the Philippines for this year’s Salaknib military exercise, marking the first time the bilateral US-Philippine drills will include troops from additional partners. Officials and analysts say the move signals an operational shift away from simple bilateral engagements towards tight-knit “minilateral” security coordination among US allies, with a growing focus on remote island defence and contingencies in the Taiwan Strait and the South China... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343891/japan-join-us-philippines-military-drills-first-time-knowing-your-friend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343891/japan-join-us-philippines-military-drills-first-time-knowing-your-friend?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:10:01 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Australia has emerged as an alternate defence partner to long-time US ally the Philippines amid mounting uncertainty over American commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific. Canberra’s evolving ties with Manila hinge on its own strategic interests that may now align more closely with the Southeast Asian country’s than even those of Washington, observers say. Australia has committed to building eight infrastructure projects this year at five military bases in Luzon. Canberra will lead the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342824/why-australia-picking-tab-philippine-military-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342824/why-australia-picking-tab-philippine-military-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The first documented case of a Filipino man who died fighting alongside Russian forces in the Ukraine war has raised concerns in the Philippines over coerced recruitment and sparked calls for compensation from Moscow. In a report released on Monday, Ukraine’s intelligence operations identified the body of John Patrick, a Filipino national, among Russian troops killed near the village of Novoselivka in the Donetsk region, marking the first such report of its kind. Kyiv officials said Patrick’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3341541/death-filipino-russia-ukraine-war-sparks-fears-forced-recruitment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3341541/death-filipino-russia-ukraine-war-sparks-fears-forced-recruitment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:55:57 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem An advocacy group representing Filipino victims of wartime sexual slavery by Japanese soldiers will renew its decades-old demand for a formal state apology and reparations as Japan’s foreign minister visits the Philippines this week. The group, Lila Pilipina (League of Filipino Grandmothers), said it plans to press its appeal during the visit of Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who is set to arrive on Thursday. “We demand a formal public apology and reparation based on the apology,” said... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3339848/philippines-comfort-women-demand-apology-during-japan-foreign-minister-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3339848/philippines-comfort-women-demand-apology-during-japan-foreign-minister-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:30:13 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Japan’s top diplomat is heading to the Philippines this week for talks expected to focus on maritime tensions in the South China Sea and Tokyo’s strategic role in the region. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi’s stop in Manila on Thursday is part of a nine-day diplomatic tour of the Middle East and Asia that began last Saturday, with stops in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Qatar and India. His talks with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro are expected to review... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339547/japans-top-diplomat-heads-philippines-south-china-sea-top-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339547/japans-top-diplomat-heads-philippines-south-china-sea-top-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines is stepping up efforts to protect undersea cables – the unseen backbone of digital communications – as a string of regional and global incidents has sharpened concerns that seabed infrastructure could be targeted for sabotage or espionage. Officials and analysts say the moves signal that so-called grey-zone activities – coercive actions that fall short of open conflict – beneath the sea are no longer going unnoticed. The concern is not only physical damage to submarine cables but... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339336/philippines-ramps-protection-undersea-cables-amid-growing-grey-zone-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339336/philippines-ramps-protection-undersea-cables-amid-growing-grey-zone-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:08:00 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippine Army has rolled out a locally developed remote weapons system that officials said would boost troop protection while advancing Manila’s push to build a self-reliant defence industry amid limited manpower and resources. The Controller Operated Battle-Ready Armament (Cobra) was formally turned over to the Department of National Defence on Thursday at the Army Armour Division headquarters in Camp O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, following two years of development led by the Department of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336746/why-philippine-army-turning-locally-built-remote-weapons-systems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336746/why-philippine-army-turning-locally-built-remote-weapons-systems?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Russia’s accusation that the United States and Germany are recruiting Filipino mercenaries to fight in Ukraine is almost certainly disinformation, analysts say. Yet the claim exposes how easily Southeast Asian nations can be drawn into the information crossfire of global conflicts – becoming unwitting pawns in great-power narratives that shape opinions far beyond the battlefield. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova alleged that “US representatives” had enlisted Filipinos to join... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334731/russia-claims-filipino-troops-are-fighting-ukraine-manila-calls-it-fake-news?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334731/russia-claims-filipino-troops-are-fighting-ukraine-manila-calls-it-fake-news?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The United States and the Philippines are preparing to hardwire advanced cyber operations into the heart of their annual war games, signalling a shift from merely talking about digital threats to practising how to fight through them. Jennifer Schmidt, head of the US embassy’s information and communications technology unit, said specialised training ranges and sophisticated threat-emulation software would be incorporated into next year’s Balikatan drills so troops could rehearse defending... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334203/us-philippines-take-cyberwar-games-next-level-amid-pressure-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334203/us-philippines-take-cyberwar-games-next-level-amid-pressure-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:59:52 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem When the rains fall over Madrid, a quiet rural town in the southern Philippines, muddy brown torrents sweep through rice fields and homes. For Beth Samblado, the floodwater is a recurring reminder of a struggle she and her neighbours in Surigao del Sur province have waged, largely alone, against nickel mining. “We’re asking the government again to please stop the mining,” the 51-year-old told This Week in Asia in Filipino from her modest eatery in the town centre. Years ago, she and her fellow... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3333726/please-stop-philippines-nickel-mining-boom-brings-floods-failed-crops?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3333726/please-stop-philippines-nickel-mining-boom-brings-floods-failed-crops?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 06:00:17 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines has tripled its patrol area in the South China Sea in what analysts describe as a shift in focus from reactive protests to proactive maritime control in response to China’s escalating territorial claims. The expanded missions reflect a move by Manila to close long-standing coordination gaps between military and civilian agencies, particularly after Beijing recently declared a “marine protected area” at Scarborough Shoal, a flashpoint in the two countries’ maritime dispute,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3331327/philippines-boosts-deterrence-south-china-sea-tripling-its-patrol-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3331327/philippines-boosts-deterrence-south-china-sea-tripling-its-patrol-area?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:02:07 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem South Korea’s leading aircraft manufacturer has said it is in talks with the Philippines for more deals following an aerial show featuring the prowess of one of its newest multirole fighter jets near Seoul. Spectators filled the Seoul Air Base in Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province for the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2025, with the Republic of Korea Air Force showcasing the capabilities of the KF-21 Boramae, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), over the skies of the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330423/philippines-talks-buy-more-south-korean-fighter-jets-aircraft-maker-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330423/philippines-talks-buy-more-south-korean-fighter-jets-aircraft-maker-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 04:14:58 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Manila’s long-time ally, the United States, has launched a training programme aimed at strengthening the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) operational strategies and maritime law enforcement capabilities. The move, however, could deepen dependence on Washington under the guise of civilian capacity-building, according to some observers, who point to a familiar “pattern” inherent in US partnerships. Last week, coastguard commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan and outgoing US ambassador to the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330175/south-china-sea-why-us-eyeing-philippines-coastguard-3-year-training-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330175/south-china-sea-why-us-eyeing-philippines-coastguard-3-year-training-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 05:53:36 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Vilma Lagnayo woke up on Saturday to a sobering reality – her family home of five years in the quiet coastal town of Manay in southern Philippines was gone. The 56-year-old recalled that minutes before an offshore magnitude 7.4 quake hit at 9.43am on Friday, she was outside her house attending to house chores when the ground began to tremble softly. Within seconds, the shaking turned violent – the walls of their house creaked and then collapsed, windows rattled, and the air filled with the sound... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3328647/southern-philippines-quake-hit-residents-lament-losses-it-really-hurts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3328647/southern-philippines-quake-hit-residents-lament-losses-it-really-hurts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Oct 2025 11:13:48 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A decision by a unit of the largest lawyers’ group in the Philippines to honour former president Rodrigo Duterte with an award to recognise his decades of legal service has ignited fierce backlash, with critics calling it an affront to the thousands killed during his bloody war on drugs. While legal experts noted the award was a routine procedure, rights advocates have slammed it as deeply inappropriate given Duterte’s ongoing detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the gravity... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328508/tone-deaf-legal-service-award-philippines-duterte-ignites-anger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328508/tone-deaf-legal-service-award-philippines-duterte-ignites-anger?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 07:13:49 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem As the Philippines grapples with a corruption scandal over flood control projects that sparked protests across the country last month, the ramifications of the saga are being felt from as far away as Norway. After a Filipino television personality and broadcaster shared on social media that a family member in Norway was turned away at an airport foreign exchange over concerns her country had “money-laundering issues”, many others claimed to have had similar experiences. Analysts, meanwhile, warn... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3328321/has-philippines-lost-worlds-trust-over-flood-control-corruption-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3328321/has-philippines-lost-worlds-trust-over-flood-control-corruption-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:54:47 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines and Japan have activated their new defence pact through a joint mission focused on delivering humanitarian aid following the deadly earthquake in Cebu, in a move that analysts say can lay the groundwork for deeper security cooperation in the region. The deployment marks the start of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), a landmark deal that allows troops from both countries to conduct joint exercises on each other’s territory. Signed in July 2024 and in force since September 11,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328229/philippines-and-japan-signal-defence-pacts-depth-aid-quake-hit-cebu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328229/philippines-and-japan-signal-defence-pacts-depth-aid-quake-hit-cebu?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The United States is deepening its military presence in the Philippines with a planned upgrade to a naval base in Palawan, a strategically vital island facing the South China Sea that already hosts American-funded boat hubs and airstrips. While some observers view the growing American presence as a pragmatic move to enhance the Philippines’ defence capabilities, others caution that the strategy risks creating a precarious dependency under a transactional US administration and leaves Manila... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327873/philippines-boost-us-military-presence-naval-base-deal-amid-entrapment-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327873/philippines-boost-us-military-presence-naval-base-deal-amid-entrapment-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines is among Asian nations to be covered by a US$55 million maritime defence funding from the United States, but Manila is not expected to buy any significant game-changing security assets with its share. Analysts say while the funding signals Washington’s focus on pulling mid-sized states into its orbit to counter Beijing’s growing regional presence, the Philippines is likely to use its undisclosed allocation on radars, drones and coastguard purchases. US Secretary of State Marco... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327110/how-will-philippines-use-its-share-us55-million-maritime-aid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327110/how-will-philippines-use-its-share-us55-million-maritime-aid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 07:30:10 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines has taken delivery of its most modern warship yet, marking a milestone in efforts to strengthen its maritime defences in the South China Sea. The arrival of the BRP Diego Silang, a 3,200-tonne guided-missile frigate built in South Korea, offers the promise of greater surveillance and deterrence – even as analysts say the Philippines continues to lag behind its regional peers. At a ceremony held on Monday in a naval base in Subic Bay, Philippine military chief General Romeo... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325689/philippines-new-warship-aims-boost-its-south-china-sea-defences-it-enough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325689/philippines-new-warship-aims-boost-its-south-china-sea-defences-it-enough?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A US proposal to train Filipino fishermen as informants, tasked with reporting illegal fishing and environmental degradation by foreign vessels, has triggered concern that civilians could be thrust into the front lines of the South China Sea dispute. Jonathan Fritz, US principal deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, outlined the initiative during a round-table discussion at the US embassy in Manila on Thursday. Despite Washington’s recent overhaul of its foreign... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325008/us-plan-use-filipino-fishermen-informants-raises-south-china-sea-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325008/us-plan-use-filipino-fishermen-informants-raises-south-china-sea-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:30:14 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A Filipino content creator is facing a warning from a government agency and a torrent of online backlash after posting a message on social media asking where to find “halal pork” – a contradiction in Islamic belief that critics say crosses the line between satire and hate speech. The post made on Tuesday by Crist Briand has since been deleted, but screenshots of his remark continue to circulate online, prompting angry reactions and calls for accountability. One social media user challenged... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3324305/filipino-influencer-causes-outrage-halal-pork-post-mocking-us-muslims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3324305/filipino-influencer-causes-outrage-halal-pork-post-mocking-us-muslims?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:16:54 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A Philippine senator has raised fears of foreign influence over key institutions after the arrest of businessman Joseph Sy, who is accused of obtaining citizenship in the Philippines fraudulently and compromising national security due to his honorary role in the country’s coastguard. Sy, also known by his Chinese name Chen Zhong Zhen and chairman of mining firm Global Ferronickel Holdings, was detained by immigration authorities at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday after... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3323184/alice-guo-part-2-arrest-joseph-sy-philippines-rekindles-security-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3323184/alice-guo-part-2-arrest-joseph-sy-philippines-rekindles-security-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 08:16:53 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippine government has reported a marked increase in Chinese maritime activity near Scarborough Shoal, intensifying a stand-off over the disputed South China Sea atoll. Officials in Manila have characterised the build-up as an attempt by Beijing to reassert control after two Chinese ships collided last week during a chase involving a Philippine vessel. On Sunday, the National Maritime Council cited the Philippine Navy’s latest assessment, reporting that as of Thursday, seven Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3322361/philippines-reports-chinese-ship-surge-scarborough-shoal-after-embarrassing-collision?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3322361/philippines-reports-chinese-ship-surge-scarborough-shoal-after-embarrassing-collision?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 08:00:32 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Lockheed Martin is set to establish an R&D facility in Manila in partnership with a major Philippine university, in a move analysts say will both strengthen the nation’s technological foundations and enmesh it further into Washington’s regional security framework. The American defence giant announced on Tuesday a collaboration with Southern Methodist University (SMU) aimed at boosting innovation, developing advanced technologies and nurturing local talent in partnership with Philippine academic... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321952/why-lockheed-martins-philippine-rd-hub-will-be-chinas-radar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321952/why-lockheed-martins-philippine-rd-hub-will-be-chinas-radar?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A bomb-sniffing dog deployed to the site of an explosion in the Philippine capital has sparked national uproar after a viral photo showed its rib cage and spine protruding sharply, prompting animal rights groups to demand an investigation and better care for the country’s service animals. The Belgian Malinois, named Kobe, was pictured beside his handler at the blast site in Tondo, Manila, where four people were injured in what police said was the accidental detonation of an air conditioner... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3320936/police-defend-k9-care-after-photo-gaunt-bomb-dog-draws-outrage-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3320936/police-defend-k9-care-after-photo-gaunt-bomb-dog-draws-outrage-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 07:40:53 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A Chinese state media broadcast, claiming to show its coastguard towing a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea, has triggered a fresh diplomatic rift between Beijing and Manila, with Philippine authorities dismissing the footage as “fake news” and accusing China of recycling video from past confrontations to manipulate public opinion. The controversy has renewed scrutiny of Beijing’s information strategy in one of the world’s most contested maritime regions. Analysts caution that while such... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3320794/philippines-rejects-chinese-fake-news-broadcast-south-china-sea-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3320794/philippines-rejects-chinese-fake-news-broadcast-south-china-sea-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem India’s deployment of three naval warships to the Philippines in the lead-up to a joint patrol in the South China Sea has raised hope that Manila is not alone in its long-standing stance against Beijing’s assertiveness in the region. Currently docked at the Port of Manila, the Indian Navy warships – INS Mysore, a guided missile destroyer; INS Kiltan, an anti-submarine warfare corvette; and INS Shakti, a fleet tanker – are slated to take part in the joint sail from August 4-8, including in waters... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3320258/india-sends-warships-philippines-joint-south-china-sea-patrol?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3320258/india-sends-warships-philippines-joint-south-china-sea-patrol?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 08:00:12 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The South China Sea is about to become more militarised as the United States commits to deploying cutting-edge missile and drone systems in the Philippines. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the move during high-level talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on Monday US time, signalling Washington’s push to create a “strong shield of real deterrence” against growing Chinese influence and prepare for potential crisis scenarios. The new weapons would form part of a broader... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319250/will-more-us-missiles-philippines-deter-or-provoke-south-china-sea-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319250/will-more-us-missiles-philippines-deter-or-provoke-south-china-sea-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 07:13:38 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A discreet but strategically significant US-funded boat maintenance hub in the western Philippines is poised to strengthen Manila’s maritime presence in the contested South China Sea while avoiding raising the risk of political escalation. The new facility in Quezon, a coastal town on Palawan Island less than 260km (162 miles) from the flashpoint Second Thomas Shoal, could enable the Philippine Navy to maintain a more persistent and responsive posture amid rising tensions with China, in what... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3318432/us-build-philippines-boat-hub-south-china-sea-edge-low-footprint-deterrence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3318432/us-build-philippines-boat-hub-south-china-sea-edge-low-footprint-deterrence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:30:11 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The United States has deployed its most advanced fighter aircraft, the F-35, to the Philippines for the first time, a move analysts say signals Washington’s intent to stress-test forward combat readiness in a region increasingly shaped by China’s maritime assertiveness. The arrival of the stealth jets for the Cope Thunder joint air drills – launched on Monday at Clark Air Base and running until July 18 – reflects a more tangible form of deterrence, experts say, as the Philippines becomes further... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317354/f-35-drills-philippines-signal-us-ramp-combat-readiness-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317354/f-35-drills-philippines-signal-us-ramp-combat-readiness-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 08:00:16 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The presence of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier in the South China Sea this week and its port call at Manila signals renewed American commitment to the Philippines, though observers warn that Beijing could view the move as a “containment” effort and ramp up its own naval activity in the disputed waters. Flight deck operations were opened to the media aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered vessel, with commanding officer Captain Timothy Waits telling reporters his ship’s mission... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3316925/south-china-sea-us-aircraft-carrier-marks-american-commitment-also-crowded-region?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3316925/south-china-sea-us-aircraft-carrier-marks-american-commitment-also-crowded-region?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 08:30:13 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A proposal to build a US ammunition manufacturing and storage hub in Subic Bay – the site of a former American naval base in the northern Philippines – is raising fears of strategic entrapment, local economic disruption and Chinese retaliation, despite tentative backing from Manila’s defence chief. Experts said while the move could help plug logistics gaps in the Indo-Pacific and deepen alliance coordination, it might also undermine the Philippines’ policy of strategic ambiguity and reignite... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3316609/us-munition-hub-plan-philippines-subic-bay-sparks-china-retaliation-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3316609/us-munition-hub-plan-philippines-subic-bay-sparks-china-retaliation-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:00:09 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines could suffer a setback in its efforts to counter Beijing’s assertiveness in the South China Sea if the United States shifts its attention from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, observers have warned. Iran on Tuesday retaliated against US strikes on its nuclear facilities by launching at least six missiles at an American base in Qatar, but Doha said the attack had been thwarted. The spectre of a closure of the vital Hormuz Strait shipping artery has also loomed over the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3315585/iran-us-conflict-raises-concerns-philippines-south-china-sea-distracted-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3315585/iran-us-conflict-raises-concerns-philippines-south-china-sea-distracted-america?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 05:30:08 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem From the decks of battered fishing boats, the struggle over Scarborough Shoal has entered a new, precarious phase. As China steps up its patrols, Filipino fishers say they are being forced to abandon seas their families have plied for generations – raising fears that what’s unfolding at the reef could become the playbook for Beijing’s wider South China Sea ambitions. The Chinese coastguard’s intensified enforcement of a controversial anti-trespassing law is the latest move in China’s campaign to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3315269/how-china-squeezes-filipino-fishers-scarborough-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3315269/how-china-squeezes-filipino-fishers-scarborough-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 04:00:16 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines remains dangerously under-equipped to counter China’s growing undersea operations in the South China Sea, analysts warn, as joint anti-submarine drills with Japan spotlight the urgent need for Manila to strengthen its underwater warfare capabilities. The two-day exercises, which began on Saturday, were the first large-scale joint exercises since Japan’s Diet ratified the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with the Philippines earlier this month, following Manila’s approval last... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314624/does-philippines-have-credible-undersea-might-against-china-drills-spotlight-capability-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314624/does-philippines-have-credible-undersea-might-against-china-drills-spotlight-capability-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:30:38 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem With Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr about halfway through his six-year term, questions are growing over whether his successor will uphold his firmer stance on the South China Sea or, as one senior official has warned, retreat to the symbolic “jet ski” posturing and softer policies seen under his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. Last month’s midterm elections delivered a split Senate, with Marcos-aligned candidates winning five of the 12 contested seats and Duterte allies clinching the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314363/will-sara-duterte-revive-her-dads-softer-china-stance-if-she-wins-2028-philippines-vote?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314363/will-sara-duterte-revive-her-dads-softer-china-stance-if-she-wins-2028-philippines-vote?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Jun 2025 05:30:06 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A senior Philippine military official has revealed a soon-to-be-deployed strategy that would involve an army contingent to support law enforcement units on occupied islands in the South China Sea. Observers said the strategy would align with Manila’s policy shift from an internal to external defence posture aimed at protecting the country’s territorial waters. One expert, however, warned that it could lead to more aggressive moves by the Chinese navy and coastguard if Beijing were to view... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314379/philippine-army-unit-be-deployed-soon-south-china-sea-islands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314379/philippine-army-unit-be-deployed-soon-south-china-sea-islands?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 11:31:07 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s recent call to Filipino-Chinese businessmen to boost Manila’s bilateral ties with Beijing has raised the possibility that the Philippine leader is softening his stance on China. However, while the president’s sudden pivot could signal a recalibration of his approach, observers say the move is unlikely to yield any results in the near term because of his earlier hardline policy, including a statement earlier this month by his defence chief at a major security... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314127/philippines-marcos-softens-stance-amid-economic-pressures-will-china-bite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314127/philippines-marcos-softens-stance-amid-economic-pressures-will-china-bite?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Jun 2025 08:02:34 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A recent case of a Chinese militia vessel running aground on a strategic island in the disputed South China Sea has raised concerns from the Philippine side of another wave of so-called grey-zone activities by Beijing, even as Manila’s officials acknowledge the incident could be down to inclement weather. Observers point to the Philippines having adopted the same strategy to stake claim over the Second Thomas Shoal when it permanently grounded the war vessel BRP Sierra Madre in 1999. The recent... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314094/grounded-chinese-ship-near-philippine-held-island-sparks-concerns-more-grey-zone-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314094/grounded-chinese-ship-near-philippine-held-island-sparks-concerns-more-grey-zone-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:00:15 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippine military is ramping up efforts to enhance its drone offensive capabilities and countermeasures amid growing concerns over China potentially using waves of such unmanned aircraft to assert its claims in contested waters. As part of this push, Philippine and US forces recently tested high-powered microwave weapons during the Balikatan 2025 exercises, designed to neutralise so-called drone swarms. The Philippine military has also begun using Israeli-made intelligence, surveillance... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3313369/philippines-aims-counter-chinas-drone-swarm-capacity-learn-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3313369/philippines-aims-counter-chinas-drone-swarm-capacity-learn-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:00:08 +0000