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Brunei Darussalam

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Brunei Darussalam. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Bandar Seri Begawan

Head of State

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

Head of Government

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) welcomes Vietnamese President To Lam to Beijing at a ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua via AP

South China Sea

China, Vietnam vow to ‘better’ navigate South China Sea disputes

Joint communique indicates wish to keep maritime disputes from jeopardising ties and caps To Lam’s trip.

17 Apr 2026 - 8:55PM

Malaysia

‘New normal’: Malaysia and Australia strike energy supply pledge amid Iran war

16 Apr 2026 - 7:32PMvideocam

The Philippines

Why Southeast Asian nations are skipping major US-Philippine Balikatan drills

17 Apr 2026 - 1:11PM

US-China relations

Russian and Chinese envoys meet in Beijing to discuss Iran, Ukraine and Taiwan

Chinese readout warns of rising turmoil in veiled swipe at Washington and Trump as Beijing strengthens ties with Moscow.

15 Apr 2026 - 4:46AMvideocam

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (left) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pose before talks in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

US, Israel war on Iran

Asia’s energy supply at breaking point as US blockades Hormuz

Nearly 90 per cent of the region’s crude oil is now at risk as stalled peace talks and a naval stand-off raise the spectre of stagflation.

14 Apr 2026 - 6:09PM

The Philippines

Philippines to rename disputed South China Sea islands

The features to be renamed belong to the Spratly archipelago, site of repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels.

31 Mar 2026 - 11:29PM

The Philippines

As Philippines battles fuel crisis, will Marcos postpone Asean summit?

Lawmakers have urged the president to postpone or scale down the event and redirect funds towards softening the blow of rising energy costs.

27 Mar 2026 - 12:30PMvideocam

The Philippines

Philippines will allow use of dirtier, cheaper fuel amid US-Iran war

The ‌Philippines has taken steps such as shortening the work week and providing ⁠fuel subsidies to counter the impact of rising costs.

22 Mar 2026 - 7:13PM

Vietnam

Vietnam warns of April flight reductions as jet fuel shortage fears deepen

Hanoi seeks new suppliers as China and Thailand halt exports of jet fuel due to the Iran war.

17 Mar 2026 - 8:37AMvideocam

China travel

Here are 5 ways to enter China without a visa – by land, sea or air

China has continually expanded its visa-free policies in recent years. Here is a breakdown of the latest rules.

14 Mar 2026 - 4:00PM

A police officer helps an American tourist fill out an entry registration card at Beijing Capital International Airport. Photo: Xinhua

Two Sessions 2025

Beijing signals high hopes for South China Sea ‘golden rules’ by end of year

Wang Yi voices ‘determination’ to work with rival claimants yet urges Manila to ‘be aware of its responsibility’.

8 Mar 2026 - 6:44PMvideocam

Chinese coastguard personnel patrol the waters around the disputed Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing claims as Huangyan Island, in November 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Singapore

How Southeast Asia’s coffee chains are brewing cross-border success

Home-grown brands such as Zus Coffee are betting on cultural fluency, halal positioning and digital tools to make further inroads.

5 Mar 2026 - 4:47PM

China trade

Despite loss of Panama Canal, China investing US$23.9b in global seaports: study

Beijing funds 363 ports outside the Panama Canal to safeguard against East-West decoupling and US bid to curb China’s supply chain influence.

6 Mar 2026 - 10:20AMvideocam

Asean

Asian Angle | How Asean can resolve its Myanmar dilemma post-election

Asean should not discard the Five-Point Consensus, but translate it into a politically astute strategy of conditional engagement.

14 Feb 2026 - 12:30PMvideocam

Vote counting takes place on January 25 in Yangon for Myanmar’s general election. Photo: Kyodo

South China Sea

The Philippines wants to seal South China Sea code of conduct. Can it deliver?

As 2026 Asean chair, Manila has highlighted its push to finalise within its term a code of conduct covering the contested waters.

11 Feb 2026 - 6:14AMvideocam

Hong Kong police

Editorial | Interpol meet will enable Hong Kong to bolster global crime-fighting ties

As host of Interpol’s 94th general assembly, the city will be able to show that its ‘superconnector’ role extends to international law enforcement.

9 Jan 2026 - 6:45AM

South China Sea

Opinion | Why coastguards, not warships, are shaping future of South China Sea

The test is not claimants resolving their disputes but whether they preserve the infrastructure that keeps encounters from becoming a crisis.

7 Jan 2026 - 9:30AMvideocam

Hong Kong police

Police to deepen Asean ties as Hong Kong set to host first top Interpol meeting

Police chief Joe Chow says Hong Kong’s high standing will help foster ties as city looks to host 196 member country representatives in November.

5 Jan 2026 - 8:30AM

Hong Kong police chief Joe Chow Yat-ming attended Interpol’s general assembly in Marrakech, Morocco, last year. Photo: Handout

Tourism

Asian travellers brace for ‘chilling’ US social media scrutiny

The proposal, which requires visa-exempt visitors to provide five years of social media history, comes amid moves to toughen US borders.

1 Jan 2026 - 5:45PM

Asean

Opinion | How China and Asean can ensure their upgraded pact is truly win-win

Beijing must assuage Southeast Asian concerns about its power while Asean leaders can benefit from a more multidimensional view of China.

5 Nov 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Thailand

How Thailand melted tariff barriers to become Asia’s top ice cream exporter

A blizzard of free trade deals and clever sourcing has helped Thai ice cream exports surge by more than 10 per cent annually since 2020.

3 Nov 2025 - 9:20AM

A visitor takes photographs amid colorful ice cream-themed sculptures at cafe and theme park in Pattaya, Thailand. Photo: AFP

SCMP Highlights

US-China defence talks, C919 jet’s global win in Brunei: SCMP daily highlights

From a Washington-Beijing defence meeting to a robotics expert leaving Sweden for China, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

31 Oct 2025 - 9:15PM

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus. Photo: X/Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

Singapore

Singapore cyber summit stresses need for unified front amid rising threats

Policymakers and industry leaders say close partnerships between governments and tech giants can ensure swift responses to cybercrimes.

22 Oct 2025 - 11:34PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Opinion | Apec offers a stage for China, US and two Koreas to make peace

With Trump and Xi set to attend, it could pave the way for a US-North Korea summit and mend China-South Korea ties.

27 Sep 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

China trade

Chinese firms treat trade fair as testing ground for Asean market ambitions

10-nation bloc is China’s largest trading partner and an increasingly important alternative to Western markets amid US tariff war.

20 Sep 2025 - 8:00AM

An exhibitor demonstrates a surgical robot at the China-Asean Expo in Nanning on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

SCMP Highlights

How Chinese view US rivalry, Beijing’s deterrence muscle: SCMP daily highlights

From Chinese public opinion on US, Russia and North Korea to science and tech at Victory Day parade, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

4 Sep 2025 - 9:15PM

President Xi Jinping (centre) with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Tiananmen Square on Wednesday for China’s Victory Day military parade. Photo: EPA

China exports

China presses ahead with Southeast Asia port expansion as US tensions simmer

The huge project in Brunei comes as China vies to fend off US pressure and ramp up exports to Southeast Asia.

12 Aug 2025 - 8:00AM

Asean

Opinion | US ‘lone wolf’ doctrine in Southeast Asia cedes ground to China

Rather than viewing Beijing’s regional inroads as setbacks, Washington seems more than happy to weaken once-cherished bonds with allies.

23 Jul 2025 - 10:13AMvideocam

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Brunei Darussalam

China, Vietnam vow to ‘better’ navigate South China Sea disputes

Joint communique indicates wish to keep maritime disputes from jeopardising ties and caps To Lam’s trip.

‘New normal’: Malaysia and Australia strike energy supply pledge amid Iran war

Why Southeast Asian nations are skipping major US-Philippine Balikatan drills

Russian and Chinese envoys meet in Beijing to discuss Iran, Ukraine and Taiwan

Chinese readout warns of rising turmoil in veiled swipe at Washington and Trump as Beijing strengthens ties with Moscow.

Asia’s energy supply at breaking point as US blockades Hormuz

Nearly 90 per cent of the region’s crude oil is now at risk as stalled peace talks and a naval stand-off raise the spectre of stagflation.

Philippines to rename disputed South China Sea islands

The features to be renamed belong to the Spratly archipelago, site of repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels.

As Philippines battles fuel crisis, will Marcos postpone Asean summit?

Lawmakers have urged the president to postpone or scale down the event and redirect funds towards softening the blow of rising energy costs.

Philippines will allow use of dirtier, cheaper fuel amid US-Iran war

The ‌Philippines has taken steps such as shortening the work week and providing ⁠fuel subsidies to counter the impact of rising costs.

Vietnam warns of April flight reductions as jet fuel shortage fears deepen

Hanoi seeks new suppliers as China and Thailand halt exports of jet fuel due to the Iran war.

Here are 5 ways to enter China without a visa – by land, sea or air

China has continually expanded its visa-free policies in recent years. Here is a breakdown of the latest rules.

Beijing signals high hopes for South China Sea ‘golden rules’ by end of year

Wang Yi voices ‘determination’ to work with rival claimants yet urges Manila to ‘be aware of its responsibility’.

How Southeast Asia’s coffee chains are brewing cross-border success

Home-grown brands such as Zus Coffee are betting on cultural fluency, halal positioning and digital tools to make further inroads.

Despite loss of Panama Canal, China investing US$23.9b in global seaports: study

Beijing funds 363 ports outside the Panama Canal to safeguard against East-West decoupling and US bid to curb China’s supply chain influence.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Asian Angle | How Asean can resolve its Myanmar dilemma post-election

Asean should not discard the Five-Point Consensus, but translate it into a politically astute strategy of conditional engagement.

The Philippines wants to seal South China Sea code of conduct. Can it deliver?

As 2026 Asean chair, Manila has highlighted its push to finalise within its term a code of conduct covering the contested waters.

Editorial | Interpol meet will enable Hong Kong to bolster global crime-fighting ties

As host of Interpol’s 94th general assembly, the city will be able to show that its ‘superconnector’ role extends to international law enforcement.

Opinion | Why coastguards, not warships, are shaping future of South China Sea

The test is not claimants resolving their disputes but whether they preserve the infrastructure that keeps encounters from becoming a crisis.

Police to deepen Asean ties as Hong Kong set to host first top Interpol meeting

Police chief Joe Chow says Hong Kong’s high standing will help foster ties as city looks to host 196 member country representatives in November.

Asian travellers brace for ‘chilling’ US social media scrutiny

The proposal, which requires visa-exempt visitors to provide five years of social media history, comes amid moves to toughen US borders.

Opinion | How China and Asean can ensure their upgraded pact is truly win-win

Beijing must assuage Southeast Asian concerns about its power while Asean leaders can benefit from a more multidimensional view of China.

How Thailand melted tariff barriers to become Asia’s top ice cream exporter

A blizzard of free trade deals and clever sourcing has helped Thai ice cream exports surge by more than 10 per cent annually since 2020.

US-China defence talks, C919 jet’s global win in Brunei: SCMP daily highlights

From a Washington-Beijing defence meeting to a robotics expert leaving Sweden for China, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Singapore cyber summit stresses need for unified front amid rising threats

Policymakers and industry leaders say close partnerships between governments and tech giants can ensure swift responses to cybercrimes.

Opinion | Apec offers a stage for China, US and two Koreas to make peace

With Trump and Xi set to attend, it could pave the way for a US-North Korea summit and mend China-South Korea ties.

Chinese firms treat trade fair as testing ground for Asean market ambitions

10-nation bloc is China’s largest trading partner and an increasingly important alternative to Western markets amid US tariff war.

How Chinese view US rivalry, Beijing’s deterrence muscle: SCMP daily highlights

From Chinese public opinion on US, Russia and North Korea to science and tech at Victory Day parade, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

China presses ahead with Southeast Asia port expansion as US tensions simmer

The huge project in Brunei comes as China vies to fend off US pressure and ramp up exports to Southeast Asia.

Opinion | US ‘lone wolf’ doctrine in Southeast Asia cedes ground to China

Rather than viewing Beijing’s regional inroads as setbacks, Washington seems more than happy to weaken once-cherished bonds with allies.

Asian Angle | How Asean can resolve its Myanmar dilemma post-election