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The Philippines
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The Philippines

The Philippines
The Philippines
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on the Philippines, covering politics, economy, society, and Manila’s relationships with China and its Southeast Asian neighbours.
Chef Josh Boutwood at Salisterra at The Upper House in Hong Kong. Once a reluctant cook, he now helms Manila’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant Helm. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Food and Drinks

He swore he wouldn’t be a chef. Now he has a 2-Michelin-starred restaurant

Josh Boutwood began with the belief that a chef’s life was ‘not the life for me’. Today, he has a culinary empire in Manila.

US, Israel war on Iran

US uses unusual routes to send jet fuel to Asia bases as Hormuz stays shut

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Food and Drinks

Viral ube drinks and desserts are taking over South Korean cafes

China’s military drills

China stages navy drill as US and Philippines embark on Balikatan 2026

The Liaoning aircraft carrier appears to be among 14 large naval vessels snapped on manoeuvres in a satellite image circulating online.

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China’s first aircraft carrier went into commission in 2012 and was named “Liaoning” after the northeastern province. Photo: Xinhua via AP
Germany

German man accused of live streaming child abuse in the Philippines

The man is alleged to have paid female accomplices in the Philippines to carry out sexual abuse against girls aged between four and 13.

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India

Chinese drone discovery sharpens focus on Asia’s undersea security race

Experts say India is playing ‘steady catch-up’ in boosting undersea surveillance, while Southeast Asian nations’ capabilities differ widely.

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Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Robredo’s 2028 snub leaves Philippine opposition scrabbling for ‘saviour’

A March survey showed that the popularity gap between Leni Robredo and presidential front runner Sara Duterte-Carpio had narrowed.

Leni Robredo gives a post-election statement from her home in Magarao, Camarines Norte, on May 10, 2022. Photo: Office of the Vice President/AP)
South China Sea

‘We owe it to the world’: Philippines pushes for South China Sea code this year

Talks between Asean and China to agree on setting rules for maritime behaviour and crisis management under the code have stalled.

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Japan

Burger King in Japan dangles US$250,000 to lure rival franchisees

Meanwhile, Philippine fried chicken chain Jollibee has announced a record operating income and is accelerating its global expansion.

Defence

How fake job ads in Philippines led to alleged spy recruitment pipeline

The ads, some of which experts say were linked to China, aimed to get unsuspecting Filipino defence specialists to give up key information.

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The Janes ads appeared to be part of efforts linked to China to draw unsuspecting Filipino defence specialists into giving up key information. Photo: Handout
Scams and swindles

This retiree in the Philippines downloaded an app. Then he lost his life savings

Industrial-scale malware is replacing ‘pig-butchering’ as Cambodia’s scam hubs pivot to high-speed digital heists.

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“Malware-as-a-service” seizes control of a user’s phone after gaining entry through a fraudulent app, monitoring use in real-time and harvesting data such as fingerprints. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China relations

What the Iran war could tell China about US focus on maritime chokepoints

The Iran war reflects Washington’s greater emphasis on implementing its maritime security strategy, analyst says.

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Defence

How the Philippines became Japan’s closest security partner in Southeast Asia

Japan’s participation in the Balikatan drill and its new weapon export rules are set to further defence ties between the two countries.

Millionaires and billionaires

Mainland China’s ultra-wealthy numbers rise as Hong Kong poised for rebound

China’s ultra-wealthy population has grown 23 per cent in five years, while Hong Kong is forecast to see a 25 per cent rebound by 2031.

China’s share of global UHNWIs edged down by one percentage point to 17 per cent this year. Photo: Getty Images
Fashion

A. Society’s founders on the Hong Kong eyewear brand’s rise to global cool

As Asian eyewear labels command growing attention, A. Society has launched an enhanced version of its A. Custom in-store personalisation service.

Julien Avignon, Kenny Kwok and Dee Lam are the founders of Hong Kong eyewear brand A. Society. Photo: Handout
Asean

New direction: Southeast Asian airports fill Middle East hub gap

SIA, Cathay, Korean Air and Qantas have reported an increase in demand for European routes as travellers avoid Middle Eastern hubs.

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Hong Kong society

Film on Manila hostage crisis sparks debate over ‘secondary trauma’ in Hong Kong

‘Beyond Hostage Crisis’, set to open in Hong Kong next month, draws mixed reactions, with some raising trauma concerns and others defending it.

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International Criminal Court

‘Vindication’: ICC chamber rules case against Rodrigo Duterte to proceed

Duterte’s lawyers argue that the crimes against humanity case targeting him should not proceed as the Philippines is not an ICC member.

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Relatives of victims of ex-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug war campaign react after watching a broadcast of the International Criminal Court at a gathering in Quezon City on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine lawmakers examine gap in VP Sara’s bank statements, declared wealth

A hearing into complaints about the financial position of the vice-president and her husband could potentially lead to her impeachment.

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China-Asean relations

Exclusive | China and Philippines taking ‘baby steps’ towards better relations: ambassador

Jaime FlorCruz says both sides want stable ties, but closer economic relations must not be used as ‘leverage’ in the South China Sea dispute.

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China's military weapons

PLA’s new Type 076 ‘drone carrier’ set for South China Sea training drills

China’s next-level amphibious warship, the Sichuan, in same waters where US, Japan and the Philippines are conducting joint military exercises.

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China’s first drone-carrying Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, on its maiden sea trial last November. Photo: CCTV
SCMP Highlights

India’s nuclear breakthrough, Southeast Asia’s Balikatan snub: 7 Asia highlights

From Southeast Asian nations skipping Balikatan drills to India’s nuclear breakthrough, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Fishermen pull their boats to the shore near the Kalpakkam atomic power station in Tamil Nadu. Photo: AP
Asean

Work from home may not save as much energy as Southeast Asia hopes

Remote work for civil servants sounds like an easy solution in an energy crisis. Analysts aren’t so sure.

War and conflict

Philippine army kills at least 10 Maoist rebels during battles in Negros

The military said a local New People’s Army leader was among the dead, with both sides engaged in six firefights in Toboso.

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China-Japan relations

Japan warship’s Taiwan Strait voyage reignites China tensions

The JS Ikazuchi passed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday, the anniversary of an 1895 treaty handing Taiwan to Japan.

The JS Ikazuchi. Photo: handout
Japan

Can a US-governed ‘Pax Silica’ hub turn Philippines into a chip powerhouse?

The chip-focused ‘economic security zone’ will reportedly operate under US law despite being on Philippine soil.

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An employee of a semiconductor company in Manila displays computer chips manufactured in the Philippines in 2008. The country has long been confined to the lower-value work of chip assembly, testing and packaging. Photo: AFP
Japan

Vietnam, Philippines trust Japan. But Indonesia’s more cautious

Analysts say Indonesia worries about its neutrality as Tokyo ramps up ties with the US and lags behind China on green investment.

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China-Japan relations

Is Japan’s treaty-day Taiwan Strait warship transit a new flashpoint with China?

The JS Ikazuchi’s passage through the waterway on Friday ‘harmed the feelings of the Chinese people’.

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