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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.
WeChat Pay Hong Kong has been offering taxi drivers perks such as zero handling fees. Photo: Edward Wong
Hong Kong economy

WeChat Pay records fourfold rise in mainland tourist taxi payments in Hong Kong

Tencent executive also says more than 20,000 taxi drivers in city now accept both local WeChat Pay HK accounts and the mainland version.

China-Philippines relations

Philippines’ Marcos softens stance amid economic pressures but will China bite?

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Protests around the world

‘Extreme fear’ grips Filipinos in Northern Irish town as violence rages

South China Sea

Chinese vessel grounding: concern in Philippines over new grey-zone tactic

Experts say China could be ‘testing’ the Philippines’ operational response amid mounting pressure over Manila’s recent defence partnerships.

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A video image shows a Chinese vessel passing through shallow waters off Philippine-occupied Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea on June 7. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines, Public Affairs Office via AP
Food and agriculture

Rice imports, policy inertia put ‘future of Filipino farming’ at risk: report

Policy failures and under-investment among factors for exacerbating country’s import reliance to the detriment of the local farming industry, report says.

Rodrigo Duterte

‘Sara has momentum’: how Philippine VP won round 1 of impeachment row

The deliberation process on whether to impeach the vice-president has been thrown back to the Lower House for consideration.

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Mark Rutte

My Take | Hey, Nato boss man, keep your hands off the Asia-Pacific region

The West’s unspoken assumption is that Asians cannot be trusted to manage their own affairs, at least when Western interests are involved.

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Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte gives a speech at Chatham House, London, Monday June 9, 2025, during his visit to the UK. Photo: AP
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s top court dismisses domestic helper’s forced labour challenge

Court of Final Appeal rules that absence of dedicated legislation did not impede the ‘practical and effective’ protection of her rights.

China-Japan relations

China and Japan must beat mutual hostility while also handling tariffs: envoy

‘Japanese companies hold a firm belief that they cannot compete globally without succeeding in the Chinese market’: Kenji Kanasugi.

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Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine senators send Sara Duterte impeachment case back to lower house

The decision could grant Duterte a stay of execution as a likely contender for the next president. The trial could result in a lifetime ban from politics.

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte arrives to file her counter affidavit in response to a complaint over her alleged threat to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr at the Department of Justice in Manila. Photo: AFP
United States

Opinion | Asia is becoming more multipolar but not because of US decline

The Trump administration’s unclear foreign policy aims are prompting US partners to look beyond security alignment with Washington alone.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Social media

Pro-Marcos Jnr Philippines-originated ChatGPT accounts banned over AI misuse

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, said the banned accounts were used to influence views favourable towards the Philippine president.

South China Sea

Living in China’s shadow has become ‘very dangerous’ for Filipino islanders

Filipino forces and villagers in the South China Sea face isolation and territorial tensions as they resist China’s growing dominance.

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SCMP Highlights

Megaquake scare in Japan, Philippines boosts air power: 7 Asia highlights

From fears of a megaquake in Japan to South Korea’s new president, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

A damaged port in Anamizu, Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture, after a strong earthquake on January 1 last year. Photo: Kyodo
Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine senators split over legality of delaying Duterte’s impeachment trial

Protests grow as senators split on the trial’s timing, with Duterte allies pushing for the case’s dismissal.

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Protesters hold slogans during a rally to call for the start of the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte outside the Philippine Senate in Pasay city, Philippines, on Monday, June 9. Photo: AP
Boxing

Pacquiao honoured by hall of fame, Philippine fighter says ‘best is yet to come’

Manny Pacquiao has been enshrined in boxing’s hall of fame, but he’s getting back in the ring next month for shot at WBC champion Mario Barrios.

South China Sea

China’s 4 core principles show way to peace in South China Sea, think tank says

China and Southeast Asia must keep resolution of maritime issues ‘within their own hands’, Xinhua Institute research report says.

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Bruce Lee

Letters | Not much substance to the Philippines’ cabinet reshuffle

Readers discuss Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s reaction to the midterm election, the mental benefits of travel, the closing of a landmark cinema, and how to deepen tourist interest in old police stations in Hong Kong.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr claps as he attends a presentation at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on May 22. Photo: AP
South China Sea

Vietnam ramping up expansion of South China Sea outposts: Chinese think tank

Satellite images show Hanoi reclaiming land and building military facilities such as airstrips on contested Spratly Island reefs, SCSPI says.

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Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong ‘should brace for effects of possible low-pressure area off Philippines’

Southern China can expect hot weather early next week, but conditions are likely to become unstable later, Observatory says.

South China Sea

Loitering with intent: Beijing’s new silent South China Sea strategy?

Analysts say quiet incursions are part of a deliberate effort by China to normalise its presence in previously unpatrolled areas.

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A Chinese vessel is seen through binoculars from a Philippine-occupied island in the South China Sea on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Japan

Japan-Philippines military drills to become reality after Tokyo ratifies pact

Their newly ratified reciprocal access agreement paves the way for Japanese forces to train on Philippine soil for the first time since WWII.

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A Philippine marine stands guard during a joint exercise with their US and South Korean counterparts, with members of Japan’s self-defence forces as observers in October 2024. Photo: AFP
China trade

As US-China rivalry squeezes Asian markets, is taking sides even an option?

Analysts break down what the protracted power plays between Washington and Beijing mean for Asian economies as they walk a tightrope of risks vs rewards.

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Asean

Opinion | How Trump’s tariffs could benefit Asean in the long run

While the tariffs may undermine the bloc’s growth in the short term, they are spurring increased cooperation between member states and with others.

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Ukraine war

Philippines aims to counter China’s drone swarm capacity, learn from Ukraine war

Its military says drones armed with explosives or used for surveillance have become a focus of joint exercises with allies such as the US.

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A US navy drone positioned beside a Philippine C130 plane at the airport of Zamboanga, southern Philippines on Tuesday. Photo: AP
Asean

My Take | Can Southeast Asia contain growing threat of cyber scams?

An unprecedented level of coordination is required to tackle such crimes as Southeast Asian economies become more digitalised.

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A recent UN report estimated that cyber-enabled fraud cost East and Southeast Asia nearly US$40 billion in 2023. Photo: Shutterstock
China-Philippines relations

Opinion | With 50 years of history, Manila and Beijing should do better diplomacy

Stop allowing South China Sea spat to poison the waters when there are in fact many areas of potential cooperation for mutual benefit.

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United Nations

Philippines urged to ratify UN marine resource treaty or risk being sidelined

France is seeking ratification of the High Seas Treaty by at least 60 countries ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice next week.

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