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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.
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China-Philippines relations
Philippines offers 2-week visa-free stays to lure Chinese tourists
The waiver will apply to travellers arriving in Metro Manila and Cebu and will be in place for a year.
15 Jan 2026 - 7:00PM
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Asean
Asean urged to rethink stance as Myanmar election risks normalising junta rule
15 Jan 2026 - 6:36PM
China-Japan relations
New deal eases logistics for Japan-Philippines drills amid China tensions
15 Jan 2026 - 1:01PM
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Japan
Philippines ‘comfort women’ demand apology during Japan foreign minister visit
Analysts say Manila is unlikely to back the surviving victims of sex slavery, fearing it could jeopardise billions in infrastructure funding.
14 Jan 2026 - 5:39PM
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Myanmar
Philippine minister’s ‘premature’ Myanmar visit casts doubts over Asean’s role
Critics say the visit may be viewed as the bloc’s new chair endorsing a controversial junta-led election in Myanmar.
14 Jan 2026 - 4:16PM
South China Sea
‘Strategic patience’ key for Beijing in South China Sea and other disputes
SCSPI’s Hu Bo said maritime disagreements with Manila and Tokyo would continue but that Beijing had ‘overwhelming advantages’.
14 Jan 2026 - 12:00PM
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India
Opinion
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Is India fuelling an arms race in Asia or closing a deterrence gap?
The challenge for New Delhi is to solve its deterrence shortfall without letting competition harden into permanent confrontation.
14 Jan 2026 - 5:30AM
South China Sea
Claims of lies, coercion in Beijing-Manila war of words over South China Sea
On Monday, a Manila maritime council accused China of aggressive tactics; the next day Beijing said the Philippines was ‘provoking trouble’.
13 Jan 2026 - 8:58PM
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Malaysia
‘No oil here’: Malaysians turn US embassy space post into foreign-policy satire
The embassy’s International Space Station image prompted self-deprecating jokes about oil, US power and being strategically uninteresting.
15 Jan 2026 - 8:44PM
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SCMP Highlights
Matricide in Indonesia, Philippine Airlines’ viral video: 7 Asia highlights
From India becoming the world’s fourth largest economy to Philippine Airlines’ viral safety video, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.
13 Jan 2026 - 1:28PM
Asean
Opinion
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Why US ops in Venezuela have shaken Asia-Pacific’s middle powers
Middle powers fear a return to ‘rules of the jungle’ geopolitics as rival powers carve out spheres of influence.
13 Jan 2026 - 1:31AM
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Japan
Japan’s top diplomat heads to Philippines with South China Sea top of mind
The talks are likely to focus on Manila’s push for a South China Sea code with ‘teeth’ as this year’s Asean chair, analysts say.
13 Jan 2026 - 9:21AM
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Tourism
Philippine tourism chief’s magazine cover draws backlash as visitor numbers slip
Christina Frasco’s cover appearance has drawn accusations from critics that self-promotion is being prioritised over strategy and results.
12 Jan 2026 - 8:48PM
Viral stories
Filipino woman worships green statue for 4 years, finds out it is animated character Shrek
Woman treats green ogre figure with great reverence; says she will continue to worship ‘kind-hearted’ cartoon statue.
12 Jan 2026 - 9:00AM
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr
Exclusive
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Philippine army colonel faces charges after anti-Marcos post goes viral
Audie Mongao will also undergo psychiatric tests after he sparked a political storm by withdrawing support for the president.
12 Jan 2026 - 6:24PM
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Medicine
Soaring healthcare costs in the Philippines: are doctors’ fees to blame?
Doctors have hit back, saying that they are being unfairly blamed for deeper systemic failures in healthcare financing.
12 Jan 2026 - 1:10PM
Natural disasters
1 killed, 38 missing after sudden garbage avalanche at Philippines landfill
Landfills and dumpsites in the Philippines have long posed safety risks, especially where poor residents scavenge for food and recyclables.
12 Jan 2026 - 1:32PM
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Sea of faith fills Manila for Black Nazarene procession
The day-long event began before dawn, with devotees seeking to touch the centuries-old statue believed to confer blessings.
9 Jan 2026 - 6:18PM
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Crime
Philippine police arrest teenager over alleged online baby sale as cases rise
Police said the teenager had posted the offer online and intended to use the money to cover her tuition.
9 Jan 2026 - 6:09PM
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Infrastructure
Why the Philippines is taking control of undersea cable security
The moves will help strengthen regional stability and prevent Indo-Pacific connectivity from being quietly weaponised, analysts say.
9 Jan 2026 - 6:26PM
Hong Kong politics
Outside In
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To root out corruption, Hong Kong fire probe must go beyond scapegoats
Public procurement failures often reflect government responsibility, and Hong Kong’s fire investigation must confront that reality.
9 Jan 2026 - 4:30PM
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Hong Kong courts
Domestic helper gets 5 months’ jail in Hong Kong for abusing 11-month-old baby
Principal magistrate says that, although the baby turned out to be fine, the offence was serious and involved a breach of trust.
9 Jan 2026 - 3:59PM
Aviation
Soap opera in the sky: why Philippine Airlines’ safety video became a viral hit
The melodramatic Filipino teleserye-style video has racked up millions of views online by blending safety rules with storytelling.
9 Jan 2026 - 3:22PM
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South China Sea
Philippine navy ‘up to the challenge’ of defending territory in South China Sea
Manila is banking on modern ships and global alliances to challenge China’s increasing presence in the contentious waters.
9 Jan 2026 - 12:00PM
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Ferdinand Marcos Jnr
Uniform justice? Why Philippine military expelled a lawmaker but not VP Duterte
Sources said legal ambiguity and political risk shaped how the armed forces handled two high-profile reservist cases.
8 Jan 2026 - 5:36PM
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Ferdinand Marcos Jnr
Philippines investigates claims of Chinese dredger using ‘30 identities’
A US-based maritime monitoring group has alleged a Chinese ship used different identities and flags while working in Philippine waters.
7 Jan 2026 - 9:48PM
South China Sea
Opinion
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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 - 9:30AM
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McDonald's
McDonald’s Philippine rival Jollibee to list global business in the US by 2027
The spin-off and potential US listing of Jollibee Foods Corporation would include all of the company’s businesses outside its home market.
6 Jan 2026 - 5:15PM
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