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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.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa attends a senate session in Manila last week. Photo: AFP
Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine justice chief orders arrest of senator wanted by ICC

Senator Ronald dela Rosa is a former national police chief who enforced then-president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody crackdown against drugs.

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Singapore

How Singapore’s weaponised drone trials could fuel Southeast Asian tensions

China-Russia relations

China and Russia warn US Golden Dome poses ‘clear threat’ to stability

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Rodrigo Duterte

Philippines’ top court rejects Dela Rosa’s bid to block ICC arrest warrant

The ruling clears the way for the apprehension of the former police chief, main enforcer of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

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A protester calls for the arrest of Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa during a demonstration on Monday. Photo: AFP
Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine Senate guards investigated for firing shots as fugitive senator fled

The officer identified as firing the first shot was a classmate of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who escaped in the chaos.

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Asean

Philippine navy’s ‘aspirational’ middle power claim comes under scrutiny

The navy based its assessment partly on regional partners admiring its newer ships that were deployed in recent joint exercises.

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Japan

More than a missile? Why the Philippines wants Japan’s old Type 88

Manila’s military already operates superior weapons, but analysts say Tokyo’s Cold War-era hardware still has something to offer.

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Japanese soldiers stand beside a Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, on May 6. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

Indonesia’s oil hub pitch collides with Asean’s trust deficit

Joint energy security is easy to endorse in principle, yet the bloc has a stubborn record of leaving its emergency frameworks untouched.

SCMP Highlights

Singaporeans’ work ethic, South Korea’s AI ‘goddess’: 7 Asia highlights

From Southeast Asia’s climate hazards to South Korea’s AI ‘baseball goddess’, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Taiwan

Beijing rebukes Manila over claim proximity will involve it in Taiwan conflict

Chinese embassy staff in the Philippines visit 69 Chinese workers detained during police raid.

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr says Manila does not want to be involved in any war over Taiwan, but would be forced to because of its geography. Photo: Handout
Rodrigo Duterte

How Philippine Senate leadership battle will shape Sara Duterte’s trial

The vice-president’s impeachment trial starts amid chaos in the Senate from leadership battles and the fallout from her father’s ICC case.

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Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio announces her intention to run for presidency on February 18. Photo: AFP
South China Sea

Chinese scientists land on Sandy Cay as tensions with Philippines spike again

Manila says it sent a plane over the South China Sea reef in an effort to ‘drive away’ those carrying out ‘unauthorised’ research activity.

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Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine lawyers support ICC arrest warrant for fugitive senator

Senator Ronald dela Rosa is wanted for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his overseeing former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody ‘war on drugs’.

China-Asean relations

Asian Angle | China offers Southeast Asia clear advantages in nuclear power

With its experience in exporting nuclear reactors, China can offer long-term energy security and technological upgrades.

Researchers inspect an alloy material sample used to build a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor at a laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics in October last year. Photo: EPA
Infrastructure

Western powers ramp up support for Philippines’ Luzon economic hub

Eight more countries will invest in the project as they accelerate regional trade diversification in sectors ranging from AI to energy.

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Containers at the Manila North Harbour Port in Manila, Philippines. Development of the Luzon Economic Corridor will involve eight more countries. Photo: AP
The Netherlands

Gunfire, farce and fugitive Philippine Senator Bato dela Rosa

‘Call me a coward’, ICC fugitive Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa told the cameras, as he holed up in the Senate in a bid to escape justice.

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Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

‘I got really scared’: how the Philippine Senate shoot-out unfolded

Witnesses recount a night of chaos unleashed during an attempt to arrest ICC-wanted Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

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Asean

Canada pushes to finalise Asean trade deal to cut US reliance

Ottawa is keen to sign an FTA with Asean this year, as analysts predict two-way growth in sectors ranging from mining to manufacturing.

Asean leaders pose for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the bloc’s summit in Cebu, Philippines, on May 8. Photo: Reuters
Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine senator wanted by ICC flees from Senate

Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s exit from the heavily guarded Senate came after volleys of gunshots were fired on Wednesday night.

South China Sea

Why airport at former US naval base in Philippines has Washington’s backing

The trend in defence is for civilian infrastructure that can be rapidly adapted for military use during contingencies, experts say.

US-China relations

Typhon launch of Tomahawk missile is ‘worst provocation’ by the US against China

Observers suggest strong countermeasures after the first live-firing of the system since its deployment to the Philippines.

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A Tomahawk is test-fired from a Typhon missile launch system in California in 2023. Photo: US Army
United States

A year after USAID cuts, Philippine development groups struggle as anger lingers

An investigation by several regional media outlets shows USAID was a target of misinformation after Trump froze aid from the agency.

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People protest in Washington in February last year against the administration of US President Donald Trump’s decision to virtually shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Photo: AFP
Rodrigo Duterte

Who is dela Rosa, the ICC-wanted lawmaker holed up in the Philippine Senate?

The ex-police chief, accused by the ICC of crimes in Duterte’s drug war, is evading arrest over the bloody campaign that killed thousands.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

Wary mood to mark Xi-Trump summit with irritants aplenty on both sides: analysts

Observers noted the number of recent strategic and trade blows, including the war on Iran, have not derailed the meeting from going ahead.

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International Criminal Court

Gunshots fired in stand-off at Philippine Senate over ICC suspect

Chaos mounted in anticipation of an attempt to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court.

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Military personnel enter the Senate building as more than a dozen gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong transport

HK Express cuts surcharge by 12.8% as fuel prices ease amid Mideast war

Adjustment follows similar moves by Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines, which have both announced reductions in fuel surcharges.

Hong Kong Express counters at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Eugene Lee
Singapore

Strong international sea laws ‘vital’ for small nations like Singapore: Wong

The prime minister warns of a direct impact on Singapore’s trade if the international law framework is weakened.

South China Sea

Philippines pitches Asean maritime hub despite ‘big red elephant in the room’

Can a Philippine-led maritime hub succeed? Observers say the plan touches on a dispute other members are loath to broach.

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