Advertisement
Advertisement
The Philippines
TOPIC
 / location

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.
Filipino soldiers take part in counter-landing live fire drills during the annual US-Philippines “Balikatan” joint military exercise in Palawan on April 28, 2025. Photo: AFP
Defence

Asian Angle | The Philippine military must transform, not just modernise

Changes to doctrine and force structure are needed to realise the armed forces’ dream of becoming a 21st century military.

Malaysia

Malaysian politicians rebuff Sabah oil fix for Philippine energy crisis

videocam
Asean

Burning daylight: Iran war energy shock revives Asean’s power grid plans

Nato

Why Philippines may face ‘strategic dilemma’ over Nato partnership, US demands

Manila has been forging closer ties with several Nato members amid tensions between the transatlantic security alliance and the US.

videocam
Philippine military servicemen take part in a live fire exercise during the 2025 US-Philippines joint military “Balikatan” exercise in Rizal, Palawan. Photo: AFP
Asean

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.

videocam
Defence

Why Japan’s troops are returning to Philippine soil for first time since WWII

The return marks an upgrade from the region’s previous ‘hub and spoke’ strategy to one of overlapping minilaterals, experts say.

videocam
4
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donald Trump

Why Filipinos blame Marcos, not Trump, for the Iran war fuel crisis

A Philippine senator wants Filipinos to hold Trump accountable for their surging fuel bills. But public anger has a different target.

videocam
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr gives a press conference on the Philippines’ national energy emergency at Malacanang Palace in Manila on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
China's military weapons

What can the Iran war tell China about missile interception?

Journal says China should target boost stage, when ballistic missiles are slower, lack manoeuvrability and emit an intense heat signature.

videocam
9
Science

China flexes surveillance muscle with South China Sea garbage count

Satellite remote sensing and ship monitoring are among technologies used to cover the 3.5 million sq km of water, some in disputed areas.

videocam
South China Sea

Philippines working with US to obtain oil from US-sanctioned nations

This comes after the Southeast Asian nation, which relies heavily on imported fuel, declared a state of national emergency on Tuesday.

videocam
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said in a televised address on Wednesday that the country’s fuel ‌supply would not run dry after 45 days as his government has been looking for other sources. Photo: EPA
South Korea

South Korean ‘sugar cane killer’ extradited from Philippines over drug empire

Accused of running a drug ring from his Philippine prison cell, ‘VIP’ inmate Park Wang-yeol was extradited after a nine-year legal impasse.

videocam
Park Wang-yeol (centre), a South Korean national detained in the Philippines, arrives at Incheon International Airport in South Korea on Wednesday. Photo: Yonhap/EPA
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Airline boss flags possible fuel rationing in Philippines as supplies dwindle

Philippine Airlines president Richard Nuttall’s warning came amid a national energy emergency in the country.

videocam
US, Israel war on Iran

Philippines declares energy emergency over Middle East conflict risks

The country has around 45 days of fuel supply based on ‌current consumption levels.

videocam
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Philippines may ground flights to tide over widening jet fuel crisis

President Marcos said ‘long haul is going to be a much more serious problem’ as Manila eyes coal push to keep electricity costs down.

videocam
Cebu Air on Monday said it plans to reduce flights beginning next month because of surging fuel prices. Photo: AFP
Animals

A dog killer in the Philippines was fined US$17. New bills seek reform

Dedicated police units and a national watchdog. Two new bills aim to ensure animal abusers face justice, not just a US$17 fine.

Killua, a three-year-old golden retriever, was found dead inside a sack in 2024. Photo: Vina Arazas
SCMP Highlights

Pakistan’s ICBM threat, South Korean weapon outdoes US rival: 7 Asia highlights

From Trump’s Pear Harbour joke to ‘super-aged’ Singapore’s secret to aging well, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

New Zealand

Philippines scores poorly on work-life balance. Filipinos are not surprised

Low wages, poor workplace culture and heavy traffic are among the factors hampering Filipinos from enjoying a good work-life balance.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
South Korea

US eyes a Philippine ammo facility as opposition warns of ‘warmongering’

The Philippines has long been the closest US ally in Asia. Now Washington wants something more: a place to make bullets and shells.

videocam
4
Philippine soldiers load ammunition into an Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System (Armos) during a live-fire exercise in 2024. Photo: AFP
Middle East

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.

China-Philippines relations

Philippine military uncovers alleged new China spy tactics in sea row

China called the allegations ‘malicious smears’ after three people were arrested on suspicion of leaking sensitive information to foreigners.

videocam
Women and gender

Letters | Investing in women farmers and fishers is a smart nutrition policy

Readers discuss an initiative in the Philippines to empower women fishers, and adopting English as the medium of instruction in Hong Kong.

Wetlands and mangroves along the coast of Siargao island in the Philippines. Photo: Getty Images
US, Israel war on Iran

‘It’s really bad’: record fuel prices drive Filipinos off the road

With diesel in the triple digits amid the Iran war, Filipinos brace for a domino effect on rice, electricity and basic household necessities.

videocam
7
Protesters hold signs opposing fuel price increases in Manila, the Philippines, on Friday. Photo: EPA
South China Sea

Why Philippines struggles to tap its US$1 trillion mineral wealth

Without a proper road map to grow its mining sector, the country remains a ‘second-tier mineral economy’.

videocam
SCMP Highlights

China’s jet designer removed online; US warships’ Malaysia stop: 7 highlights

From US warships’ stop in Penang to Jollibee representing Southeast Asian brands globally, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong has a chance to lead the world in marine underwriting

Readers discuss developments in shipping, and the implications for Taiwan of US actions in the Iran war.

The Kwai Chung Container Terminal. 04MAR26 SCMP / Elson Li
China-Asean relations

China offers to work with Southeast Asia to secure energy supplies

Conflict has also hit global fertiliser supplies, prompting Manila to seek assurances that Beijing would continue exports.

videocam
29
The conflict has taken a heavy toll on global energy prices. Photo: Reuters
US, Israel war on Iran

Soaring oil prices hit Filipino jeepney drivers: ‘what we earn goes to diesel’

Thousands of jeepney drivers protested across the Philippines against a more than doubling ‌of local diesel prices because of the Iran war.

videocam
International Criminal Court

Support for Duterte’s ICC trial has halved in a year. Here’s why

Only 30 per cent of Gen Z Filipinos now back the ICC drugs war case, as AI-generated disinformation floods TikTok.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement