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South China Sea
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South China Sea

South China Sea
South China Sea
The latest news on South China Sea territorial disputes. The contrasting claims have been an ongoing point of contention among several countries including China, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines.
LATEST China Science NEWS

China’s ‘dark factory’ more than doubles production efficiency for J-20 jets

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The J-20 or “Mighty Dragon” is seen as China's answer to the American F-22 Raptor. Photo: Captured from 81.com

Acclaimed biologist Xu Xianzhong returns to China after arrests in his US lab

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Inside the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation in southern China. Photo: Handout

Here’s how China plans to sanction-proof its C919 passenger jet

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Many of the C919’s most critical components are supplied by Western firms. Photo: Dickson Lee

Inspired by crocodile scales, Chinese armour tech said to deflect projectiles

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Researchers developed a tough ceramic body armour inspired by crocodile scales. Photo: Shutterstock

A big step forward for optical core of China’s Taiji gravitational wave project

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The Taiji system will look for gravitational waves formed by the collisions of massive objects such as black holes. Illustration: Shutterstock
MORE China Science NEWS
US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday. Photo: EPA
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump to raise Taiwan, Jimmy Lai case when he meets Xi in Beijing this week

US president claims Chinese leader will be more likely than himself to bring up Taiwan issue, while Lai may also be on the agenda.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

What to expect from this week’s Trump 2.0 visit to Beijing

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China-Philippines relations

Asian Angle | 3 reasons Marcos’ South China Sea energy gambit won’t work

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Vietnam

Vietnam adds over 2 square km of land in South China Sea, US report says

The expansion brings its total reclaimed area to roughly 11 square km, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

Sunset over the South China Sea. Vietnam cites claims dating back to the 17th century to assert ownership over the Paracel and Spratly Islands. Photo: Xinhua
The Philippines

Decoding this year’s US-Japan-Philippines Balikatan drills

Analysts say this year’s drills, which stress tested a new generation of mobile strike capabilities, were a pointed display of resolve.

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Asean

Asean to step up push for South China Sea code, energy security

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr says the code of conduct is key to unlocking deeper China-Asean economic cooperation.

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The Philippines

Why is a Chinese research ship a flashpoint with Philippines in South China Sea?

Beijing and Manila trade accusations after incident near Iroquois Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands this week.

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Manila says China’s Xiang Yang Hong 33 vessel, pictured, was monitored carrying out “unauthorised” marine scientific research operations in the western part of Iroquois Reef on Wednesday. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard
Asean

Asean’s pivot to energy security leaves long-standing issues on summit sidelines

Southeast Asia is one of the worst affected by the global fuel crisis due to its high imports of oil and gas coming from the Gulf.

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Asean

Opinion | Why China’s warning over military blocs is finding listeners in Asia

For regional governments, strategy is about preserving options. China has read this instinct carefully and given it a diplomatic vocabulary.

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China's military weapons

Does YJ-20 hypersonic sea-based missile give China an edge over US carriers?

The highly manoeuvrable weapon is nearly invulnerable to interception and could sink an aircraft carrier with a single hit.

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The Chinese military’s formidable YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile launches from a Type 055 destroyer. Photo: Handout
India

Vietnam, India seek closer ties to hedge against dependence on superpowers

President To Lam’s agenda during his visit to New Delhi is expected to include a deal for Vietnam to buy India’s BrahMos missiles.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Vietnamese President To Lam before their talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
China-Japan relations

China condemns Japan’s first overseas ‘offensive missile’ test since WWII

Beijing says Japan’s ‘neo-militarism’ is a ‘scourge’ that threatens regional peace and stability.

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Japan

Japan, Philippines to fast-track transfer of navy destroyers

The two countries’ shared grievances over Chinese territorial claims have seen them draw increasingly close in recent years.

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Japan

Takaichi to hold talks in Vietnam on economic security, critical minerals

Both sides are expected to discuss cooperation in areas such as energy and artificial intelligence.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Friday. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

Video | US seeks blanket overflight access to Indonesian airspace

Internal warnings reveal a government split over risks that blanket access for US warplanes could drag Indonesia into foreign conflicts.

Leaked US military overflight plans spark sovereignty dispute in Indonesia
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China's military weapons

Why Beijing’s weaponised cargo ship could be crucial in the Taiwan Strait

Beijing’s ‘containerised destroyer’ can carry missile launchers and hide within commercial shipping lanes, military magazine says.

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China technology

China upgrades maritime rescue range and depth as ambitions on the seas expand

Body responsible for strategically sensitive South China Sea completes ‘formal transition’ after extensive deepwater training.

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Diplomacy

Opinion | Without diplomacy, deterrence in Asia is a path to escalation

The danger is that every state insists it is acting defensively while collectively building the habits and infrastructure of confrontation.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China's military weapons

PLA showcases YJ-20 anti-ship missiles as US-Japan-Philippines test war moves

Video of PLA Navy strike tests emerges as US, allies take part in Balikatan 2026, marking Japan’s first-ever operational role in the drills.

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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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The Philippines

‘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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A Chinese coastguard vessel (right) fires its water cannon at the Philippine BRP Datu Pagbuaya near Philippines-occupied Thitu island, locally called Pag-asa island, at the South China Sea last October. Photo: Philippine coastguard via AP
The Philippines

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
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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The Philippines

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.

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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Jaime FlorCruz said relations should be “stable and predictable”. Photo: Handout
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
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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US, Israel war on Iran

Is Malacca Strait at risk from Hormuz ‘chain reaction’ after Iranian warning?

Chinese analyst says the Mideast crisis has made the world start ‘thinking about the security of shipping routes again’.

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