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

Zheng Yu, ‘rising star’ in chemical engineering from MIT, quits US for China

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Zheng Yu was identified as a “rising star” by MIT. Photo: Handout

China’s swipe at Starlink; 2,000-year-old ‘computer’: 7 science highlights

The ancient Chinese loom may well be recognised as the world’s earliest computer, according to the China Association for Science and Technology. Photo: China Silk Museum

Chinese risk study finds space solar power stations could zap satellites

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Chinese researchers studying the risk of lasers in space say their findings will help guide safer parameters and the design of protective measures. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Chinese firm Sinovac to supply vaccine to Chile ahead of flu season

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Chile’s vaccination campaign targets education and healthcare workers, school-age children, people with chronic illnesses, infants and young children, older adults, and pregnant women. Photo: Shutterstock

Biotech pioneer Alexey Amunts leaves Germany for China

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Alexey Amunts, who is internationally recognised for his breakthroughs in visualising life’s molecular machinery at near-atomic resolution, has joined China’s SMART academy in Shenzhen. Photo: Handout
MORE China Science NEWS
Illustration: Craig Stephens
Diplomacy

Opinion | High Seas Treaty a chance for China to lead on marine conservation

Beijing realises that maritime leadership will be measured not just by fleets and bases but also by who protects the planet’s last great commons.

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East China Sea

‘Strategic patience’ key for Beijing in South China Sea and other disputes

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Mainland China

Claims of lies, coercion in Beijing-Manila war of words over South China Sea

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Asean

Opinion | 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.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
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.

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The Philippines

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.

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Paracel Islands

China launches Woody Island fresh food link as disputed Paracels hub expands

Meat and produce to be supplied daily to Sansha supermarkets as Beijing bolsters infrastructure in contested South China Sea archipelago.

More than three dozen varieties of fresh vegetables are now available for sale in Sansha, China’s southernmost city, following the launch of a fresh food supply chain. Photo: Handout
China-North Korea relations

China’s role in Korean peninsula stability tested amid nuclear submarine moves

Seoul’s calls for Chinese mediation seen to underscore Beijing’s central role in preserving stability between two Koreas.

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The Philippines

Opinion | 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.

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US-Venezuela conflict

China, Russia won’t ‘dare test’ US, says Hegseth after Venezuela military op

US Secretary of Defence believes show of ‘absolute deterrence’ sends clear message to their ‘enemies’ and the ‘world is taking notice’.

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US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth arrives for a briefing with bicameral congressional leadership in Washington on Monday. Hegseth believes the recent US military operation in Venezuela proves that his country is rebuilding its military dominance. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
The Philippines

Trump’s Venezuela move strains Philippines’ rules-based diplomacy, critics say

Critics said the US operation has undercut Manila’s claim to principled diplomacy, given its close alliance with Washington.

Protesters hold signs outside the US embassy in Manila on Monday during a rally opposing Washington’s military action in Venezuela following the seizure of President Nicolas Maduro. Photo: EPA-EFE
The Philippines

‘Not very high’ bar: Philippines inherits Thailand-Cambodia border crisis

Given Asean’s policy of non-interference, the Philippines may be better off leaving peace negotiations to the US and China, experts say.

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China’s navy

US Navy aircraft crashes offer lessons for PLA carrier operations, analysts say

Chinese military could learn from rival’s strengths in search and rescue response, but also its weaknesses in maintenance and training.

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Australia

Opinion | Australia is losing its ability to engage Asia on its own terms

With security increasingly tied to regional developments, Australia’s eroding Asia literacy risks shutting Canberra out of crucial decisions.

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Chinatown in Melbourne, seen in 2020. Despite its strong trade and people-to-people links to Asia, reinforced by waves of migration, Australia’s Asia literacy has steadily declined. Photo: Shutterstock
War and conflict

Opinion | If Trump wants a deal with China, he must rein in US allies in Asia

From Manila to Tokyo, domestic political dynamics are increasing the risks of a dangerous confrontation between Washington and Beijing.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
The Philippines

China hints ‘illegal’ Philippine fishing is harming disputed Scarborough Shoal

Beijing designated the feature in the South China Sea as a nature reserve earlier this year, prompting criticism from Manila.

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US-China relations

Opinion | Trump’s pivot puts Pacific Rim at heart of global power shift

America’s strategy is hastening the geopolitical change of influence from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with US-China competition the primary driver.

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The Philippines

Corruption, floods and clan wars rock Philippines in 2025

Deepening political feuds, ex-president Duterte’s ICC arrest and the South China Sea dispute have reshaped the Philippine landscape.

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Protesters wearing masks depicting the faces of Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr march during a rally to mark the International Human Rights Day in Manila on December 10. Photo: AFP
Mainland China

China opens shopping centre on Woody Island in disputed Paracels

6,000 square metre complex is latest Chinese civilian facility on South China Sea island after first hardware store and hotpot restaurant.

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Singapore

Gaffes, breaches and sinkhole stars: Singapore’s 2025 social storms

Passionate online discussions have revealed concerns about power, accountability and how the country sees itself.

Singapore

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China-Japan relations

China’s military build-up could ‘seriously’ affect Japan’s security, Tokyo warns

Release of defence ministry report comes amid soaring tensions with Beijing and a boost to Japan’s military budget and goals.

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Tokyo has indicated that nearly all of the PLA’s ballistic missiles, from short-range to intercontinental systems, are capable of reaching Japanese territory. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Philippines struggles to win back Chinese tourists as regional rivals surge

New data shows Chinese arrivals to the Philippines hit 312,000 last year, only 18 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

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The Philippines

Philippines to get up to US$3.5 billion defence aid to counter ‘serious threats’

A US senator says the support for Manila and other allies reflects the threats posed by China and its partners in the ‘axis of aggressors’.

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China's military weapons

PLA’s Fujian aircraft carrier transits Taiwan Strait as Taipei watches closely

Island’s defence ministry says vessel’s passage through the waterway showed ‘no military intent’ and no aircraft were seen on its deck.

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A surveillance photograph of the Fujian shows no sign of carrier-based aircraft on the vessel’s flight deck during the transit. Photo: Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence
US-China relations

US denies Indo-Pacific retreat, says aid is being recalibrated to counter China

Washington argues that targeted assistance and partnerships will deepen regional ties and deliver longer-term economic and security gains.

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A toll booth at the Clark Freeport Zone in the Philippines, a sprawling managed economic zone that has received significant US backing through development initiatives. Photo: Handout
China-Philippines relations

China accuses Philippines of ‘premeditated’ provocations near Sabina Shoal

Meanwhile, Manila says Philippine fishing boats were targeted by Chinese coastguard water cannons near disputed South China Sea reef.

US-Asean relations

Southeast Asia barely features in America’s new security strategy

The region appears just twice in the new 32-page US National Security Strategy, raising fears it is being relegated to a ‘bargaining chip’.

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