Advertisement
Advertisement
South China Sea
TOPIC
 / location

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 sends embryos into orbit to discover if humans can reproduce in space

videocam
The artificial embryos used in the latest experiment were built from stem cells that shared similar structures with real human embryos. Photo: CCTV

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

videocam
15
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

videocam
17
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

videocam
18
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

videocam
Researchers developed a tough ceramic body armour inspired by crocodile scales. Photo: Shutterstock
MORE China Science NEWS
President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping pictured in 2017 at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Photo: AP
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.

videocam
2026 Xi-Trump summit

What does Pete Hegseth’s presence in China say about Trump’s military agenda?

videocam
6
Singapore

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

The Philippines

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.

videocam
4
A Chinese coastguard vessel tests its water cannon in the South China Sea on May 5. Photo: Xinhua
2026 Xi-Trump summit

US defence secretary joins Trump on China trip in rare diplomatic move

Pete Hegseth becomes first Pentagon chief to accompany a US president to Beijing since Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit.

videocam
6
Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong records hottest day of year so far as temperatures top 31.6 degrees

Much of the city on Tuesday saw temperatures rise above 31 degrees Celsius, with some parts of New Territories exceeding 33 degrees.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
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.

videocam
12
US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday. Photo: EPA
2026 Xi-Trump summit

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

Nearly a decade after his first-term visit, Trump returns to Beijing amid tensions over tariffs, Taiwan and tech rivalry.

videocam
12
China-Philippines relations

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

The Philippine president has mooted the idea of joint oil and gas development. China is willing, but history shows this road leads nowhere.

videocam
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.

7
US soldiers fire a HIMARS projectile during a counter-landing live-fire exercise on Monday as part of Balikatan 2026 at La Paz Sand Dunes, Laoag City, the Philippines. Photo: US Army
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.

videocam
4
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.

videocam
4
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.

videocam
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivers an opening speech at the Asean summit in Cebu on Friday. Photo: Reuters
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.

videocam
Illustration: Craig Stephens
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.

videocam
37
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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
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.

videocam
24
A Japanese Type 88 surface-to-ship missile is launched during the Balikatan joint drill in the Philippines on May 6, 2026. Photo: AFP
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.

videocam
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.

videocam
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
06:54
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.

22
The Zhong Da 79 is a medium-sized civilian cargo ship capable of carrying containerised vertical missile launchers, radar sensors and self-defence systems. Photo: Handout
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.

videocam
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.

videocam
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.

videocam
12
China’s YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile system has a range of 1,000 to 1,500km, a cruising speed of around Mach 6 and a terminal dive speed reaching Mach 10. Photo: Handout
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.

videocam
China’s first aircraft carrier went into commission in 2012 and was named “Liaoning” after the northeastern province. Photo: Xinhua via AP
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.

videocam
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.

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