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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 gravity-detecting SQUID gets closer to spotting US nuclear submarines

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Caption: The superconducting weak force measurement system (left) and a test device built with two 10 kg spheres. Photo: CAS

China watching ‘like a hawk’ as US Artemis 2 crew embarks on moon trip

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Artemis 2 crew members (from left) Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover appear via video link during a mission update on Thursday. Photo: NASA via AP

China launches heavyweight rocket to challenge SpaceX’s Falcon 9. It fails

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A plume of smoke in an image shared on Chinese social media after the failed launch of the Tianlong-3 rocket on Friday. Photo: Weibo/ 深圳湾小海盗

How a proposed composite in China could strengthen drones, planes and rockets

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Researchers say improved joint strength addresses a long-standing weakness in composite materials, such as those used for uncrewed aerial vehicles. Photo: Getty Images

How China’s ‘pig semen eyedrop’ may help deliver Alzheimer’s treatment

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Pigs were chosen for the research because their tissue structure is similar to that of humans, and their supply is abundant. Photo: Shutterstock
MORE China Science NEWS
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son, in Hanoi on March 17. They co-chaired a meeting on bilateral cooperation. Photo: Xinhua
The Philippines

Why China and Vietnam are shifting from confrontation to calm in South China Sea

Disagreements continue, but the two sides are showing notable restraint in contrast with Beijing’s fierce exchanges with Manila.

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Asean

How Asean’s neutral stance in Iran war protects its energy security

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The Philippines

Philippines to rename disputed South China Sea islands

The Philippines

Opinion | How US war in Iran is pushing Philippines closer to China

Frustration at Washington among Philippine leaders and the public reflects a rapidly shifting balance of power in Asia.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China-Philippines relations

Will Strait of Hormuz blockade push Philippines back to China for energy talks?

Ferdinand Marcos Jnr says a reset in the fractious relationship is under way but observers aren’t so sure.

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Boao Forum for Asia

Asean countries warned against exploiting US-China tensions for short-term gain

Chinese political scientist says Southeast Asian nations ‘should not assume that the US will back them’ and that strategy could backfire.

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The Philippines

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.

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
US-EU relations

German defence minister urges strong US presence in Indo-Pacific

‘To support or not to support Ukraine can also have an impact on Taiwan and the security situation in the Indo-Pacific’: Pistorius.

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The Philippines

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.

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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.

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China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment says it counted 0.67 microplastic items per cubic metre in areas of the South China Sea. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China relations

Why China’s Iran war strategy is working – and may even be an opportunity

Beijing happy to watch, wait and safeguard core interests – oil flows, Taiwan and trade – as its geopolitical rival spends resources on war.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
China-Japan relations

Should China be worried about Japan’s maritime force overhaul?

Reform reflects shift towards quasi-carrier operations and preparations for potential conflict with Beijing, Chinese analysts say.

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The Philippines

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.

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Science

A missile launch pad on the seabed? Chinese simulation suggests it’s possible

Researchers put solid rocket engine to the test and find it could ignite and operate reliably under deep-sea pressure at depth of 200 metres.

Submarine-launched missiles are typically fired from a depth of around 30 metres. Photo: Shutterstock
Paracel Islands

Why military base on contested Paracels will be of ‘limited’ value to Beijing

Chinese observers weigh in amid rising concern over Beijing’s land reclamation activities at Antelope Reef.

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Antelope Reef in the disputed Paracels is believed to be China’s most significant reclamation project in the strategic waters since it declared a halt to such activities about a decade ago. Photo: Handout
US, Israel war on Iran

What if US ground forces march into Iran? Chinese experts weigh the risks

Seizing Kharg Island may ‘give the US greater leverage to pressure Iran into making concessions’: South China Sea analyst.

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Mainland China

‘No dispute’: Beijing defends construction on Paracels in South China Sea

China says living conditions and local economy stand to benefit, days after Vietnam states opposition to land-reclamation activities.

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China manufacturing

China developing first tourist submersible for trips 1,000 metres under the sea

The Chinese prototype would enter commercial operation offering adventure-seeking holidaymakers spectacular deep-sea experiences by 2030.

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The U-Boat Worx Super Yacht Sub 3. Chinese engineers are now working on a prototype for the first tourist submersible able to venture as deep as 1,000 metres below sea level. Photo: Handout
Vietnam

Vietnam protests as China’s Paracels build-up escalates at Antelope Reef

Satellite images suggest accelerated dredging at the disputed South China Sea reef, sparking formal complaint from Hanoi.

The Philippines

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.

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US-China relations

Does USS Tripoli’s deployment to Middle East create an opening for China?

Amphibious assault ship’s transfer said to cause ‘dip’ in deterrence against Beijing’s military activity around Taiwan and South China Sea.

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The USS Tripoli carries F-35 stealth fighters and MV-22 Osprey transports as well as landing craft to move troops ashore. Photo: Handout
US, Israel war on Iran

Can the US reopen the Strait of Hormuz? Many military analysts are sceptical

Chinese observers question whether air strikes, and even a limited ground presence, will be enough to remove the threat to shipping.

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Tankers have come under attack in the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

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’.

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US, Israel war on Iran

How long will US-Israel war on Iran last? Chinese analysts offer clues

Iran’s drones gaining edge as opponents burn through costly missiles, analysts note, as one labels the war a ‘serious mistake’ by US.

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The Philippines

Beyond ‘lip service’: Philippines urged to act on air defence gaps

The Iran war has underscored the need for robust air systems and Manila should look to build a layered defence architecture, experts say.

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The Philippine Air Force’s SPYDER system is designed to counter aircraft, drones and missiles. Photo: Philippine Air Force
US-China relations

US says mainland China has no plans to attack Taiwan in 2027

Beijing seeks to control the island without the use of force, the US intelligence community confirms in its annual report on global threats.

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The People’s Liberation Army conducts military drills near Pingtan island, in eastern China’s Fujian province, the closest point to Taiwan, on December 30, 2025. Photo: AFP
China's military weapons

Could PLA’s new shipborne drone redefine South China Sea naval operations?

In a first, recent CCTV footage shows a lightweight uncrewed helicopter parked on the Chinese military’s Type 075 amphibious assault ship.

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China’s military drills

In joint patrols with China, Vietnam steers course between 2 powers

The Gulf of Tonkin will be the backdrop this week for naval activities despite a five-decade maritime dispute.

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