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China-Philippines relations

Will China exploit the Philippines’ withdrawal from Sabina Shoal?

Defence analysts fear that the BRP Teresa Magbanua’s withdrawal could embolden China, which already has a significant presence in the area.

Defence analysts fear that the BRP Teresa Magbanua’s withdrawal could embolden China, which already has a significant presence in the area

16 Sep 2024 - 12:35PMvideocam

Philippine ship leaves South China Sea shoal, but Manila vows to send another

15 Sep 2024 - 8:08PMvideocam

China touts security cooperation at Xiangshan defence forum as US tensions loom

13 Sep 2024 - 11:32PMvideocam

Can the Philippines’ Maharlika fund bridge the gap between Manila and Beijing?

The fund’s CEO, Rafael Consing Jnr, believes the Philippines should leverage opportunities from China, despite maritime disputes.

13 Sep 2024 - 11:35PMvideocam

The fund’s CEO, Rafael Consing Jnr, believes the Philippines’ relationship with China should be viewed beyond the lens of any individual conflict and that there are wider opportunities for collaboration. Photo: Eugene Lee

Will Manila’s gas exploration in South China Sea spark conflict with Beijing?

Manila faces a critical decision: exploit its natural gas reserves in the Reed Bank, a potential flashpoint with China, or risk losing them to Beijing.

13 Sep 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

China and Philippines agree to keep talking after ‘candid’ Sabina Shoal talks

Conciliatory tone contrasts with rising tensions between the two countries’ coastguards and naval vessels in disputed waters.

12 Sep 2024 - 4:43PMvideocam

Philippines, China hold ‘frank’ talks amid Sabina Shoal feud

The meeting came at a time of heightened tensions in Sabina Shoal, where the two nations have accused each other of ramming their vessels.

12 Sep 2024 - 10:51AMvideocam

A Chinese coastguard ship monitors a Philippine vessel during a supply mission to Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea on August 26. Photo: AFP

Poland’s support of Manila over South China Sea signals fears over trade impact

While Poland’s stance could anger China, it arose from its history of territorial losses to stronger states, analysts say.

11 Sep 2024 - 4:30PMvideocam

Summit planned to seek ways to ‘talk sense’ into China, Philippines envoy says

At least 20 nations are set to take part in the talks on the sidelines of this month’s UN General Assembly amid South China Sea disputes.

11 Sep 2024 - 11:39AMvideocam

Philippines logs 203 Chinese vessels near its shores – highest-ever weekly count

The unprecedented surge follows a series of stand-offs and reclamation concerns at Sabina Shoal, the latest South China Sea flashpoint.

10 Sep 2024 - 12:21PMvideocam

Chinese maritime militia vessels seen near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea earlier this year. Photo: Reuters

Philippines ‘will not allow’ Beijing to remove vessels in South China Sea

Philippine military officials have vowed to protect the BRP Teresa Magbanua, a key asset in the South China Sea stand-off at Sabina Shoal.

9 Sep 2024 - 4:54PMvideocam

A frame grab from handout video footage shows a Chinese coastguard ship (left) colliding with Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Teresa Magbanua near the Sabina Shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea on August 31. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/AFP

South China Sea: how should Philippines respond to China’s Sabina Shoal moves?

The escalating conflict raises urgent questions about Manila’s long-term strategy and approach to safeguarding its territorial rights.

7 Sep 2024 - 3:03PMvideocam

China could tow Philippine ship from Sabina Shoal, but is it worth the backlash?

Analysts say removing Manila’s coastguard ship from South China Sea hotspot an ‘option’, but miscalculation risks drawing in the US.

10 Sep 2024 - 10:10AM

Chinese casino workers to be kicked out of Philippines

5 Sep 2024 - 5:31PM

01:45

‘A huge dark side’: Manila’s offshore gambling crackdown puts Chinese at risk

Chinese nationals at offshore gambling operators in the Philippines will lose their visas as Manila attempts to wipe out the industry.

5 Sep 2024 - 6:12PM

Offshore gambling, an industry with thousands of Chinese nationals in its employ, is being wound up by the Philippine government. Photo: Tory Ho

Explainer | What is Beijing’s 9-dash line in the South China Sea and what does it mean?

The cartographer’s mark was first drawn on official maps 80 years ago but has been the subject of numerous interpretations.

10 Sep 2024 - 10:11AMvideocam

Amid Manila’s ‘aerial provocations’, Beijing-based think tank advises caution

China will be ‘forced to take corresponding measures’ if ‘intrusions’ continue, South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative says.

4 Sep 2024 - 11:08AMvideocam

Philippines urged to forge global cooperation over marine life damage

The damage to coral reefs and other marine life in the South China Sea has been accelerated by Beijing’s reclamation efforts, analysts say.

2 Sep 2024 - 5:00PMvideocam

A Philippine fishing boat near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

Another maritime collision involving China and the Philippines

2 Sep 2024 - 4:15PM

South China Sea: China and Singapore embark on bigger joint navy exercise

Drills ‘enhance mutual trust and friendship, and promote practical exchanges’ between militaries, says Chinese defence ministry spokesman.

4 Sep 2024 - 1:15PMvideocam

EU ‘condemns dangerous actions’ by China against Philippines ship

Incidents ‘endanger the safety of life at sea and violate the right to freedom of navigation to which all nations are entitled’, the EU said.

2 Sep 2024 - 1:22AMvideocam

A Chinese Coast Guard ship, right, collides with a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near the Sabina Shoal on Saturday in an image taken from video provided by the Philippine Coast Guard. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP

Philippines calls for ‘restraint’ after ‘deliberate’ Chinese coastguard ramming

The Philippines said its vessel was on a ‘peaceful and lawful’ patrol ‘within its own maritime jurisdiction’, when it was rammed on Saturday by a Chinese coastguard vessel.

3 Sep 2024 - 10:11AM

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel (left) collides with Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua in disputed waters of the South China Sea, on August 31. Photo: EPA-EFE/Philippine Coast Guard

China warns off Philippines after third ‘deliberate’ collision at Sabina Shoal

China Coast Guard says the Philippine side ‘will bear all the consequences’ if it does not refrain from escalating the situation at disputed coral atoll.

31 Aug 2024 - 8:39PMvideocam

‘We wasted 6 years’: Philippines seeks naval self-reliance as China threat grows

As clashes in the South China Sea intensify, Manila’s shift towards local shipbuilding is seen as essential for countering Beijing’s growing maritime influence.

2 Sep 2024 - 11:30AMvideocam

Philippines files money-laundering case against fugitive ex-mayor Alice Guo

Guo and her co-conspirators were alleged to have laundered more than 100 million Philippine pesos (US$1.8 million) in proceeds from criminal activities.

30 Aug 2024 - 9:53PM

A poster showing support for Bamban Mayor Alice Guo. Photo: AFP

Philippines aims to acquire Typhon missile launcher amid regional arms race

China is against the deployment of the Typhon in the Philippines, which has been used in joint military exercises involving US troops.

30 Aug 2024 - 8:03PMvideocam

The US-made Typhon missile launcher system. Photo: US Army

Beijing denies damaging South China Sea reef, claims Philippine coastguard did

A report by a government ministry dismisses Manila’s claims Chinese ships have damaged coral reefs and tries to turn the tables.

30 Aug 2024 - 6:53PMvideocam

Philippine push on Thitu Island could stoke further sea tensions with China

Manila plans to boost defence infrastructure on Thitu, home to nearly 400 people, amid Beijing’s claims of possible ‘provocations’.

30 Aug 2024 - 10:00AM

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China-Philippines relations

News and analysis on China-Philippines relations, which have grown closer since President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot away from the US towards Beijing. Duterte has met with President Xi Jinping several times and sought to boost Chinese infrastructure investments and trade but overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea remain a potential flashpoint. There is also growing concern in the Philippines about the influx of Chinese workers, mostly working in the online gambling sector.

last updated:

9 September, 2024