36 h. ago Philippines, France near defence pact to boost ‘operational intimacy’ in contested waters

A visiting forces military deal to be signed between the Philippines and France has put the focus on “operational intimacy”, with observers noting that Paris has a presence in the Indo-Pacific and would serve Manila’s interests well in the contested waters of the South China Sea. The term was coined by Associated Press correspondent Jim Gomez and confirmed by French Ambassador to Manila Marie Fontanel during a freewheeling discussion on Tuesday at her residence. In a bid to balance the...

Culture

37 h. ago Beijing accuses Manila of trying to smear China's actions in the South China Sea

Beijing accuses Manila of trying to smear China's actions in the South China Sea  chinadailyasia.com

Politics

55 h. ago US Aircraft Carrier in South China Sea Could Be Heading for Iran

US Aircraft Carrier in South China Sea Could Be Heading for Iran  Newsweek

Transport

61 h. ago US Redeploying South China Sea Carrier To Middle East Amid Tensions With Iran

US Redeploying South China Sea Carrier To Middle East Amid Tensions With Iran  NDTV

Events

62 h. ago US aircraft carrier steams from South China Sea to Mideast after Trump threat against Iran

A US aircraft carrier has reportedly left the South China Sea after a live-fire drill and is heading to the Middle East amid anti-government protests in Iran. US cable news network NewsNation reported on Thursday that the Pentagon ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group, which includes Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, to leave their position in the South China Sea and sail towards the Middle East. According to the US Naval Institute’s carrier tracker, there...

Politics

62 h. ago US aircraft carrier steams from South China Sea to Mideast as Iran in turmoil

US aircraft carrier steams from South China Sea to Mideast as Iran in turmoil  South China Morning Post

Transport

65 h. ago Beijing looks for social workers to place on disputed South China Sea islands

China is recruiting social workers for disputed islands in the South China Sea. According to a notice published on Monday, the government of Sansha, the authority set up to administer the disputed territories, said it was looking for 11 “community workers” to post on eight reefs and islands in the Paracel and the Spratly islands. The territories include Woody Island, the administrative centre of the disputed territories, and Mischief Reef, which is home to a large military base. The notice was...

Politics

65 h. ago Beijing looks for social workers for posts on disputed South China Sea islands

China is recruiting social workers for disputed islands in the South China Sea. According to a notice published on Monday, the government of Sansha, the authority set up to administer the disputed territories, said it was looking for 11 “community workers” to post on eight reefs and islands in the Paracel and the Spratly islands. The territories include Woody Island, the administrative centre of the disputed territories, and Mischief Reef, which is home to a large military base. The notice was...

Politics

3 d. ago ‘Strategic patience’ key for Beijing in South China Sea and other disputes

Beijing should exercise “strategic patience” in managing its maritime disputes, with provocations to be expected from the Philippines in the South China Sea and Japan in the East China Sea, according to a leading Chinese analyst. Hu Bo, director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), delivered his message in an article published this month in the latest issue of defence journal Modern Ship. There have been continuous tensions between Beijing and its uneasy...

Politics

4 d. ago South China Sea: claims of coercion, deception as Beijing and Manila wage new war of words

China and the Philippines have again exchanged barbs over confrontations in the disputed South China Sea, with each accusing the other of provocation and escalating tensions. The Chinese embassy in the Philippines on Tuesday said a statement the day before by the National Maritime Council – a government body created by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr in 2024 to address the nation’s maritime challenges – was “unfounded and misleading”. It accused Manila of “provoking trouble and...

Events

4 d. ago China dismisses Philippines' South China Sea claims as 'misleading'

China dismisses Philippines' South China Sea claims as 'misleading'  TRT World

Politics

4 d. ago China’s Antelope Reef dredge deepens South China Sea tensions

China’s Antelope Reef dredge deepens South China Sea tensions  Asia Times

Events

5 d. ago US Dares China? USS Abraham Lincoln Fires Weapons In South China Sea Amid Tensions

US Dares China? USS Abraham Lincoln Fires Weapons In South China Sea Amid Tensions  Times of India

Events

5 d. ago Japan’s top diplomat heads to Philippines with South China Sea top of mind

Japan’s top diplomat is heading to the Philippines this week for talks expected to focus on maritime tensions in the South China Sea and Tokyo’s strategic role in the region. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi’s stop in Manila on Thursday is part of a nine-day diplomatic tour of the Middle East and Asia that began last Saturday, with stops in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Qatar and India. His talks with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro are expected to review...

Politics

5 d. ago Japan launches world’s first mission to lift rare earth from deep sea

Japan launches world’s first mission to lift rare earth from deep sea  South China Morning Post

Events

8 d. ago Philippine navy confident it can navigate South China Sea dispute: ‘up to the challenge’

The Philippines has expressed confidence in countering China’s widening influence in contested waters as its navy presses ahead with expanding its fleet, joint activities with foreign partners and the use of unmanned systems. Analysts say these measures would boost the interoperability of the Philippine military across the sea and air, as the South China Sea dispute continues to dominate its security planning. “We are up to the challenge [posed by] the People’s Liberation Army Navy, Chinese...

Politics

9 d. ago China launches Woody Island fresh food link as disputed Paracels hub expands

China has launched a fresh food supply service for residents of Woody Island, part of the hotly contested Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. A flight carrying fresh fruit, vegetables and meat landed on Woody Island – known as Yongxing Island in Chinese – on Tuesday, according to local state broadcaster Sansha TV. Woody Island is the largest outcrop in the Paracels, which are called the Xisha Islands in China. The island hosts the government of Sansha, which was established to administer...

Politics

9 d. ago China committed to fostering peace, friendship, cooperation in South China Sea: spokesperson

China committed to fostering peace, friendship, cooperation in South China Sea: spokesperson  China Daily

Politics

1 week ago Why coastguards, not warships, are shaping future of South China Sea

When ships from China and the Philippines encounter each other near the Second Thomas Shoal, most incidents are resolved without diplomatic intervention. No shots fired, no ministerial calls, no carrier deployments. Within days, encounters are logged, reviewed and absorbed into routine reporting channels. That administrative resolution reveals how stability is maintained in the South China Sea. Debate over these waters still defaults to navies, deterrence and great power rivalry. However, most...

Events

1 week ago Opinion | Why coastguards, not warships, are shaping future of South China Sea

Opinion | Why coastguards, not warships, are shaping future of South China Sea  South China Morning Post

Events