The Philippines stood its ground in the latest round of negotiations on the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, strongly reaffirming its commitment to international law and its sovereign rights amid growing tensions in the region. Held in Manila from April 9 to 11, the meeting of the Joint Working Group … Read more
MANILA: The Philippines expressed alarm on Saturday (Apr 5) over the arrest of three Filipinos in China on suspicion of espionage, saying they were ordinary citizens and the arrests could be retaliation for Manila’s crackdown against alleged Chinese spies. Chinese authorities arrested the Filipinos and accused them of working for the Philippine intelligence agency to … Read more
The Philippines expressed alarm on Saturday over the arrest of three Filipinos in China on suspicion of espionage, saying they were ordinary citizens and the arrests could be retaliation for Manila’s crackdown against alleged Chinese spies. Chinese authorities arrested the Filipinos and accused them of working for the Philippine intelligence agency to gather classified information … Read more
More people in Southeast Asia expect American engagement in the region under the Donald Trump administration to increase this year, according to a new survey by Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Countries exhibiting the strongest sentiment in this area – accounting for more than 40 per cent of respondents – are Laos, Vietnam, Brunei and Cambodia. … Read more
The potential purchase of F-16 jets by the Philippines from the United States does not harm the interests of any third party, including China, a Philippine security official said on Thursday. National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya assured China the planned acquisition is not intended as a threat to any nation and is merely part … Read more
MORE OR LESS US ENGAGEMENT UNDER TRUMP? The State of Southeast Asia 2025 survey polled 2,023 people including researchers, private sector representatives, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government officials across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar, and the Philippines. For the first time in its seven editions, the survey – which gauges views … Read more
BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese military conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea on Friday, said a spokesperson. The action took place amid ongoing efforts by the Philippines to enlist countries outside the region for so-called “joint patrols” and hype and spread its unlawful claims in the South China Sea, said Tian Junli, … Read more
China on Friday said there ”has never been a problem” with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea as it asked the Philippines not to start a conflict with United States support. Cooperation between the US and the Philippines should not target third parties, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a … Read more
China on Friday said there ”has never been a problem” with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea as it asked the Philippines not to start a conflict with United States support. Cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines should not target third parties, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press … Read more
Beijing can capitalise on the uncertainty coming from Washington to woo Southeast Asia by showing “geopolitical magnanimity” on tough issues including the South China Sea, a Malaysian international affairs expert says. Mohd Faiz Abdullah, chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia think tank which advises the Malaysian government, also said that if … Read more