Politics

2 November 2025
Canadian Defense Minister, David McGuinty and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. sign an agreement in Manila on Nov. 2.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top right, delivers a virtual speech to the ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26.
International relations

Malaysia's Anwar says 'real progress' made in ASEAN-India trade deal review

With Modi attending summit virtually, experts see year-end deadline as likely to be missed

27 October 2025
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., pictured Sept. 8. Even by Philippine standards, the past few months have been a dizzying political roller coaster.  
Opinion

Marcos' last chance to foil a Duterte comeback in the Philippines

New ombudsman could expose the president's main opponents

24 October 2025
A China Coast Guard vessel uses a water cannon against Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship BRP Datu Pagbuaya in the South China Sea, in this handout image released by the Philippine Coast Guard on October 12, 2025. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS. 
South China Sea

Philippines, China trade accusations over South China Sea vessel clash

Maritime confrontation near disputed islands further escalates tension

12 October 2025
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on a screen in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, on March 14, days after his arrest.
Crime

ICC rejects Rodrigo Duterte's bid for interim release

Court says ex-Philippine president's family wants to 'help him elude detention'

10 October 2025
Washington's alliances with Japan and South Korea are not equally beneficial to the U.S., according to a report from a Washington think tank.
Indo-Pacific

Japan boosts US strategy, South Korea raises risk: Carnegie

Think tank audits value of America's alliances to compete with China

9 October 2025
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth holds a Squad defense ministers meeting in Singapore with counterparts from Japan, Australia and the Philippines on May 31. (U.S. Department of Defense)
Japan leadership race

Will Takaichi's Japan engage with Quad, Squad or new 'Asian Quad'?

Defense chiefs of US, Japan, Australia and Philippines to meet soon

8 October 2025
The Philippines plans to utilize critical telecommunications infrastructure on its main Luzon Island with the help of two telecom companies, including one from Japan. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)   
South China Sea

Philippines to upgrade Luzon fiber-optic cable to bypass dangerous waters

Telcos join project to connect cables under the Pacific and South China Sea

1 October 2025
Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons toward a Philippine resupply vessel at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on March 5, 2024. 
Opinion

The rules of engagement in East Asian waters have changed

China is conducting gray zone political warfare on Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines

29 September 2025
The five Liberal Democratic Party leadership candidates pose at a media event in Tokyo on Sept. 24. (Photo by Shintaro Ino) 
Your Week in Asia

LDP presidential election, ADB outlook, BOJ economic survey

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

28 September 2025
Giant clams are seen in several piles made by Chinese militias in Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
Opinion

Beijing's greenwashing of the South China Sea

Creation of nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal is a political move

24 September 2025
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, attended a ceremony to open HD Hyundai's new shipyard in early September. (Office of the President of the Philippines)
Transportation

New Philippines shipyard poised to benefit from US-China maritime rivalry

HD Hyundai sees growth opportunity as Manila, Washington both seek to revive industry

23 September 2025
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte pictured in February in Manila.
Crime

ICC charges ex-Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte with 3 counts of murder

Court accuses him of orchestrating killings as 'indirect co-perpetrator'

23 September 2025
Filipino protesters hold up placards during a protest denouncing corruption in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Sept. 11.
Opinion

Marcos grapples with a flood of scandals in the Philippines

President needs to oversee serious, impartial investigations to avoid Indonesia-style protests

22 September 2025
A China Coast Guard ship navigates near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Aug. 13.
South China Sea

China Coast Guard fires water cannon at Philippine ships in South China Sea

Manila accuses Beijing of 'aggressive' action that injured one person

17 September 2025
 Philippine Congressman Faustino Dy III, an ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was elected house speaker on Wednesday after Martin Romualdez resigned amid rising anger over an infrastructure corruption scandal. (Photo from  Faustino Dy III's Facebook page)
Politics

Marcos cousin replaced as house speaker as graft scandal furor builds

President's ally Faustino Dy III elected to replace Martin Romualdez

17 September 2025
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called China's plan to turn Scarborough Reef into a nature preserve "another coercive attempt" to advance claims in the South China Sea.
South China Sea

US backs Philippines against Beijing's South China Sea atoll plan

Rubio blasts China's claim on Scarborough Reef as 'destabilizing'

13 September 2025
A Chinese fishing vessel is anchored next to Filipino fishing boats at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in 2017.
South China Sea

Philippines takes aim at China's plan for nature reserve in disputed shoal

Manila says it 'strongly protests' move that 'clearly infringes' its rights

11 September 2025
People wade through a flooded street following heavy rains brought by Typhoon Co-may in Navotas City, Metro Manila, in July. 
Philippines

Philippines' flood control scandal sparks public ire over corruption

Duterte's son denies allegation as Marcos pushes probes into projects nationwide

11 September 2025
Japan is set to enter talks with the Philippines over the possible export of ships such as Abukuma-class destroyer escorts.  (Japanese Defense Ministry)
Defense

Japan in talks over frigate exports to the Philippines

Tokyo and Manila pursue security ties in response to shared concerns over China

10 September 2025
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appears on a screen at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, on March 14.  
Crime

ICC postpones hearing for Philippines' Duterte for health assessment

Delay raises questions over timeline for 'war on drugs' case

8 September 2025
A still from the new documentary "Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea," which focuses on the maritime confrontations over fishing rights around the Scarborough Shoal and other disputed waters within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. (Courtesy of Ivan Torres/Voyage Studios)
Arts

Drama at sea in Philippines' maritime clash with China

Documentary shows Beijing's aggressive tactics in disputed waters

13 August 2025
This image taken from video provided by the Philippine Coast Guard shows a damaged Chinese Coast Guard ship after a collision with a Chinese naval vessel in the disputed South China Sea on Aug. 11. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)
South China Sea

Philippines criticizes 'dangerous maneuvers' after Chinese ships collide

Footage shows China Coast Guard vessel slamming into PLA Navy ship

12 August 2025
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his annual state of the nation address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Monday, 
Politics

Philippines' Marcos says midterms a wake-up call for his administration

President sidesteps U.S. tariff impact and Duterte risks in national address

28 July 2025
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte speaks after being impeached by the House of Representatives in February. She welcomed the Supreme Court's decision on July 25 to nullify the impeachment complaint against her.
Politics

Philippine Supreme Court strikes down Sara Duterte impeachment

No decision on guilt after process postponed until next year on a technicality

25 July 2025
Philippine regulators originally authorized online gambling platforms to serve Filipinos stuck at home by the COVID pandemic and keep revenues flowing to the government: Now many say the temptation to bet anytime from anywhere has become too overwhelming for society to handle. (Illustration by Yoshiko Kawano)
Policy Asia

Philippines confronts rising toll from online gambling boom

Industry opponents look to Marcos to back new restrictions or ban

25 July 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on July 22. 
Trump tariffs

Philippine goods face 19% tariff, US exports to be levy-free: Trump

Marcos Jr says automobiles a key sector of interest for US president

23 July 2025
Traders work on the floor of the Philippine Stock Exchange in Metro Manila: People in the finance industry hope cuts in transaction taxes will breath life into the country's sleepy equity market.
DealStreetAsia

Philippine tax cuts spur hope for more IPOs in sluggish market

New rules take effect this month and are expected to boost trading activity

11 July 2025
A China Coast Guard ship fires a water cannon at a Philippine vessel on June 20. (Philippine Coast Guard) 
Interview

Philippine Coast Guard commodore on mission to 'expose' China

Jay Tarriela says publicizing South China Sea coercion is Manila's best hope

2 July 2025
A Japanese Mogami-class frigate. Tokyo is set to increase its budget for defense assistance. (Photo by Shinnosuke Nagatomi)
Defense

Japan doubles security aid recipients, adding Sri Lanka, Thailand

5 Indo-Pacific nations to join eligibility list as China concerns grow

21 June 2025