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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

Have Chinese defence firms broken the sniper rifle range record – again?

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Huanan OptoElectronic reported last year that a domestically developed rifle was able to hit five out of five targets at a distance of 3,017 metres. Photo: Hunan Huanan Opto-Electro Group

Trump’s top science adviser visited Beijing. What does that mean for AI?

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Michael Kratsios has identified China as the US' “pre-eminent geopolitical rival and our most formidable technological and scientific competitor”. Photo: AP

Top Singapore-based physicist moves to China after superconductor breakthrough

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Stephen Lin Er Chow (right), pictured with colleagues from the research team that designed the new copper-free superconducting material. Photo: NUS Faculty of Science

On This Day | In 2021, China becomes the third country to land a rover on Mars – SCMP archive

Personnel at the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre celebrate after the Tianwen-1 probe’s lander successfully descended to Mars, carrying the Zhu Rong rover. Photo: Xinhua

Does China’s Jiuzhang 4.0 computer herald the age of quantum supremacy?

A partial view of China’s new photonic quantum computing prototype, Jiuzhang 4.0. Photo: Xinhua
MORE China Science NEWS
Chinese researchers have envisaged how uncrewed surface vessels could patrol distant waters and around near-sea islands and reefs. Photo: Xinhua
China's military weapons

Can AI-assisted unmanned vessels be Beijing’s answer to South China Sea patrols?

Near-silent autonomous surveillance vessels that can keep going for months on end recommended for Chinese maritime enforcement.

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump leaves China after much pomp and pageantry, but little to show for it

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

Taiwan casts long shadow over Trump’s summit with Xi

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The Philippines

Why airport at former US naval base in Philippines has Washington’s backing

The trend in defence is for civilian infrastructure that can be rapidly adapted for military use during contingencies, experts say.

An artist's impression of the Sangley Point International Airport project. Photo: Handout
US-China relations

Typhon launch of Tomahawk missile is ‘worst provocation’ by the US against China

Observers suggest strong countermeasures after the first live-firing of the system since its deployment to the Philippines.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

Wary mood to mark Xi-Trump summit with irritants aplenty on both sides: analysts

Observers noted the number of recent strategic and trade blows, including the war on Iran, have not derailed the meeting from going ahead.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

What does Pete Hegseth’s presence in China say about Trump’s military agenda?

US arms sales to Taiwan, nuclear weapons and military-to-military communication will be among topics discussed, experts say.

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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (third from top) descends the steps of Air Force One as President Donald Trump walks with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng during a welcome ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Singapore

Strong international sea laws ‘vital’ for small nations like Singapore: Wong

The prime minister warns of a direct impact on Singapore’s trade if the international law framework is weakened.

The Philippines

Philippines pitches Asean maritime hub despite ‘big red elephant in the room’

Can a Philippine-led maritime hub succeed? Observers say the plan touches on a dispute other members are loath to broach.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

US defence secretary joins Trump on China trip in rare diplomatic move

Pete Hegseth becomes first Pentagon chief to accompany a US president to Beijing since Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit.

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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before the Senate on Tuesday regarding the White House’s proposed military budget. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong records hottest day of year so far as temperatures top 31.6 degrees

Much of the city on Tuesday saw temperatures rise above 31 degrees Celsius, with some parts of New Territories exceeding 33 degrees.

Hong Kong recorded its second-hottest April on record this year with a mean maximum temperature of 27.9 degrees. Photo: Edmond So
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump to raise Taiwan, Jimmy Lai case when he meets Xi in Beijing this week

US president claims Chinese leader will be more likely than himself to bring up Taiwan issue, while Lai may also be on the agenda.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

What to expect from this week’s Trump 2.0 visit to Beijing

Nearly a decade after his first-term visit, Trump returns to Beijing amid tensions over tariffs, Taiwan and tech rivalry.

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China-Philippines relations

Asian Angle | 3 reasons Marcos’ South China Sea energy gambit won’t work

The Philippine president has mooted the idea of joint oil and gas development. China is willing, but history shows this road leads nowhere.

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An aerial drone photo shows China’s Deep Sea No 1 energy station in the South China Sea off Hainan province in April last year. Photo: China National Offshore Oil Corporation/Xinhua
Vietnam

Vietnam adds over 2 square km of land in South China Sea, US report says

The expansion brings its total reclaimed area to roughly 11 square km, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

Sunset over the South China Sea. Vietnam cites claims dating back to the 17th century to assert ownership over the Paracel and Spratly Islands. Photo: Xinhua
The Philippines

Decoding this year’s US-Japan-Philippines Balikatan drills

Analysts say this year’s drills, which stress tested a new generation of mobile strike capabilities, were a pointed display of resolve.

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Asean

Asean to step up push for South China Sea code, energy security

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr says the code of conduct is key to unlocking deeper China-Asean economic cooperation.

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The Philippines

Why is a Chinese research ship a flashpoint with Philippines in South China Sea?

Beijing and Manila trade accusations after incident near Iroquois Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands this week.

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Manila says China’s Xiang Yang Hong 33 vessel, pictured, was monitored carrying out “unauthorised” marine scientific research operations in the western part of Iroquois Reef on Wednesday. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard
Asean

Asean’s pivot to energy security leaves long-standing issues on summit sidelines

Southeast Asia is one of the worst affected by the global fuel crisis due to its high imports of oil and gas coming from the Gulf.

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Asean

Opinion | Why China’s warning over military blocs is finding listeners in Asia

For regional governments, strategy is about preserving options. China has read this instinct carefully and given it a diplomatic vocabulary.

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China's military weapons

Does YJ-20 hypersonic sea-based missile give China an edge over US carriers?

The highly manoeuvrable weapon is nearly invulnerable to interception and could sink an aircraft carrier with a single hit.

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The Chinese military’s formidable YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile launches from a Type 055 destroyer. Photo: Handout
India

Vietnam, India seek closer ties to hedge against dependence on superpowers

President To Lam’s agenda during his visit to New Delhi is expected to include a deal for Vietnam to buy India’s BrahMos missiles.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Vietnamese President To Lam before their talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
China-Japan relations

China condemns Japan’s first overseas ‘offensive missile’ test since WWII

Beijing says Japan’s ‘neo-militarism’ is a ‘scourge’ that threatens regional peace and stability.

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Japan

Japan, Philippines to fast-track transfer of navy destroyers

The two countries’ shared grievances over Chinese territorial claims have seen them draw increasingly close in recent years.

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Japan

Takaichi to hold talks in Vietnam on economic security, critical minerals

Both sides are expected to discuss cooperation in areas such as energy and artificial intelligence.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Friday. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

Video | US seeks blanket overflight access to Indonesian airspace

Internal warnings reveal a government split over risks that blanket access for US warplanes could drag Indonesia into foreign conflicts.

Leaked US military overflight plans spark sovereignty dispute in Indonesia
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China's military weapons

Why Beijing’s weaponised cargo ship could be crucial in the Taiwan Strait

Beijing’s ‘containerised destroyer’ can carry missile launchers and hide within commercial shipping lanes, military magazine says.

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China technology

China upgrades maritime rescue range and depth as ambitions on the seas expand

Body responsible for strategically sensitive South China Sea completes ‘formal transition’ after extensive deepwater training.

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