South China Sea
26 stories related to this topic, newest first.
Japan TimesVietnam and Philippines Leaders Meet on South China Sea Navigation
The leaders of Vietnam and the Philippines met in Manila and stated that freedom of navigation in the South China Sea remains nonnegotiable. They also agreed to coordinate more closely on regional issues.
thehindu.comChina Conducts Patrols Near Scarborough Shoal Following U.S.-Philippine Military Drills
Chinese military and coast guard units carried out patrols near Scarborough Shoal on Sunday, one day after Philippine and U.S. forces completed joint maritime drills in the same area.
nbcnews.comPhilippine Defense Chief Addresses South China Sea Ruling and Regional Security at Shangri-La Dialogue
Gilberto Teodoro Jr. spoke at the May 31, 2026, Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, describing the Philippines as a convergence point in a fragmented Indo-Pacific while criticizing China over the 2016 Arbitral Award.
japantimes.co.jpPhilippines Defense Secretary Says Country Faces Long-Term Maritime Dispute With China
The Philippines expects ongoing friction with China over South China Sea territory, the national defense secretary said. Officials want any further Chinese construction halted.
South China Morning PostChina Reports Electronic Interference With Dutch Warship Near Paracel Islands
The PLA Southern Theatre Command stated that a Dutch frigate entered waters near the Paracel Islands without permission and that Chinese forces responded with electronic interference. The incident occurred on Wednesday.
focustaiwan.twTaiwan to Send Lawmakers to Pratas Island in July 2026
Taiwanese lawmakers will visit Pratas Island in July 2026, the first such trip in eight years. The island is also claimed by Beijing.
Defense NewsJapan Fires Type 88 Missiles from Philippine Soil in Balikatan Exercise
Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force troops fired two Type 88 surface-to-ship missiles from northwest Luzon on May 6 during Exercise Balikatan 2026. The live-fire event marked the first deployment of Japanese combat troops on Philippine soil since World War II under a reciprocal ac…
South China Morning PostUS Trade and Development Agency Funds Feasibility Study for Proposed Sangley Point Airport in Philippines
The US Trade and Development Agency announced on Tuesday it will fund a study for the airport at a former naval base near Manila Bay. The project aims to address the Philippines’ projected aviation needs while incorporating strong security measures for direct flights to major US…
thehindu.comU.S. and Chinese Leaders Hold Talks on South China Sea Disputes
U.S. and Chinese leaders are holding a meeting on May 13, 2026, with residents of Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea closely following developments. The encounter was the focus of a segment on NPR's All Things Considered that ran 4:09. Thitu Island is known in the Phili…
manilatimes.netASEAN Summit in Cebu Focuses on Energy, Food Security and Myanmar Crisis
Southeast Asian nations met in the Philippines from May 6 to 8, 2026, with the deepening economic toll of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran at the top of the agenda. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. outlined priorities on energy, food and citizen safety while urging peace…
The TimesUS-Philippines Joint Military Drills End Amid Local Economic Strain
The annual Balikatan exercises involving 17,000 service members from the United States, Philippines and Japan concluded last week. The drills featured unmanned aircraft and live-fire exercises near areas where fishing has been restricted. Local fishermen and union leaders reporte…
rfa.orgChina Expands Land on Antelope Reef in South China Sea
China has used dredging ships to increase the land area of Antelope Reef, adding jetties, roads and a helipad by April 2026. The atoll in the Paracel Islands is one of many contested features in the South China Sea where nations are expanding presence on small islands and reefs.
RapplerASEAN Summit Ends Without Specific Plans on Energy, South China Sea, Myanmar
Leaders at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu agreed on the need for energy resilience, stability in the South China Sea, and progress in Myanmar. The retreat session ran into overtime but produced no timelines or detailed measures. The summit is the first leaders-level meeting of the…
ecns.cnVietnam and China Both Expand South China Sea Outposts Through Land Reclamation
A new report documents Vietnam's expansion of outposts in the South China Sea as Hanoi and Beijing reinforce competing territorial claims through land reclamation. The activity comes amid an ongoing race between the two nations to strengthen their positions. Vietnam has added hun…
Japan TimesJapan Increases Troop Numbers in Balikatan Drills with Philippines
Japan deployed about 1,400 personnel to this year's Balikatan exercises in the Philippines, roughly 10 times the number sent last year. The drills, which concluded on May 9, 2026, included counter-landing operations and anti-ship missile training in northern areas facing Taiwan a…
South China Morning PostPhilippines, US, Japan and Australia Agree to Expand Future Balikatan Drills Beyond South China Sea
Defence officials announced that future war games will involve the informal "Squad" alliance of the United States, Australia, Japan and the Philippines. Manila designated the Diaoyu-Senkaku Islands a security flashpoint for the first time. Tokyo offered warship transfers as the e…
thehindu.comChinese Research Vessel Prompts Exchange With Philippines Near Disputed Reef
China and the Philippines traded accusations after a Chinese research ship operated near Iroquois Reef in the Spratly Islands this week. Each side warned of further countermeasures following the incident. The area is claimed by both countries and is believed to hold oil and natur…
winnipegfreepress.comASEAN Leaders Meet in Philippines to Address Middle East Conflict Impacts
Southeast Asian leaders gathered in Cebu on Friday to develop a contingency plan for stable fuel and food supplies amid the Iran conflict. The summit also focused on evacuating more than a million regional citizens working in the Middle East. Officials called for extending a mont…
asiaone.comPhilippines Reports Chinese Vessel Conducting Research Near Reed Bank
The Philippines said a Chinese vessel was conducting research activities near the gas-rich Reed Bank in the South China Sea. Officials described the operation as illegal and said it occurred in an area within the country's exclusive economic zone. The development adds to ongoing…
japantoday.comJapan Fires Surface-to-Ship Missiles and Sinks Old Warship in Exercises With US Forces
Japan conducted live-fire drills in waters between the Philippines and Taiwan, firing surface-to-ship missiles and sinking a decommissioned vessel as part of exercises involving U.S. forces. The drills took place amid heightened regional tensions. China has objected to the activi…
thehindu.comPhilippine Coast Guard Says Chinese Research Vessel Operated Near Reed Bank
A Chinese research vessel was spotted deploying a service boat toward Iroquois Reef on May 6, 2026, inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The PCG said the activity violated Philippine sovereign rights and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Admiral Ron…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewPhilippines Aims to Finalize South China Sea Code of Conduct by Year-End
Philippine officials emphasized the need to complete a code of conduct for the South China Sea this year during a panel discussion. The code, negotiated since 2002 between ASEAN and China, seeks to reduce tensions in the disputed area. An upcoming ASEAN summit will address relate…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewPhilippine Authorities Arrest Three Defense Workers for Sharing Sensitive Information
Philippine officials announced the arrest of three civilian defence workers who confessed to sharing sensitive details, including South China Sea resupply missions, with handlers linked to Chinese intelligence. The case stems from fake job ads posted in 2023 on military forums, t…
japantimes.co.jpTaiwan Minister Visits Itu Aba Island for Humanitarian, Evacuation, and Armed Boarding Exercises
Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling visited Itu Aba, a Taiwan-controlled island in the South China Sea, on April 22, 2026. The trip marked the first such ministerial visit in seven years and included exercises on humanitarian relief and armed ship boarding. The i…
SemaforBalikatan 2024: US, Philippines, and Allies Conduct Largest-Ever Joint Military Drills Near South China Sea
The United States and the Philippines began their annual Balikatan military exercises on April 20, marking the largest iteration yet with new participants including Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand. The drills, running through May 8, include maritime strike operations on a…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewMultinational Live-Fire Exercises Begin in South China Sea on April 20, 2026
The United States and its allies initiated major live-fire exercises in the South China Sea on April 20, 2026, marking the largest such event to date. Japan participated as a full member for the first time, joined by Australia, France, and New Zealand. The drills expand on longst…