South China Sea

The Philippine Senate began the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, accused of amassing unexplained wealth and threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s assassination. The trial, lasting 92 days, follows a political feud between Duterte and Marcos, with over 6,000 police deployed to secure the Senate amid protests. Duterte denies the charges, while prosecutors claim sufficient evidence exists.

The article examines trade chokepoints in the South China Sea and notes its initial publication on the ChinaPower Project.

The article 'Troubled Straits: Analyzing Trade Chokepoints in the South China Sea' examines strategic trade routes in the region. It is authored by Brian Hart, Matthew P. Funaiole, David Peng, Jasper Verschuur, Bonny Lin, and Leon Li, and published by the ChinaPower Project.

The Philippine Senate began the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on charges including unexplained wealth and threatening to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The trial, lasting 92 days, faces a political challenge as Duterte, represented by lawyers, denies the allegations, with prosecutors claiming sufficient evidence for conviction.

The article discusses increased defense spending and strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, noting that international law may seem secondary to military power. It references the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award.

The Philippine Air Force is transitioning from combating rebels and militants to defending the South China Sea amid rising tensions, despite being ranked the weakest air force among Southeast Asia's six largest militaries.

The Philippine Senate is opening an impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte over charges including unexplained wealth and assassination threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The trial, set to last 92 days, occurs amid a bitter political feud between Duterte and Marcos, with over 6,000 police deployed to secure the Senate amid expected protests. A conviction could disqualify Duterte from future public office, impacting her 2028 presidential ambitions.

The Philippine Senate will begin a 92-day impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte over charges including unexplained wealth and threatening to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated. The trial, marked by political tension and heavy security, could permanently bar Duterte from public office and impact her 2028 presidential ambitions. Duterte denies the charges and accuses Marcos of her father Rodrigo Duterte's ICC arrest.

The Philippine Senate will begin a politically volatile impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, charged with amassing unexplained wealth and threatening to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The 92-day trial, amid heightened security, could disqualify her from running for president in 2028. The trial follows a fractured alliance between Duterte and Marcos, with their feud rooted in geopolitical and personal tensions.

The Philippine Senate will open a 92-day impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte over charges including unexplained wealth and publicly threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s assassination. The trial, amid heightened security and political tensions, could disqualify Duterte from public office and derail her 2028 presidential ambitions. The impeachment follows allegations from the House of Representatives and reflects a fractured alliance between Duterte and Marcos.

Beijing deployed a new coastguard task force into waters east of Taiwan, the second such deployment in about a month. The move follows China’s top diplomat urging Washington to exercise caution on Taiwan and high-level talks with the Philippines to address South China Sea tensions.

India and Japan expressed serious concern over the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea, opposing unilateral actions that endanger freedom of navigation and attempts to change the status quo by force. China warned that India-Japan ties should not target a third party.

The article discusses the Philippines' emphasis on the West Philippine Sea for sovereignty and resource access but highlights a gap between these goals and the strategies employed. It suggests the need for more effective approaches beyond current optics.

China continues to view the United States as its primary geopolitical rival despite a report highlighting increased military activity by Japan and the Philippines in the South China Sea. The report noted Tokyo and Manila's growing defense cooperation with Washington, which Beijing perceives as threats to its territorial claims and regional influence.

China's older aircraft carriers, such as the Liaoning, can now operate with the advanced Fujian carrier's fighter jets, as demonstrated by PLA exercises showing J-15T jets taking off and landing on the Liaoning. The exercises, conducted during a 40-day mission in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, highlight interoperability between carriers using different launch systems.

Chinese vessels and aircraft were dispatched to the South China Sea near Scarborough Shoal in response to a US-Philippine maritime drill. Philippine media reported four Chinese vessels monitoring the exercise, following a recent stand-off between Chinese and Philippine navies in the area.

China's temporary floating platform at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea has highlighted its strategy to assert control, while Manila seeks support beyond the US amid renewed international attention.

Taiwan's military is deploying robot dogs for surveillance in the South China Sea to reduce manpower needs and monitor Chinese activities. Experts highlight the regional shift toward unmanned systems, citing cost-effectiveness and scalability as key advantages. The technology includes reconnaissance drones, boats, and autonomous systems, with China also investing heavily in similar capabilities.

China has identified a rare coral reef blue hole within Scarborough Shoal, a disputed feature in the South China Sea. The blue hole is a deep, circular sinkhole with bright turquoise or emerald green coloring, distinct from most land-origin blue holes.

Chinese researchers discovered hawksbill sea turtles near Scarborough Shoal, a contested area in the South China Sea, with experts suggesting the scientific findings aim to legitimize China's territorial claims. State media coverage of marine research and conservation efforts in disputed waters, including coral reef surveys, is framed as strategic signaling to reinforce Beijing's presence and sovereignty assertions over the shoal, which is also claimed by the Philippines.

The UK, Germany, and France have expressed concern over Chinese maneuvers near Taiwan. A Chinese vessel, 'Sansha Law Enforcement 301,' was detected approaching waters near Taiwan's Taiping Island in the South China Sea on June 11, 2026.

China has constructed a 100-metre environmental observation tower in the South China Sea, designed to withstand super typhoons and collect real-time data. The structure is nearly three times taller than the previous tallest tower in the region.

The article discusses China-Asean relations through dual lenses of geopolitical tensions (South China Sea, US-China rivalry) and economic opportunities (trade, infrastructure). It highlights a study tour by the University of Hong Kong’s Centre on Contemporary China and the World to Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta.

Australia has provided the Philippine coastguard with aerial and underwater drones to enhance monitoring and deterrence in the disputed South China Sea, particularly in areas where Manila faces confrontations with Chinese vessels. The systems aim to gather evidence and bolster capabilities in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Foreign trawlers operate illegally in Malaysian waters off Terengganu, particularly near Pulau Redang and Pulau Bidong, evading detection by dawn. Local fishermen report these incursions as a recurring issue threatening their livelihoods.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated that Europe is concerned about tensions in the disputed South China Sea, which could threaten freedom of navigation similar to incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed Europe's concern over tensions in the disputed South China Sea during a visit to the Philippines, citing risks to freedom of navigation similar to the Strait of Hormuz blockade. The U.S. has pledged to defend the Philippines under their treaty, while China warns against foreign interference in the territorial disputes involving multiple nations.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr proposed reframing the South China Sea as a shared vulnerability rather than a sovereignty dispute during Independence Day celebrations. Analysts suggest this approach could address China's behavior without direct confrontation.

An Australian think tank reports that China is capable of a direct missile strike on Australia, with the threat growing due to China's development of long-range and hypersonic weapons and island-building in the South China Sea. The Lowy Institute identified Chinese missiles from ships, submarines, and a new intermediate-range ballistic missile as the primary threat to Australia.

Taiwan reported mainland Chinese law enforcement vessels near an island it controls in the South China Sea, a move experts suggest could enable Beijing's control in the region. The development follows China accusing Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of inaction amid Japan-Philippines maritime talks affecting exclusive economic zone claims.

The U.S. is monitoring Chinese activity in the South China Sea as tensions between China and the Philippines, a key American ally, escalate. Chinese authorities installed a 'scientific structure' at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, prompting anger from the Philippines.

U.S. officials reported that analysts are scrutinizing recent Chinese maritime operations near Scarborough Shoal, a strategically located atoll near the Philippine island of Luzon in the South China Sea.

China banned Philippine defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his family from entering China over his critical remarks about Beijing’s South China Sea claims. Teodoro accused China of aggressive policies and called Xi Jinping’s leadership a 'small dictatorship,' prompting the foreign ministry to accuse him of harming bilateral relations and China’s interests.

Taiwan reported Chinese vessels intruding into disputed waters around Itu Aba island in the South China Sea. The vessels were expelled by the Taiwanese coast guard after 15 minutes. The island is claimed by Taiwan, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

China's recent actions in the South China Sea near the Philippines have intensified regional tensions, triggered by the appearance of large objects at Scarborough Shoal in late May and early June. The developments have caused concern across multiple countries, with the Philippine government highlighting the situation as a significant escalation.

China conducted a scientific expedition at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea starting May 20, deploying a floating platform for environmental monitoring and sampling. The Chinese Academy of Sciences’ South China Sea Institute of Oceanology announced the mission, following a formal diplomatic protest from the Philippines.

A Taiwanese government report suggests that China’s South China Sea outposts, like Antelope Reef, could serve as a distraction to delay foreign military intervention during a potential invasion of Taiwan. Experts question the report’s 48-72 hour delay estimate, noting it lacks validation through rigorous simulations, though they acknowledge the logic of using distributed, expendable bases to complicate adversary planning.

The People’s Liberation Army tracked a Dutch warship, the De Ruyter, through the Taiwan Strait and accused it of illegally intruding into airspace over China’s Xisha islands. This follows a prior incident in the South China Sea involving electronic interference with the same vessel.

Hong Kong is monitoring a tropical depression near the city, which is expected to move northeast towards Taiwan. The Hong Kong Observatory states the system is unlikely to trigger a typhoon warning signal.

China has been creating land to support its expansive claims in the South China Sea, prompting other nations to adopt similar strategies. The situation reflects a growing competition over territorial assertions in the region.