Philippines

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his final State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Philippines, on July 26, 2021.
International relations

Philippine lawmakers join global alliance for China containment

Meeting with foreign lawmakers to share strategies for handling 'Big Brother'

2 September 2023
A person checks rice at a store in Quezon City, Philippines on  Aug. 14.
Economy

Philippines' Marcos announces cap on rice prices

Official limit on price of staple item meant to ease costs for households

1 September 2023
A Philippine supply boat headed toward Second Thomas Shoal maneuvers as a China Coast Guard ship tries to block its way on Aug. 22.
Opinion

ASEAN's silence amid South China Sea confrontation is deafening

Indonesia should rally agreeable members into taking 'minilateral' action

31 August 2023
Zip Infrastructure is pitching a plan to solve traffic jams in Asia with new monorail technology. (Courtesy of Zip Infrastructure)
Startups

Japan startup aims to tackle Asia's traffic jams with EV sky trams

Zip Infrastructure seeks 2029 global entry, eyes Philippines' urban rail limitations

29 August 2023
The Philippine Coast Guard held training exercises with its U.S. and Japanese counterparts in June.
Defense

Philippine Coast Guard drills with U.S., Japan on ship maintenance

Aim is to keep Manila's vessels in service longer as threats in region grow

29 August 2023
A Jakarta shopping district. The cross-border QR code payment arrangement will make it easier for Southeast Asians to pay for items in other countries in the region.
Economy

Vietnam, Philippines and Brunei to join cross-border QR payment scheme

ASEAN-wide arrangement would ease reliance on U.S. dollar

26 August 2023
Taiwanese e-scooter startup Gogoro offers a quick way for riders to stay on the road, with battery charging stations where drained power cells can be swapped out for fresh ones.
Automobiles

Philippine's Ayala to form e-scooter venture with Taiwan's Gogoro

Conglomerate will handle import, sales, maintenance; provide charging stations

25 August 2023
Toyota Motor unveiled new models for the Philippine market at an Aug. 22 event marking the 35th anniversary of its local subsidiary.
Automobiles

Toyota invests $78m in Philippines plant to produce 2 new models

Automaker targets growing economy with vehicles geared toward emerging markets

23 August 2023
Spain won the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Beijing. The 2023 tournament will be hosted by the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.
Travel & Leisure

Philippines expects basketball World Cup to trigger travel boom

Airlines and other tourism industries vie for demand from 'revenge travelers'

20 August 2023
A vegetable vendor waits for customers at her stall at a market in Paranaque City, Metro Manila, the Philippines, on April 17. Farmers say storm damage is driving up their costs.
Economy

Marcos' Kadiwa stores leave Philippine shoppers feeling empty

Marcos Jr. revives father's ineffective program to address rising food prices

19 August 2023
Vietnam exercises effective control over a number of islands in the Spratly group in the South China Sea, including Southwest Cay.
South China Sea

Vietnam said to plan military buildup on South China Sea footholds

Spratlys project risks backlash from China and Philippines over competing claims

19 August 2023
The crew of the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal in 2014. Recently, China demanded that the Philippines remove the vessel.
Opinion

Philippines must stand up for its rights at South China Sea shoal

Fear of escalation should not paralyze defense of international law

18 August 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves to attendees of the ASEAN-China Special Summit via video link from Beijing in November 2021. 
The Big Story

China's grip on Southeast Asia tightens as U.S. influence wanes

From Vietnam to Indonesia, development aid and 'Asian values' drive Beijing's dominance

16 August 2023
Ayala will use its sales network to sell BYD electric vehicles in the Philippines.
Automobiles

China's BYD strikes deal with Ayala to sell EVs in Philippines

Move presents challenge to Japanese automakers' market command

12 August 2023
A Manila construction site as a Cebu Pacific airplane flies overhead on July 5.
Economy

Philippines' GDP growth slowed to 4.3% in Q2 on lower spending

Marcos administration hoping infrastructure projects will fuel growth

10 August 2023
A China Coast Guard aims a water cannon at Philippine Coast Guard vessels near Second Thomas Shoal on Aug. 5. (Philippine Coast Guard via Reuters)
Indo-Pacific

U.S. vows to defend Philippine boats in South China Sea

Global outcry grows after Beijing water-cannons Manila's resupply vessel

9 August 2023
Nurses trained in India are sought after in the U.K., which is facing a huge labor shortage. 
Health Care

Indian nurses in demand as Asians fill U.K. post-Brexit labor gaps

Health care to farming sectors short of workers after Europeans shut out

6 August 2023
The proposed Coca-Cola deal would add some consumer spending exposure to Philippine conglomerate Aboitiz's portfolio. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Business deals

Philippine group Aboitiz aims to buy local Coca-Cola bottler

Proposed deal would involve Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

3 August 2023
A rendering of the new factory building in the Philippines, set for completion in September 2025. (Image courtesy of Murata Manufacturing)
Electronics

Apple supplier Murata to boost capacitor output in Philippines

Japanese components maker sees demand rising for EVs, 6G

2 August 2023
European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen will pay a two-day official visit to the Philippines from July 31 and meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Source photo by Reuters)
International relations

EU's Von der Leyen to make first state visit to Philippines

Territorial rights over South China Sea expected to be among items on agenda

29 July 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks at a joint press conference on July 26. (Photo courtesy of Malaysia's Prime Minister Office) 
Myanmar Crisis

Anwar, Marcos discuss 'giving flexibility' to Myanmar approach

Leaders touch on possible engagement 'without sacrificing human rights issues'

26 July 2023
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. waves before his speech to Congress on July 24 in Manila: His first year in office was a quintessential political honeymoon.
Opinion

Marcos will not be able to keep playing safe on everything

Philippine president has avoided confrontation but has tough decisions to make

25 July 2023
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized his country's diplomacy-based foreign policy in the speech. (Photo courtesy of Philippines Presidential Communications Office)
International relations

Marcos vows to protect Philippine territory in key policy speech

President touts success in building international support on South China Sea issue

25 July 2023
All eyes are on whether Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Maharlika Investment Fund can give the country's infrastructure a big push. (Photo by Koji Uema)
Politics

Philippine sovereign fund a double-edged sword for Marcos

President touts infrastructure potential, but critics worry about graft

22 July 2023
Mitsukoshi BGC officially opened in Manila after a soft opening last November. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Retail

Isetan Mitsukoshi launches Japan-themed shopping mall in Manila

Growing Philippine middle class targeted with cultural food and brands

22 July 2023