A China Coast Guard vessel maneuvers near a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Feb. 8.
South China Sea

Philippine Coast Guard calls China's incursion claim 'inaccurate'

Beijing, Manila still engaged in protracted spat over resource-rich waters

22 February 2024
With their demographic dividends petering out, some ASEAN economies are facing the risk of getting old before they get rich. 
Datawatch

Aging Southeast Asia grapples with weak social safety nets

State pensions cover less than 30% of working-age population in some countries

17 February 2024
Food prices at Singapore's popular hawker centers climbed 15% between 2019 and 2023. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Economy

Singapore, Thailand and more hand out cash to ease inflation pain

SE Asia governments focus on public support while critics warn of fiscal strain

17 February 2024
Passenger congestion and flight delays are a chronic problem at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which has been ranked among the world's worst.
Transportation

San Miguel-led group wins $3bn Philippines airport revamp

Facelift aims to double Manila international terminal capacity to 62m passengers a year

16 February 2024
The Vietnamese Community of Independent Learners hosts "eco-travel schools" taking tourists to places like Ulsan, South Korea, to promote volunteering and quality of life without excessive consumerism. (Photo by VCIL)
Economy

Asia develops an appetite for degrowth 'doughnut economics'

Movement pushes measures of education, health and the environment over GDP

11 February 2024
Farmers plant rice seedlings that are part of a breeding program for late-maturing varieties, at the International Rice Research Institute, in Los Banos, Laguna province, Philippines on Jan. 18, 2023.
Inflation

Philippine rice inflation hits highest level since 2009

Overall price growth down but global conditions cause food costs to climb

6 February 2024
Alexander Matheou, a top official at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, warns people to "take climate risk seriously." (Photo by Norman Goh)
Climate Change

Climate change fuels humanitarian risks in Asia, Red Cross warns

International body expects weather disasters to push millions into poverty

4 February 2024
Top Philippine naval officials salute during an ASEAN military exercise in May 2023.
Defense

Philippines 'breaking from its shell' with submarine purchase

Experts say Manila signaling shift to greater emphasis on external defense

2 February 2024
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Source photos by Reuters)
Politics

Marcos-Duterte rift escalates over Philippines constitutional changes

Leaders lob insults at each other, but 2025 midterms could sway relations

2 February 2024
Rising Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD plans to roughly double its sales outlets in Singapore and the Philippines this year. (Photo by Dylan Loh)
Electric cars in China

Chinese EV leader BYD makes aggressive push in ASEAN

Tesla rival eyes doubling outlets in Singapore, Philippines after entering Indonesia

31 January 2024
A public market in Manila's Quezon City. The Philippine economy has been hit by soaring inflation. 
Economy

Philippines misses official target with 5.6% GDP growth in 2023

Latest annual data falls short of 7.6% expansion in previous year

31 January 2024
Taiwan’s Vice President and President-elect Lai Ching-te, right, meets with the co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus -- Democrat Rep. Ami Bera, second from left, and Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, left -- in Taipei on Jan. 25. (Taiwan Presidential Office/AP)
The Nikkei View

U.S. should stay committed to Asia's security

Deterring Chinese aggression and engaging with Beijing are both important

31 January 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, shakes hands with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in Hanoi on Jan. 30.
South China Sea

Vietnam and Philippines sign deal on South China Sea security

Pact comes as China more aggressively asserts itself in the disputed area

30 January 2024
Financial woes have led to CNN Philippines announcing it would discontinue operations this week. (Source image from CNN Philippines website)
Media & Entertainment

CNN Philippines to stop broadcasting after 9-year run

Financial losses bring about demise of English-language TV news channel

29 January 2024
The Philippines, Japan, and the U.S conduct their first trilateral coast guard exercise off the coast of Bataan, Philippines, in June 2023.
Defense

U.S. and Philippines eye 2-plus-2 talks in Manila for first time

South China Sea will be high on agenda at March gathering -- if Austin's health permits

29 January 2024
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks at a summit in California in November 2023. The Philippine president heads to Vietnam this week.
Your Week in Asia

Evergrande back in court, Marcos in Vietnam, Myanmar takeover anniversary

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

28 January 2024
The white sands of Boracay lure tourists from around the world. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Energy

Waste oil fuels Boracay's sustainability drive

Scenic island trying to balance tourism with environmental preservation

28 January 2024
From the Philippine peso to the Australian dollar, a wide range of Asia-Pacific currencies faces weakness against the U.S. dollar. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Currencies

Philippine peso, Malaysian ringgit sink on China's economic woes

Trade ties to No. 2 economy spur rate cut speculation in Australia and Thailand

25 January 2024
The Manila bourse expects six IPOs this year, double the number in 2023. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Markets

Philippine stock exchange eyes IPO rebound after weak 2023

Interest rate cuts crucial for more new share sales this year, analysts say

24 January 2024
Coal barges in North Jakarta: Private-sector institutions are wary of involvement in any financing that touches the coal sector, even if the ultimate goal is to reduce emissions.
Opinion

New carbon finance tools can accelerate Asia's energy transition

Philippine coal plant emerges as test of case for innovative climate action

24 January 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a joint statement during the visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Malacanang Palace, in Manila on Jan. 10.
Politics

Philippines' Marcos says won't help ICC probe into Duterte drug war

President says he does not recognize jurisdiction of international court

23 January 2024
 A China Coast Guard vessel maneuvers beside the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Cabra in the disputed South China Sea on Nov. 10
International relations

Philippine-China spat over Taiwan risks putting ASEAN in crossfire

Southeast Asia has most to lose in clash over self-ruled island, analysts say

22 January 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in January 2023. (cnsphoto via Reuters)
Opinion

Marcos' embrace of Taiwan's Lai was more than a friendly gesture

With focus on Philippine economy and security, president braves Chinese rebuke

22 January 2024
KDDI will be responsible for telecom and fare systems on about 30 kilometers of the Metro Manila Subway Project, a train depot and the operations control center.
Transportation

Japan's KDDI to take part in Philippines' first subway project

Carrier to help construct telecom infrastructure for Metro Manila development

15 January 2024
The Department of Finance building in Manila. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Economy

Philippines' Marcos names lawmaker Recto as new finance chief

Incoming top official will aim to fuel growth while taming inflation

12 January 2024