In-depth reporting on Malaysia and the region.
The US Pacific Command has pledged to sustain its operational presence in the South China Sea as part of broader Indo-Pacific security efforts, while backing ASEAN's central role in regional diplomacy and stability.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed his government's commitment to upholding the 2016 arbitration ruling that rejected China's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea, declaring that Filipinos will not yield to pressure.
The United States has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation globally, particularly in the South China Sea, describing it as essential to regional security and uninterrupted international commerce.
ASEAN and China are advancing negotiations on a South China Sea code of conduct, with both sides expressing commitment to finalizing the agreement by year-end. Negotiators are focusing on resolving four key issues including legal binding status and geographical scope.
Indonesia's foreign minister has challenged Asean to fulfil its commitments and demonstrate credibility as the bloc grapples with escalating geopolitical tensions, including fallout from the Middle East conflict and the stalled South China Sea code of conduct.
China summoned the Philippine ambassador following a confrontation involving the coast guard at a disputed reef, drawing criticism from the US and regional allies over escalating tensions in contested waters.
Tensions in the South China Sea threaten to overshadow an ASEAN meeting in Manila, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese diplomat Wang Yi will both attend. A recent clash between Philippine and Chinese sailors has further complicated regional dynamics.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine counterpart Theresa Lazaro are scheduled to meet this week in Manila during an Asean gathering—their first bilateral encounter since 2024—as tensions escalate over South China Sea claims, Taiwan, and maritime boundary discussions with Japan.
Southeast Asia's foreign ministers convene in Manila this week amid growing alarm over Middle East hostilities, Myanmar's ongoing civil conflict and South China Sea territorial tensions, with top officials from the US, China and Russia attending.
The Philippines is hosting the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting from July 20-24, bringing together regional and dialogue partners to discuss security, human rights, and geopolitical tensions affecting Southeast Asia and beyond.
Asean's annual foreign ministers meeting opens in Manila with top diplomats from China, Russia, and the United States attending. The gathering comes amid mounting geopolitical pressures and the continuing Myanmar political deadlock.
The Philippines has strongly condemned China Daily for publishing an AI-generated video depicting Filipinos as monkeys, demanding its removal and calling the imagery deeply offensive and unacceptable propaganda.
A coalition of 14 countries, led by the Philippines, commemorated ten years since a pivotal arbitration tribunal invalidated China's expansive South China Sea claims, emphasizing the ruling's binding status under international law.
The Philippines has urged ASEAN to bolster maritime security across critical shipping lanes including the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea, warning that disruptions could trigger inflation and destabilise the region's deeply integrated economies.
Malaysia has assured Belgium that maritime routes through the South China Sea will remain open and unobstructed, with Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof emphasizing ASEAN's commitment to peace and neutrality in the strategically vital waterway.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rejected predictions of inevitable conflict in the South China Sea, arguing that dialogue, mutual trust and respect for international law provide the foundation for regional stability.