Bold, independent coverage of Malaysian politics, business and current affairs.
The US Pacific Command has pledged to sustain its operational presence in the South China Sea as part of efforts to preserve regional security and stability while working closely with ASEAN partners to advance shared interests.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered a pointed rebuke of China during his state of the nation address, pledging to defend a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidates Beijing's expansive South China Sea territorial claims and asserts Filipino national dignity.
The United States has reinforced its commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in global waters, particularly the South China Sea, as essential to regional security and uninterrupted trade flows that underpin economic growth.
ASEAN and China are advancing negotiations on a South China Sea code of conduct, with officials expressing optimism about reaching a deal by December despite longstanding regional tensions.
Indonesia has pressed Asean to transform its diplomatic commitments into measurable outcomes, warning that geopolitical crises threaten the bloc's credibility and strategic coherence in Southeast Asia.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet Philippine counterpart Theresa Lazaro this week in Manila for the first top-level diplomatic encounter in two years, even as tensions escalate over South China Sea claims, defence matters, and regional geopolitics.
China has summoned the Philippine ambassador to protest what it calls provocative Filipino actions at a contested South China Sea shoal, where a sailor was reportedly struck. Western allies back Manila as tensions mount.
Escalating tensions in the South China Sea threaten to overshadow an ASEAN meeting in Manila, with the United States condemning Chinese conduct while diplomatic efforts to resolve Myanmar's crisis remain deadlocked.
Southeast Asia's foreign ministers are convening in Manila this week to address escalating Middle East hostilities, ongoing Myanmar violence, and South China Sea disputes, with top diplomats from the US, China, Russia and EU attending the annual ASEAN talks.
The Philippines is leading the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting from July 20-24, where regional leaders will address security challenges, human rights concerns, and geopolitical tensions affecting Southeast Asia and the broader international order.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan heads to the Philippines for the annual Asean Ministers Meeting, where geopolitical tensions and the protracted Myanmar crisis dominate discussions amid efforts to balance diplomatic engagement.
The Philippines has condemned a China Daily video showing Filipinos depicted as monkeys, demanding its removal and denouncing it as racist propaganda that crosses moral and diplomatic boundaries.
A 14-nation coalition led by the Philippines commemorated a decade since the 2016 arbitration tribunal ruling on the South China Sea, reaffirming the decision's binding legal status and calling for peaceful dispute resolution.
The Philippines is urging ASEAN to strengthen maritime security and supply chain resilience across key shipping corridors, citing risks from geopolitical disruptions and citing the Strait of Hormuz crisis as a cautionary example.
Malaysia has assured Belgium that the South China Sea will remain open for maritime commerce, with Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof emphasizing ASEAN's commitment to peace and neutrality amid global shipping concerns.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged Malaysia's continued commitment to strengthening ASEAN as a resilient community, emphasizing unity and stability amid mounting geopolitical pressures.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed predictions of inevitable conflict in the South China Sea, emphasizing dialogue, international law, and constructive engagement with China as pathways to regional stability.