The arrests come as confrontations between the two Asian neighbours over contested reefs and waters in the strategic South China Sea have escalated in recent months

Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Friday, January 31, 2025. Today's episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines' leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner.

China's coast guard continues its weeklong presence near the Philippines' Zambales Province in what one analyst calls "a new level of sustained intensity."

Almost 3 million people gathered and participated in the activities for this year's Chinese New Year celebration in Manila on Jan. 29, an official said Thursday. In a statement, City Administrator Bernie Ang said the annual celebration was successful,

One fictional student in the 40-page comic book describes China as a bully and another says Beijing’s “behavior is outrageous.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila and condemned Beijing for its "dangerous and destabilising" actions in the Sea, in his first phone call with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Philippine Airlines will boost its connectivity to mainland China with the launch of non-stop Manila to Beijing flights

President Ferdinand Marcos said Thursday his government will remove a US missile system from the Philippines if Beijing ends its "aggressive and coercive behaviour" in the contested South China Sea and ceases claiming Filipino territory.

Suspected Chinese spies posing as Taiwanese tourists have been arrested for allegedly taking photographs of Philippine Coast Guard ships, local media reported.

MANILA must continue building its ties with other countries in the international community as Beijing is expected to continue its aggressive maneuvers in the South China Sea this year, foreign affairs and security analysts said.

It has urged the Philippine side to base its judgment on facts, not to make a presumption of guilt, and to stop airing groundless speculation about the so-called spy case. The attitude of the Chinese embassy cannot be clearer: Manila's charges are baseless, and the arrested Chinese citizen deserves fair treatment.