China’s diplomatic row with the Philippines has widened into a broader debate over how Beijing deals with its neighbors, as Manila links Chinese pressure in the South China Sea with similar sovereignty disputes involving India. The confrontation escalated after China’s envoy said Beijing could “easily win” if it chose to use force against the Philippines, prompting Manila to summon him and reject what it described as a threat. At the same time, Beijing has condemned India’s decision to standardize names for locations in Ladakh, while New Delhi insists the territory is an integral part of India. What do these disputes reveal about China’s approach to territorial claims and diplomatic normalization? In this episode, we examine the growing tensions between Beijing and Manila, the China–India border dispute and why the Philippines and India are increasingly being discussed together as they push back against Chinese pressure.
*Recorded on October 20, 2026 at 11am Taiwan Standard Time
Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat
Producer: Suvam Pal
Videographer: Ko Gi
Our guests:
Chen Fang-yu
- Soochow University Political Science Associate Professor
Srikanth Kondapalli
- Jawaharlal Nehru University Chinese Studies Professor
Bea Cupin
- Rappler Senior Multimedia Reporter
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