South China Sea
U.S. Navy jet and helicopter from USS Nimitz crash in South China Sea; all five rescued
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A U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz crashed in separate incidents over the South China Sea on Sunday afternoon about 30 minutes apart. All five crew members were recovered in safe, stable condition, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Philippines takes over ASEAN chairmanship at Malaysia summit
The Philippines officially assumed the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on October 28, 2025, at the close of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received the handover from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, setting the stage for Manila to host key meetings in 2026. Marcos expressed hopes to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to Manila if South China Sea code of conduct talks conclude successfully by then.
Philippines assumes ASEAN chairmanship amid three key challenges
At the close of the 2025 ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially accepted the bloc's chairmanship for 2026 from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This handover places significant responsibilities on the Philippines, including advancing South China Sea code of conduct negotiations, addressing the Myanmar crisis, and navigating US-China trade tensions. Upon returning home, Marcos reaffirmed the country's firm stance on the West Philippine Sea.