China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei assert overlapping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.
November 02, 2025
high
geopolitical
Multiple states claim competing sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea.
China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, and that claim overlaps with territorial claims by Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
October 31, 2025
high
temporal
Describes durable territorial claims and overlapping claimant states in the South China Sea.
Malaysia generally prefers quiet diplomacy in responding to incursions by Chinese vessels into its waters, whereas the Philippines has experienced major maritime confrontations with China in recent years.
October 31, 2025
high
temporal
Contrasts typical diplomatic approaches and recent maritime interactions of two Southeast Asian states with China.
The 2025 Henley Passport Index ranked the United States tied with Malaysia at No. 12, with visa-free access to 180 destinations.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Position and visa-free destination count for the United States and Malaysia in the 2025 Henley Passport Index.