The United States lies nearly 7,000 miles from East Asia, separated by the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Yet distance has never deterred Washington from projecting power across its waters. A string of strategic outposts—from Hawaii to Guam to Okinawa—extends America’s reach toward the western Pacific, where its alliances along the Asian rim anchor…
December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor, sirens wailed over the Philippines as Japanese bombers darkened the skies. Soldiers at Clark Field looked up in horror, their rifles useless against the approaching storm. In a matter of hours, Japan had shattered America’s air power in the Pacific. General Douglas MacArthur, stationed in Manila, received…
Centuries ago, Spanish explorers gazed upon the archipelago and called it “La Perla del Mar de Oriente”—The Pearl of the Orient Seas. A land of over 7,000 islands, shaped by fire, ocean, and history, the Philippines has always been a hidden gem in Southeast Asia. Today, this pearl is no longer hidden. With its unparalleled…
The Current Issue: The United States and Iran are preparing for high-stakes diplomatic talks this Saturday in Oman, aiming to address Tehran’s fast-moving nuclear program. While President Donald Trump has touted the meeting as a significant opportunity—and has not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails— the talks will be indirect and mediated by Oman’s…
It begins with the roar of afterburners echoing across the skies of Luzon. April 2025. The sun rises over the Philippine archipelago, marking the dawn of an era defined by renewed national strength and sovereignty. Over 1,700 dedicated military personnel, more than 20 advanced fighter aircraft, and the resounding thunder of jet engines herald Cope…
The roar of engines echoed across the harbor. Navy officers stood in full dress uniform, their gaze fixed on the horizon as a sleek, grey warship pierced through the blue waters. The BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) had arrived. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., standing tall on the pier under the blazing sun, looked toward the…
The sky was clear, the hum of the aircraft steady as a Philippine patrol plane cut through the clouds over the South China Sea. Below, the vast expanse of blue stretched endlessly, beautiful, but contested. Then, suddenly, a sharp voice crackled over the radio: “Unidentified aircraft, you are entering Chinese airspace. Leave immediately, or we…
It all started with a grand vision, China, the ancient Middle Kingdom, rising once again to reclaim its place as the world’s economic powerhouse. But instead of conquering lands with armies, it wielded something far more powerful: money. With the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, Beijing promised to build roads,…
In the pre-dawn haze of the Java Sea, the silhouette of a warship cut through the mist, its radar scanning the horizon as part of a multinational naval drill. Aboard, officers from across Southeast Asia watched intently, each measuring their fleet’s strength against their neighbors’. In 2025, the question of which nation commands the strongest…
It was a routine patrol, until it wasn’t. In October 2023, a Philippine supply boat making a routine resupply run to its outpost in the South China Sea found itself in a high-stakes standoff. A towering Chinese coast guard ship cut across its path, forcing the smaller Philippine vessel into dangerous waters. A deafening warning…
