If the South China Sea is a chessboard of contested power, then the Bashi Channel is the game’s most unpredictable opening move. This narrow waterway between Taiwan and the Philippines may seem like just another maritime passage, but in reality, it mirrors the strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East or…
“We’re seeing an increasingly tough surrounding security environment, and that there is a need for the two nations, strategically aligned, to strengthen their defense cooperation and collaboration to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said in a top-level meeting in Manila. In a breakthrough, Tokyo and Manila have agreed…
A New Dawn for the Philippines For three long years, the Philippines stood under the watchful eye of global financial regulators, burdened by its presence on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) infamous ‘grey list.’ Investors hesitated, financial institutions proceeded with caution, and the nation’s reputation hung in the balance. But now, in a move…
The hum of the Philippine fisheries aircraft filled the cockpit as it approached Scarborough Shoal on a routine patrol. Below, the turquoise waters stretched endlessly, concealing both abundant marine life and geopolitical tensions simmering just beneath the surface. The pilot, scanning the horizon, suddenly caught sight of an approaching silhouette—fast, menacing, unmistakably military. Within moments,…
The radio crackled aboard the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua. A Chinese militia ship was shadowing them—again. But this time, the response was swift. Holding their course, the Filipino crew delivered a firm message over the radio: “You are in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. Leave immediately.” Moments later, a Philippine resupply…
A Rusting Relic, A Nation’s Resolve The BRP Sierra Madre stands defiant—a rusting hulk battered by time and the relentless tides of the South China Sea. It was never meant to be a fortress, yet here it is, an unyielding bastion of Philippine sovereignty. Stranded intentionally on the shallow waters of the Second Thomas Shoal,…
From Helpless to Armed: The Philippines’ Big Move For years, Filipino sailors patrolling the South China Sea have faced a frustrating reality. Each time a Chinese coast guard vessel blocks their path, each time a swarm of militia boats encircles their ship, there’s little they can do but radio for help, take evasive action, and…
The air crackled with tension. It was March 2024, and a Philippine resupply vessel, its paint peeling and rust blooming like a macabre flower, limped towards Second Thomas Shoal. Its mission: to deliver vital supplies to a handful of Filipino marines stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, a decaying warship intentionally grounded on the shoal…
Money Talks, and the Philippines is Listening! Foreign investors have their eyes and wallets on the Philippines, pouring in $8.6 billion in net foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first eleven months of 2024. That’s a 4.4% jump year-on-year, proving the country remains a hotspot for global capital. Backed by investments from Japan, the U.S.,…
“How do you stand firm against a giant in your backyard?” This is the question facing the Philippines as it confronts China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. In a region where fishing boats are shadowed by warships, and reefs transform into military bases overnight, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Against this backdrop, U.S….
