What Task Force-Ayungin is Really About? Task Force-Ayungin is a joint U.S.-Philippine initiative designed to strengthen intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and enhance maritime domain awareness in the South China Sea. Named after the contested Second Thomas Shoal, or Ayungin Shoal in Filipino, this task force focuses on improving coordination and interoperability between the…
Overview of the Funan Techo Canal Project Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia has strongly refuted recent international media reports suggesting that the Funan Techo Canal (FTC) project is encountering financial difficulties due to diminishing support from China. During his speech at the closing ceremony of the ’32nd Monk General Assembly Nationwide,’ he emphasized that…
The recent signing of a military intelligence-sharing agreement between the Philippines and the United States marks a significant milestone in their defense partnership, enhancing their capacity to address shared security challenges within the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)…
Imagine a bustling market square, vibrant and full of life, where diverse voices come together to shape the community’s future. This square represents ASEAN, a coalition of ten nations rich in potential yet often constrained by the weight of dynastic politics. Just as some European democracies have successfully navigated similar challenges—think of countries like Germany…
The Philippine Navy launched its first locally assembled fast attack interdiction craft-missile (FAIC-M), the BRP Albert Majini (PG-909), at the Naval Shipyard in Cavite City. This vessel launch is part of the Philippines’ Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program, which focuses on advancing domestic defense capabilities, particularly in shipbuilding. According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA),…
To understand, why the Pacific Ocean is centre of geopolitical gravity in the 21st century, we’ll have to take a holistic look at how things evolved in the past and how they impacted the seas, the oceans and broader littoral geographies. Let us delve into the detail of it. The invention of the wheel around…
Russia vastness is its strength Imagine a vast territory with eleven different time zones, ranging from freezing tundra in the north to warm steppes in the south, sharing land borders with fourteen countries, This is Russia, the largest country on Earth, stretches over a vast expanse of Eastern Europe and northern Asia, where its enormous size…
As Super Typhoon Man-yi barrels toward the Philippines, authorities have issued dire warnings, urging mass evacuations from vulnerable areas. The typhoon, locally known as Pepito, has intensified to sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) with gusts reaching up to 215 km/h (133 mph). Expected to make landfall near the island province of…
The Philippines’ Strategic Leap: Mavulis Island Airport and Seaport Development In an era marked by rising tensions and escalating territorial disputes in the Asia-Pacific, countries are reinforcing their positions to safeguard regional stability and strengthen national security. Among these efforts, the Philippines’ recent development of an airport and seaport on its northernmost island, Mavulis, captures…
As the first light of a humid morning in 2024 began to break, the faint outlines of warships emerged through the mist at Subic Bay, their silhouettes a testament to the area’s enduring strategic significance. Decades after American forces once cast their long shadows across these waters, Subic Bay Naval Base is experiencing a renaissance….
