Philippine President Enacts New Laws to Strengthen National Protection Imagine a bustling market in Manila, where merchants bargain over the price of fresh fish and exotic fruits. Amid the gossip and color, a news broadcast blares from a nearby stall. The headline? China has just formalized maritime baselines around Scarborough Shoal, a move that sends…
As the world drifts into polarized camps over issues like the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S.-China tensions, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions, one nation has managed to deftly straddle these divides, reaping benefits from multiple directions without becoming fully aligned with any bloc. India’s strategic neutrality—or “strategic autonomy” as Indian policymakers term it—has allowed the country to forge…
Vietnam Corruption Crisis In Vietnam’s race toward modernization and economic growth, an entrenched adversary has threatened to erode its progress: corruption. While the country has garnered international praise for its rapid economic ascent, a closer look reveals an undercurrent of corruption permeating virtually every sector of Vietnamese society. From public administration to law enforcement, from…
Rising Tides: Why South China Sea States Will Stand with the Philippines “History shows that great powers rarely back down from their aspirations, especially when it involves control over critical maritime regions.” This insight from John Mearsheimer, a leading realist in international relations, captures the high-stakes game unfolding in the South China Sea (SCS), where…
Introduction Imagine waking up to a world where the balance of power has shifted overnight. The 2024 U.S. presidential elections are about to do just that, thereby sending ripples across the globe. As former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris vie for the White House, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The outcome of…
“The evidence is clear: the Philippines is ground zero for the climate crisis.” When Yeb Saño, a former Filipino climate change commissioner, delivered these words to world leaders, his plea echoed with urgency. Speaking in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most devastating storms in recent history, Saño’s words have only grown more…
Southeast Asia is booming with largescale infrastructure projects that aim to enhance economic growth, connectivity, and quality of life. From South Korea’s ecofriendly Songdo International Business District to Japan’s highspeed Chūō Shinkansen Maglev Line, and China’s vast SouthNorth Water Transfer Project addressing water scarcity. The Philippines’ New Clark City plans to decongest Metro Manila, while Malaysia’s Melaka Gateway is set to become a global trade hub. Vietnam’s Hanoi Pilot Metro Line reduces traffic, Indonesia’s Nusantara Capital City replaces Jakarta with sustainability in mind, and Kuala Lumpur’s Tun Razak Exchange redefines financial landscapes. Singapore’s Gaia Timber Building highlights sustainable architecture, and China’s Suzhou Zhongnan Centre aspires to skyscraper heights despite challenges. Let’s get into the detail of this boom. Songdo International Business District (South Korea) Let us start from South Korea. Songdo International Business District (IBD) in South Korea stands as a pioneering example of a smart city designed to optimize urban living through advanced technology and sustainable practices. Located on 1,500 acres…
Tensions in the South China Sea are at a boiling point, placing the Philippines at the epicenter of one of the world’s most contentious maritime disputes. China’s expansion in this region has wide-ranging implications, not just for the Philippines but for global stability. From Beijing’s naval buildup to the Philippines’ bolstered ties with the United…
In mid-October 2024, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported an ominous yet increasingly routine event—China’s aircraft carrier group sailed through the Taiwan Strait, coming dangerously close to the Pratas Islands. While seemingly part of regular military drills, this naval maneuver carried immense geopolitical weight, sending a clear signal to Taipei, Washington, and the broader international community. It…
Philippines’ Bold Move: Mini-Lateral Diplomacy Takes Center Stage in South China Sea Showdown In the early hours of a humid July morning in 2024, a Philippine Navy patrol boat spotted a cluster of Chinese militia vessels encroaching on its waters near the contested Spratly Islands. Tensions flared as the standoff unfolded, with the Chinese ships…
