Have you ever wondered what would happen if a narrow stretch of ocean decided the future of two superpowers? Or how one small waterway could decide whether peace or war breaks out across the Pacific? Picture this: massive warships silently moving beneath stormy skies, submarines lurking in the depths, and fighter jets tracing invisible borders…
Philippines to Head ASEAN! Big Changes Coming in South China Sea In 2026, the Philippines is set to assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a pivotal moment that comes at a time of growing regional uncertainty and rising tensions in the South China Sea. This marks the country’s first time…
Ukraine Joins First Drone Warfare Summit in Subic Bay The Drone Warfare Summit 2025, held from October 27–29, 2025, at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center in the Philippines, marked a significant milestone for the Indo-Pacific region and for the Philippines’ growing role in defense technology diplomacy. Hosted by the Philippine Navy, the event…
Pentagon chief joins South-east Asian meet to shore up US ties In October 2025, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth arrived in Kuala Lumpur to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), a pivotal annual gathering that brings together Southeast Asian defense ministers and major dialogue partners, including the US, China, Japan, India, Australia, and Russia. This…
US Missiles Stationed in Philippines Can Reach China A new phase of great-power competition is unfolding, not in the deep blue waters of the South China Sea, but on the rugged plains of Northern Luzon. The quiet arrival of America’s Typhon Mid-Range Capability missile system in 2024 marks the most significant strategic shift in U.S.-Philippine…
Two U.S. Navy aircraft crashing just 30 minutes apart in the South China Sea has become far more than an aviation mishap, it is now a flashpoint in one of the world’s most volatile regions. The back-to-back loss of a Sea Hawk helicopter and a Super Hornet from the USS Nimitz instantly raised alarms inside…
The Philippines is set to boost its maritime defense with France’s help. A new program for 40 patrol vessels shows Manila is no longer alone in the West Philippine Sea crisis. This deal with French shipbuilder OCEA goes beyond just getting boats. It strengthens a strategic partnership and shifts the Philippines’ maritime stance. As tensions…
Will the Balabac Base Deter China from Maritime Aggression? On the southern edge of Palawan, where turquoise waters fade into the contested blue of the South China Sea, a new Philippine military outpost is emerging—Balabac Island, the latest frontier in Manila’s growing effort to resist Beijing’s maritime pressure. Though quiet for now, Balabac’s purpose is…
China’s New Floating Barrier at Scarborough Shoal — A Renewed Flashpoint in the South China Sea The South China Sea has once again erupted into controversy, not with gunfire but with a new floating barrier that turned Scarborough Shoal into Asia’s latest flashpoint. Just 120 nautical miles from Luzon, this tiny atoll has become…
Why the Philippines Matters More Than Ever in the Taiwan Question For decades, the “Taiwan question” was seen through a familiar triangle: Washington, Tokyo, and Taipei — the principal players in any potential conflict across the Taiwan Strait. But in recent years, a quiet yet profound geopolitical shift has redrawn that map. The Philippines, once…
