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….
Waves crash against the hull as a small Philippine fishing boat edges closer to a towering Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea, its crew caught in an uneasy standoff. In these disputed waters, every encounter can feel like a warning shot—a glimpse into a larger struggle playing out between China’s assertive territorial claims…
Imagine a high-stakes boardroom in Taipei, where executives from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) are gathered around a sleek conference table. The atmosphere is tense as they discuss the latest directive from U.S. regulators: halt shipments of their most advanced chips to China. This decision, driven by the discovery of TSMC made chips in Huawei…
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…
