The Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, are currently underway in Hawaii. With over 25,000 personnel from 29 countries, RIMPAC aims to bolster multilateral relations and enhance military preparedness, promoting a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” This year’s iteration, which began on June 27 and will continue until August, highlights…
The Philippines’ complex and often turbulent relationship with the United States, particularly regarding the South China Sea dispute, has long been a subject of intense scrutiny and debate. The recent incidents, including a clash with Chinese maritime forces that resulted in injuries to Filipino soldiers, have once again brought the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between…
In the early 20th century, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance marked a significant shift in East Asian geopolitics, reflecting a strategic partnership designed to counterbalance regional threats and maintain stability. Fast forward to the present day, a similar realignment is unfolding in Southeast Asia as senior defense and foreign affairs officials from Japan and the Philippines prepare…
The Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal, is a small but strategically significant reef in the South China Sea. It is one of the many contested maritime features in this geopolitically volatile region, claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The dispute over this shoal is emblematic of the broader tensions that…
Let us explore the Current State of Digital Competitiveness in the Philippines, Economic Potential of Digital Transformation, Government Initiatives and Funding and the challenges faced by the Philippines in digital transformation. We will delve into the urgency for the Philippines to fully embrace digitalization across government processes, businesses, and education systems and will highlight the…
In the wake of a violent clash between the Philippine Navy and the China Coast Guard, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asserted that the Philippines will not be intimidated, though it has no intention of starting a war. The altercation, which occurred off Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, highlighted the escalating tensions…
The North Borneo dispute, also known as the Sabah dispute, is a territorial conflict between Malaysia and the Philippines over much of the eastern half of the state of Sabah. Prior to the formation of the Malaysian federation, Sabah was referred to as North Borneo. The Philippines, as the successor state to the Sultanate of…
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013, represents China’s ambitious effort to connect East Asia and Europe through extensive infrastructure projects spanning roads, railways, and ports, with extensions into Africa, Oceania, and Latin America. This initiative, often dubbed the New Silk Road, involves over 140 countries, encompassing about 75%…
The Philippines has intensified its patrols in the disputed South China Sea ahead of the implementation of a new Chinese regulation that empowers the Chinese coast guard to detain foreigners accused of trespassing. The regulation, effective from Saturday, marks a further escalation in tensions in this fiercely contested waterway, one of the world’s most economically…
Welcome to The Pacific Report. Today, we delve into the intensifying situation in the South China Sea, a region that has become a critical area for geopolitical conflict. On June 17, a collision occurred between Chinese and Philippine vessels near the Second Thomas Shoal. This incident has ignited a verbal dispute between Beijing and Manila,…
