To all of our surprise, Malaysia has surpassed Thailand to become the most visited nation in Southeast Asia. Thailand had the top position for quite a long time, with a whopping 39.8 million foreign visitors in 2019, compared to around 26.1 million in Malaysia. However, everything changed in 2023. Nearly 29 million tourists visited Malaysia,…
Introduction In the context of the Philippines’ historical struggle with maritime disputes and its evolving defense posture, the impending delivery of the India-Russia-made BrahMos missiles at a cost of US$375 million represents a significant milestone in the nation’s pursuit of enhanced maritime security. This acquisition, following a slight delay, underscores the Philippines’ determination to assert…
A Brief The Philippines is poised for robust economic growth, with its total GDP projected to double from USD 400 billion in 2022 to USD 800 billion by 2030. Forecasts indicate that by 2033, the country is set to join the select group of Asia-Pacific economies exceeding one trillion dollars, aligning with regional giants like…
A Brief In the chessboard of global geopolitics, Lee Kuan Yew, the strategic mind behind Singapore’s success, once envisioned China’s careful chess moves. He stressed the need for China to play a patient game, avoiding the mistakes of past powerhouses like Germany and Japan. “Keep your head down, smile, and aim for 40 or 50…
On October 22, 2023, the Philippines and China engaged in a blame game following two separate collisions in the disputed South China Sea. The incidents occurred near the Second Thomas Shoal in the hotly contested Spratly Islands, where China often deploys vessels to assert its territorial claims. In accordance with the declaration of the Philippine…
Militarization of the South China Sea The South China Sea has drawn the attention of global powers for decades. Given that this region lies at the heart of crucial global trade routes, this attention is unsurprising. Seventy to eighty percent of global trade activities take place via waterways. Of this, sixty percent of maritime shipments…
In October, Manila will host a yearly joint military exercise with the US. The exercises are set to take place at the beginning of October at Luzon. Lt. Ielto, the spokesperson for the Philippine military, informed the press. The exercises will encompass the core principles of anti-submarine, anti-surface, anti-air, and electronic warfare. Naval fleets from…
