As the Indo-Pacific edges deeper into strategic turbulence, one partnership is proving to be a bulwark against uncertainty: the U.S.-Philippine alliance. In a region where China’s maritime assertiveness is reshaping the balance of power, old allies are finding new resolve. On May 30, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Philippine Secretary of National…
Without U.S. who will stand against china? In a region where every missile launch makes headlines and alliances define stability, a quiet but powerful shift is underway. The United States is considering a partial military withdrawal of around 4,500 troops from South Korea—out of the 28,500 currently stationed there. At first glance, it seems like…
Pagasa Island—aptly named “hope” in Filipino—is a mere 37 hectares in size, yet it carries immense symbolic and strategic weight for the Philippines. Situated in the disputed South China Sea, it hosts a tiny civilian community of around 300 residents who live in modest wooden homes, fish the greenish blue waters, and grow vegetables in…
In today’s increasingly contested maritime environment, naval power is no longer a luxury but a necessity, especially for an archipelagic nation like the Philippines. With over 7,000 islands to defend and vast waters within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under growing scrutiny, the country is intensifying efforts to modernize its naval capabilities. Recent developments, including…
Imagine a domino effect spreading across the vast Indo-Pacific. The first tile to fall? Taiwan. If this vibrant democracy were to collapse, the shockwaves wouldn’t just be political—they’d be seismic, reshaping the entire region’s balance of power. And caught in the eye of this looming storm is the Philippines. With China’s assertiveness reaching new heights,…
“A nation’s strength lies not just in its army, but in the control of its seas.” This paraphrase of Alfred Thayer Mahan, the great naval strategist, rings with profound relevance in today’s Indo-Pacific geopolitical theater. In the post-colonial tides of the 20th century, Southeast Asia emerged from the shadows of empires, only to confront new…
Imagine a place of stunning beauty — islands surrounded by bright turquoise waters, home to colorful coral reefs and peaceful beaches. Now picture that same place at the center of a dangerous global conflict. That’s what’s happening in the South China Sea, where geography meets geopolitics in a very tense way. This sea is one…
“Small islands, big consequences.” The thunder of missile fire echoes across the windswept cliffs of Batanes, and with it, a new line in the Indo-Pacific sand is drawn. For the first time, U.S. forces have unleashed the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) on Philippine soil, a move that crackles far beyond the roar of…
“The Philippines has been notifying China before every supply run to Second Thomas Shoal.” That stunning claim, issued by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, has sent shockwaves through the region and raised eyebrows across the Indo-Pacific. According to Beijing, all seven Philippine resupply missions to the contested shoal, called Ren’ai Jiao by China and…
“The red flag is raised, and Sandy Cay is ours,” declared a Chinese coast guard officer, his voice crackling over the radio as the banner of China unfurled against the endless blue of the South China Sea. In that single, symbolic act, captured for the world in state media photographs, Beijing didn’t just plant a…
