Introduction Established in 1989 in Australia, APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, has become an important forum for countries in the region to work together on economic matters. With its headquarter in Singapore, APEC is one of the oldest and most influential groups in the Asia-Pacific. Its goal is to promote balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative, and…
Imagine a situation in which Chinese merchant fleet, its navy and Chinese Coast Guard present in some form, from the coast of Africa, all the way around to the Korean Peninsula, covering vast oceans, thus protecting Chinese economic interests and the maritime system in which those interests operate. Likewise, imagine India, South Korea, and Japan…
A Brief Vietnam’s strategic outlook in the South China Sea is deeply rooted in both historical and contemporary considerations. This key region, nestled in the Pacific Ocean, is bordered by several neighboring nations, including Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, China, and Taiwan. Notably, it serves as a crucial conduit for global trade,…
Introduction In Southeast Asia, two nations, Thailand and the Philippines, have emerged as economic players in recent times each with its own distinctive set of strengths and weaknesses. This in-depth discussion embarks on a profound analysis, peeling back the layers of their economic narratives to reveal their unique progress, challenges, and roles as dynamic economic…
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…
There is a pivotal development in Southeast Asia that has ignited tensions among neighboring nations, with China at the center of the storm. Philippines unwavering response to counter the expansive territorial assertions by China within the South China Sea is in the limelight. The Philippines’ Strategic Response In recent weeks, the National Security Council…
