Energy Showdown: How China’s CNOOC is Moving to Control Oil in Philippine Waters An energy security crisis is brewing for the Philippines. As the vital Malampaya gas field nears depletion, the Recto Bank (Reed Bank) emerges as the nation’s next energy hope—and the epicenter of a dangerous confrontation with China. The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), backed by state-owned…
“China isn’t waiting for 2049 to change the balance of power — it’s doing it now, in the gray zones between peace and war.” — Hal Brands, Johns Hopkins SAIS In the tense waters of the South China Sea, modern conflict no longer requires a declaration of war. It is waged with water cannons powerful enough…
The South China Sea is once again the center of global attention as two major military exercises commence in parallel. The timing of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) joint drill with Malaysia alongside the Japan-Philippines military exercise is no mere coincidence. It is a powerful snapshot of an Indo-Pacific region increasingly defined by competing superpowers…
Introduction: The Defense of Sovereignty and Law The Philippines has drawn a clear line in the turbulent waters of the West Philippine Sea (WPS), asserting what it calls its “incontrovertible” sovereign rights against rising waves of misinformation and historical revisionism. In a rare and forceful move, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) publicly rebuked “some countries” (a thinly veiled reference to China) for…
Introduction: The Two Tracks of Indo-Pacific Security The recent simultaneous launch of the PLA-Malaysia joint drill and the Japan-Philippines military exercise 2025 is more than a mere scheduling conflict—it’s a stark visual of the South China Sea geopolitical divide. These parallel military maneuvers showcase two competing visions for the South China Sea dispute: Beijing’s Track: A campaign to solidify military and diplomatic…
Ayungin Shoal: The Moral Frontline of Philippine Sovereignty The waters around Ayungin Shoal — known internationally as Second Thomas Shoal — have become the defining flashpoint in the Philippines’ fight to defend its West Philippine Sea (WPS) sovereignty. Located just 106.3 nautical miles from Palawan, this submerged reef lies squarely within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a fact affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award and UNCLOS. For…
Introduction: The West Philippine Sea as a National Lifeline The West Philippine Sea (WPS) — the portion of the South China Sea lying within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — has once again surged to the forefront of Manila’s foreign policy, defense strategy, and national identity. More than just water, it is a vital artery for national food security, energy sovereignty, and maritime…
Breaking Ground: DOE’s Landmark Solar Launch in Balabac Picture this: On October 3, 2025, under the tropical sun of Palawan, the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) flipped the switch on a revolutionary solar mobile power system—the Mobile Energy System (MES)—bringing reliable, clean electricity to one of the country’s most isolated spots. This isn’t just another panel on a roof; it’s a…
Introduction: A Familiar Chinese Tactic in the South China Sea When China announced its plan to create a “marine nature reserve” at the disputed Scarborough Shoal (known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines), it was packaged as an eco-friendly move. But in Manila, it triggered immediate alarm bells among defense officials and veterans of the South China Sea dispute. This China Scarborough Shoal nature reserve proposal echoes past deceptions—phrases…
Introduction: Sabah’s Flag as a Symbol of Identity and Sovereignty Flags aren’t just pieces of fabric—they’re powerful symbols of who we are and where we belong. In Sabah, this rings especially true, with three official state flags since 1963 reflecting a tug-of-war between Sabah national unity and local pride. Imagine a hypothetical Sabah referendum or Sabah flag referendum today: it would be…
