The Indo-Pacific is bracing for a new era of tension, as rival powers jostle for influence and flashpoints from the Taiwan Strait to the West Philippine Sea threaten to ignite. At the heart of the Philippines’ forward defense stands Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) and the Philippine Marine Corps, the nation’s vital first responders to any…
China’s latest move at Scarborough Shoal shows how one remote reef can ignite a global maritime crisis. For the Philippines, this low-lying atoll just 124 nautical miles from Luzon is both a traditional fishing ground and, under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), part of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The…
The Philippines, an archipelago nation with more than 7,600 islands, sits at the heart of one of the most contested maritime regions in the world. At the center of its long-term defense strategy was the acquisition of the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter that promised advanced sensors, combat credibility, and seamless interoperability…
Once the jewel of American military power in Asia, Subic Bay is now poised for a dramatic transformation once again. The proposed establishment of a U.S. ammunition and logistics hub in Subic Bay, described by some as the “world’s largest,” represents a pivotal shift in U.S.-Philippine defense relations. The project, located within the Subic Bay…
The Philippine Navy has entered a transformative phase with the arrival of the BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), the second of the Miguel Malvar-class guided-missile frigates and a critical milestone in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program. This newest asset, built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea, represents not just another…
On Friday, September 5, 2025, Filipino forces successfully brought food, fuel, and fresh troops to the BRP Sierra Madre, the rusty World War II–era ship that serves as the Philippines’ outpost at Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal. The resupply mission took place despite growing Chinese activity in the area, including water cannon…
The Philippines has embraced a bold new approach in its struggle against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea: “assertive transparency.” Instead of keeping maritime confrontations hidden, Manila now actively documents and publicizes incidents, whether it’s Chinese water cannons drenching Philippine supply boats, ramming maneuvers at shoals, or the intimidating presence of swarms of Chinese…
Sandy Cay, a scattering of tiny sandbars near Pag-asa Island, has abruptly emerged as the newest pressure point in the South China Sea. For years, this reef was little more than a footnote on maritime maps, submerged at high tide and ignored by most of the world. But in 2025, it has been thrust to…
Imagine a silent, invisible killer lurking beneath the waves—not a submarine or torpedo, but an autonomous, AI-powered sea mine. The South China Sea is no ordinary body of water, serving as one of the world’s most vital arteries of commerce and a crucible of overlapping territorial claims. At the center of this storm is China’s…
Fresh satellite images have just blown the lid on what Beijing doesn’t want the world to see. Captured by Maxar Technologies, the photos show a battered Chinese Coast Guard ship docked at the Yulin Naval Base in Hainan, flanked by tugboats as crews scramble to repair its mangled frame. The most striking detail? A bow…
