It was August 2025 when the world saw the unthinkable: a Chinese naval destroyer and a China Coast Guard cutter slamming into each other in chaotic pursuit of a much smaller Philippine ship near Scarborough Shoal. The incident, caught on video and broadcast worldwide, became the latest proof of how dangerous the contest for the…
Does the U.S. build a military base in Palawan?” That headline lit up the internet but let’s set the record straight. What’s actually being built is a Philippine Navy maintenance and repair hub, not a foreign military base. No barracks, no airstrips, no stationed U.S. troops. So why is China nervous? Palawan is a strategic…
December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor, sirens wailed over the Philippines as Japanese bombers darkened the skies. Soldiers at Clark Field looked up in horror, their rifles useless against the approaching storm. In a matter of hours, Japan had shattered America’s air power in the Pacific. General Douglas MacArthur, stationed in Manila, received…
The Current Issue: The United States and Iran are preparing for high-stakes diplomatic talks this Saturday in Oman, aiming to address Tehran’s fast-moving nuclear program. While President Donald Trump has touted the meeting as a significant opportunity—and has not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails— the talks will be indirect and mediated by Oman’s…
In 1995, Filipino fishermen seeking shelter from a storm stumbled upon a curious sight in the South China Sea. What they thought was a safe haven turned out to be something far more controversial—Mischief Reef, with mysterious new structures built by foreign hands. This seemingly barren atoll, once a quiet fishing ground, has since become…
“If They Can, Why Can’t We?” In the contested waters of the South China Sea, China has transformed barren reefs into militarized fortresses, and Vietnam has dotted the region with its own outposts. The Philippines, despite sitting at the heart of this maritime crossroads, lags with temporary shelters and a lone rusting warship at Ayungin…
The Philippines finds itself at the epicenter of a high-stakes geopolitical chess game, where its strategic location in the Indo-Pacific places it at the crossroads of the U.S. China competition. With over 7,600 islands forming part of the First Island Chain, the country serves as a critical anchor for Washington’s efforts to counter Beijing’s assertiveness…
“Scarborough Shoal is not just a cluster of rocks; it’s a litmus test for sovereignty, international law, and the future balance of power in the South China Sea.” Nestled in the turbulent waters of the South China Sea, Scarborough Shoal is more than just a ring of submerged rocks and reefs—it’s a flashpoint in one…
Beneath the calm, turquoise waters of the South China Sea lies a powder keg: the Spratly Islands. This scattered collection of reefs and atolls, unassuming at first glance, has become the epicenter of a global power struggle. These aren’t just rocks—they’re gateways to immense oil and gas reserves, some of the richest fishing grounds on…
Imagine a single waterway that can tilt the balance of global power—a man-made marvel slicing through the Americas, saving ships weeks of travel and cutting costs by the billions. This is the Panama Canal: not just a link between two oceans but a lifeline for international trade and a cornerstone of U.S. strategic dominance. It’s…
