It begins with the roar of afterburners echoing across the skies of Luzon. April 2025. The sun rises over the Philippine archipelago, marking the dawn of an era defined by renewed national strength and sovereignty. Over 1,700 dedicated military personnel, more than 20 advanced fighter aircraft, and the resounding thunder of jet engines herald Cope…
It all started with a grand vision, China, the ancient Middle Kingdom, rising once again to reclaim its place as the world’s economic powerhouse. But instead of conquering lands with armies, it wielded something far more powerful: money. With the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, Beijing promised to build roads,…
WASHINGTON – The Trade War Returns The United States has reignited major trade conflicts with its three largest trading partners after President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China took effect early Tuesday. The measures, which impose a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian goods and double existing duties on…
In the heart of Manila, where towering skyscrapers cast their shadows over vibrant markets buzzing with life, a quiet revolution is underway. The Philippines—long celebrated as a global BPO giant—is rewriting its narrative, setting its sights on an ambitious new goal: becoming a global tech powerhouse. Imagine this: a Filipino-engineered AI system revolutionizing healthcare in…
The Philippines is on the cusp of a transformative economic milestone, poised to join the ranks of trillion-dollar economies within the next decade. With its abundant natural resources, young and tech-savvy population, and thriving cultural dynamism, the nation has positioned itself as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Since 2010, the country has…
Malaysia is intensifying its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, undeterred by the persistent presence of Chinese coast guard vessels operating near contested waters, according to a recent report by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. Coastal tracking data reveal that Chinese vessel patrol Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Luconia Shoals almost…
In the grand arena of global economics, two regions stand out for their undeniable influence: the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Both are formidable power blocs, yet their origins, trajectories, and current challenges could not be more different. While the EU represents a legacy of post-war unity and industrial…
To understand, why the Pacific Ocean is centre of geopolitical gravity in the 21st century, we’ll have to take a holistic look at how things evolved in the past and how they impacted the seas, the oceans and broader littoral geographies. Let us delve into the detail of it. The invention of the wheel around…
From the land of the samurai to the forefront of innovation, Japan’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. After WWII devastation, Japan not only rebuilt—it redefined the future. In the 1980s, they gave us the Walkman, revolutionizing personal tech, and the Shinkansen, the first bullet train, forever changing travel; but that was just the beginning….
Blockchain technology, first conceptualized by an anonymous entity known as Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, has revolutionized the way we think about digital transactions and data security. Initially associated primarily with Bitcoin, blockchain has since evolved into a versatile technology underpinning a wide array of cryptocurrencies and decentralized applications. Over the past decade, its usage has…
