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…
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…
The roar of engines echoed across the harbor. Navy officers stood in full dress uniform, their gaze fixed on the horizon as a sleek, grey warship pierced through the blue waters. The BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) had arrived. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., standing tall on the pier under the blazing sun, looked toward the…
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,…
In early 1942, on the rugged slopes of the Bataan peninsula, Filipino and American soldiers waged a desperate, months-long battle against a relentless Japanese onslaught. Amid shortages and overwhelming odds, these defenders held their ground with gritty determination, carving out a legacy of valor even as the battle took its devastating toll. Their stand at…
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…
A rising sun painted the skies over the South China Sea, its shimmering waters a stark reminder of the tensions simmering beneath. For decades, the Philippine military focused inward, battling insurgencies and calamities. But now, as the world’s geopolitical tectonic plates shift, a new dawn emerges for the archipelago. The roar of engines and the…
In a strategic move underscoring their deepening defense ties, Canada and the Philippines are finalizing a pivotal agreement to enhance joint military exercises. This development comes amid rising concerns over China’s assertive actions in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the disputed South China Sea. Canadian Ambassador David Hartman emphasized Canada’s commitment to challenging China’s “provocative…
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…
“A single spark can start a prairie fire.” — Mao Zedong. Mao understood the power of small, seemingly insignificant actions to trigger massive, uncontrollable events. Is this the fate that awaits the Indo-Pacific, where the world’s rising superpower, China, faces the potential of simultaneous conflict with three nations—Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines? The region is…
