Uncategorized Archives - Indo Pacific Report

Why Philippines Refuses Water Cannons Against China

Why the Philippines Doesn’t Fire Back: The Strategic Genius Behind Manila’s Restraint in the South China Sea

Introduction: The One-Sided Water Wars of the West Philippine Sea The West Philippine Sea has become a battleground of asymmetry, where China’s hulking coast guard ships—some displacing 10,000 tons—routinely bully, ram, and blast smaller Philippine vessels with high-pressure water cannons. The latest escalation, on October 12, 2025, near Thitu Island (Pag-asa), saw the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel Bow No. 21559 firing water cannons at the Philippine fisheries ship…

China Warns Philippines to “Cease Its Farces” Amid Rising South China Sea Tensions

“Cease Its Farces”: China’s Warning to the Philippines Ignites South China Sea Crisis

indopacificreport1 week ago014 mins

The South China Sea is Boiling Over—Again If you’re watching from Manila, Cebu, or California, you’re witnessing history unfold in real time. The South China Sea—a $5.3 trillion trade highway carrying a quarter of global commerce—has once again become the world’s most dangerous flashpoint. And at the center of the storm? China’s latest diplomatic broadside against the Philippines, calling Manila’s actions…

Philippine Navy Probing Reports of China’s Underwater Activity in the West Philippine Sea

Bajo de Masinloc Underwater Mystery: Philippines Investigates Suspected Chinese Structures in Disputed Waters

indopacificreport1 week ago011 mins

Introduction: A New Front in the West Philippine Sea Conflict The Philippine Navy is investigating unidentified underwater structures near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a flashpoint in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute. This development marks a dangerous escalation—shifting the conflict from surface confrontations to covert underwater encroachment, raising alarms over national security, sovereignty, and maritime law. Located 124 nautical miles off Zambales, Bajo de Masinloc is a strategic…

China-Malaysia Vs. Japan-Philippines Drills Expose Deepening Rivalries in South China Sea

indopacificreport2 weeks ago06 mins

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…

Philippines Faces the Fire as China Militarizes Scarborough Shoal With Nuclear Bombers

China’s Bombers Move In, Manila Refuses to Back Down – South China Sea Crisis Escalates

indopacificreport3 weeks ago3 weeks ago011 mins

China’s Dangerous Escalation: H-6 Bombers Deployed Near Scarborough Shoal In late 2025, the South China Sea crisis 2025 reached a critical breaking point as satellite intelligence confirmed the deployment of China H-6 bombers Scarborough Shoal armed with YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles near Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc). This provocative military move, timed to coincide with China’s National Day on October 1, 2025, marked the first time Beijing stationed high-intensity strike…

Pentagon’s $975K Project at Oyster Bay Sends a Warning to China

indopacificreport4 weeks ago3 weeks ago021 mins

The recent decision by the U.S. Department of Defense to allocate funds for the development of the Philippine naval base at Oyster Bay in Palawan is emblematic of a broader shift in U.S.-Philippines defense cooperation, one defined by technological innovation, maritime logistics, and the urgent realities of China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea. Palawan’s…

Philippines to Upgrade Luzon Fiber Optic Cable to Bypass Dangerous South China Sea Waters

Philippines’ Digital Success Story: How the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure is Revolutionizing Global Connectivity with 50x Faster Internet

indopacificreport4 weeks ago3 weeks ago06 mins

Introduction: Turning Geography into a Strength The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, has long been defined by its geography—but now, it’s turning that geography into a strength. The Luzon Bypass Infrastructure (LBI), a groundbreaking terrestrial fiber-optic corridor, is reshaping the country’s role in global telecommunications. By bypassing the Luzon Strait, one of the most seismically active…

Will China Agree to the Philippines proposed Code of Conduct for the SCS

indopacificreport4 weeks ago028 mins

On September 16, 2025, the China Coast Guard’s water cannon assault at Scarborough Shoal highlighted the intensifying clash between Beijing’s expansive claims and Manila’s defense of its sovereign rights. The Philippines under President Marcos Jr. is pushing for a legally binding Code of Conduct (CoC) to end coercion, collisions, and new island-building. The South China…

Indonesia Joins Philippines for Massive Naval Drill in the South China Sea

indopacificreport4 weeks ago09 mins

In late September 2025, the skies and seas over North Sulawesi near the Indonesia–Philippines maritime border became a stage for strategic signaling. The two nations launched Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Philindo 2025, a bilateral naval exercise involving ships such as Indonesia’s KRI Lumba-lumba 881 and the Philippines’ BRP Artemio Ricarte. As Lt. Col. Rudi Tandirerung…

Why Guam Matters For Philippines and Taiwan Against China

indopacificreport4 weeks ago035 mins

Guam, the United States’ westernmost territory, is fast becoming one of the most important pieces on the Indo-Pacific chessboard. Its position, about 1,600 miles east of Manila and 1,700 miles south of Tokyo, places it close enough to key Asian flashpoints for rapid action, yet far enough to provide a defensive cushion from the immediate…