MANILA — The Philippine government has trimmed its economic growth target for 2025 amid mounting global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and newly imposed U.S. tariffs on international trade. The Development and Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), a key policymaking body composed of the country’s top economic managers, on Thursday announced a revised…
Two archipelagic titans. One turbulent region. And a rising wave of threats that could reshape the Indo-Pacific forever. The Philippines, a key U.S. ally at the frontline of the South China Sea flashpoints, is racing to build a credible deterrent under its bold Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept. Just across the seas, Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s silent…
In what could mark a seismic shift in U.S. force posture across the Indo-Pacific, American lawmakers are pushing for the construction of a major ammunition manufacturing and storage plant at the former U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay — a site once considered the crown jewel of Washington’s military footprint in Southeast Asia. If the plan…
Philippines’ Energy Landscape The Philippines remains heavily dependent on imported fuels to meet its energy needs, a reality that continues to strain the country’s energy security and economic stability. As of 2024, fossil fuels made up 79% of the nation’s electricity generation, with coal accounting for 63%—83% of which was imported, mainly from Indonesia. Over…
“They’ve arrived.” In the command center near Manila Bay, Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. slams a report onto the table. Across from him, General Romeo Brawner leans forward: “Philippines just received its second battery of BrahMos missiles, 290 km range, supersonic, just two months after the first.” Outside, naval officers track live feeds from the South…
In the boiling heart of Asia’s power struggle, one question dominates the map: Why does China want full control over the South China Sea? This isn’t just about rocks and reefs—it’s about supremacy, security, and rewriting the rules of the global order. With trillions in trade passing through these waters, vast untapped energy reserves below,…
The sight of MV-22 Ospreys soaring above the northernmost frontier of the Philippines marked a symbolic and strategic milestone on June 1, 2025, as U.S. Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 (VMM-364), under Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, extracted their counterparts from the 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Littoral Regiment, 3rd…
Two nations. One land. And a question that refuses to die, was Sabah merely leased… or permanently surrendered? For more than a century, that single question has haunted Southeast Asia, fueling one of its most sensitive and explosive territorial disputes. Today, the guns are silent, but the legal battles rage on. Heirs of the once-powerful…
Is World War 3 already beginning in the Pacific? Onlookers were stunned this week as the U.S. Army conducted live-fire anti-ship missile tests in the Philippines, right on China’s doorstep. With the backdrop of rising conflict in the South China Sea and relentless military pressure on Taiwan, this sudden show of force has ignited fears…
June 2025, In the sweltering heat of the South China Sea, a Philippine resupply vessel is rammed by a Chinese Coast Guard ship near Second Thomas Shoal. A 3.5-foot hole is torn through its side, forcing an emergency retreat and injuring multiple crew members. This isn’t a one-off event, it’s the latest in a string…
