Aug 23, 2019

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has sent mixed signals about how he will pursue his country’s South China Sea arbitration award against China in 2016, and his recent rhetoric promising to take a tougher stance on China may not come to fruition.

Aug 09, 2019

The widespread protests in Hong Kong, which led to the defeat of a perceived pro-Beijing extradition bill, has only emboldened the pro-independence movement in Taiwan. With all sides hardening their respective positions, Taiwan is quickly turning into the front-line of Sino-American Cold War in the Indo-Pacific.

Jul 17, 2019

In a deliberate attempt to stave off a diplomatic crisis with Beijing, President Duterte contradicted Filipino defense and military officials and downplayed the collision of a Chinese vessel into a Filipino fishing boat as a maritime accident rather than a direct attack. Most Filipino officials see this incident as jut the latest of China’s attempts to maneuver for control of the South China Sea.

Jun 21, 2019

The behavior of both US and Chinese officials at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue signaled the end of a period of relative peace in the Indo-Pacific region. The smaller states are increasingly concerned that the two superpowers will simply stumble into war, and urge the two to find common ground on shared challenges to maintain a peaceful relationship.

Jun 06, 2019

While unable to alter Duterte’s diplomatic strategy towards China, the influential and largely autonomous Philippine defense establishment is conducting a parallel China policy of its own. The result is a dualistic foreign policy, combining both engagement and deterrence.

Apr 29, 2019

The Filipino president is facing domestic backlash over his Beijing-friendly policies amid crucial midterm elections, which serve as a referendum on Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency.

Mar 19, 2019

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed has demonstrated himself to be a truly independent-minded leader. With an inexplicable audacity to stand up to both the West and East in order to protect the interest of smaller nations, he very well may be the last titan of Asia.

Feb 26, 2019

A Philippine subsidiary to a shipbuilding giant recently declared bankruptcy. Seeing what happened to Sri Lanka’s prized Hambantota port, some Filipino strategists fear that the Subic Bay Freeport Zone might suffer the same fate.

Jan 29, 2019

The Philippines has announced that it will review the 1951 US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty, raising questions about the future of the Philippines’s relations with the U.S. and China. The review, however, also provides a unique opportunity for the two allies to upgrade their partnership.

Dec 18, 2018

Since coming to power, President Xi has sought to charm estranged neighbors through an enticing package of infrastructure investments and development assistance, and the Philippines has emerged as the crowning jewel of this ‘peripheral diplomacy’ strategy.