If you want to start a world war, a good way to do it is to mix the escalating conflict between two of the world’s greatest military powers with the grievances of a half-dozen smaller countries over territorial claims. That’s the current situation in the South China Sea, the massive body of water that stretches […]

In a move that promises to rile China, Germany has officially joined the “Indo-Pacific” geopolitical club as outlined in a new 40-page policy guideline. The document makes Germany the second European nation, along with France, to adopt a formal strategy for the region. Though falling short of taking sides in Donald Trump’s new Cold War […]

‘It is vitally important for world peace that the South China Sea dispute be resolved in accordance with international law’ These are the remarks of retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio T. Carpio at the ADR Institute webinar on Wednesday, September 16. Let me give an overview of the South China Sea (SCS) dispute. […]

SINGAPORE – China could abandon the nine-dash line – which underpins its claim of up to 90 per cent of the disputed waters in the South China Sea – without hurting its long-term interests, a China military expert said on Friday (Sept 18). In fact, abandoning the line would boost its soft power and help […]

PRESIDENT ISSUES ‘IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS’ TO ALL REGIONS TO BOOST PARTY CONTROL OVER PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND REJUVENATE THE NATION; ALL FIRMS WILL NEED EMPLOYEES FROM THE PARTY TO BOOST LAW ABIDANCE AND MORAL STANDARDS The plan was detailed in a 5,000-word statement – and all regions and departments in the country have been told to follow […]

Manila should speak up and take action over its claims in the West Philippines Sea after some European states at the United Nations expressed their support for the 2016 arbitral victory against Beijing, a former envoy said. Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Sunday, former Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lauro […]

THE PHILIPPINES will discuss with China the payment for 22 Filipino fishermen who were abandoned at sea after their ship collided with a Chinese trawler in June last year, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The agency said it had received the report from the Justice department proposing P12 million in damage claims, […]

While both India and China have still to finalise the dates of military commanders’ meeting with each asking for postponement once, PLA is continuing to build-up along the 1,597-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector. Post the military flare-up at Galwan Valley, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has mobilised four out of […]

China is ratcheting up the risk of military confrontation in the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing seeks to deter Taipei from continuing to deepen ties with the U.S. and other like-minded democracies. People’s Liberation Army aircraft repeatedly breached the median line between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland last week, in the latest of a series of […]

Book reviews are the literary equivalent of visiting a buffet line that features 30 different dishes, but only being allowed to fill one small soup bowl, with no second helpings. There’s no good way to reduce a 200-, 300-, or 400-page book down to 800 or 1,000 words and do it justice. For that reason, […]