The Latest Balikatan Exercise and the Situation in the Philippines
The current Balikatan military exercises between the US and the Philippines (“balikatan” is a Tagalog word meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder”), which began on March 28 and will last until the end of April, are an event of wide-ranging significance, and thus deserve this author’s attention. First and foremost, because...
China to Build First Phase of New Philippine Railway
Chinese companies have secured a major contract to begin building the first phase of a new inter-city railway across the Philippine island of Luzon. The railway will connect the capital city, Manila, to cities and ports across the island. China’s Xinhua in an article titled, “Chinese contractors to build Philippines' fastest, longest railway: ambassador,” would report: The Philippine...
On Philippine Foreign Ministry's Statement on the Situation in the South China Sea
On July 12 of this year, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Teodoro Locsin issued a statement that immediately garnered the attention of leading news outlets because it concerned the situation in the South China Sea (SCS, i.e. one of the most volatile parts of the world where (conflicting interests of countries...
Philippines: Crawling Out From Under America's Shadow?
President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has announced his intentions to end the nation's security agreement with the United States, specifically its Visiting Forces Agreement. The move puts into question America's military presence in the Philippines and the influence it projects across Asia with it. In particular, it further complicates US attempts...
US NED-Funded Meddling Exposed in The Philippines
With little else to offer the nations of Southeast Asia, the US has opted instead to wield the familiar and well-honed weapon of political subversion to peel potential partners away from Beijing in Washington's continued bid to rescue its waning primacy in Asia-Pacific. The most recent manifestation of this can be seen in the Philippines...
Sabah Dispute and Numerous Problems in Southern Philippines
The visit by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Bin Mohamad, to the Philippines in March of this year once again raised the issue of ownership over Malaysia’s state of Sabah. Although during the visit itself this problem was not discussed, afterwards Mahathir Bin Mohamad told journalists during an interview that there were no...
ISIS Helps US Keep Military's Foot in Philippines' Door
Current US ambassador to the Philippines, Sung Kim, recently congratulated the Philippines' armed forces and the US military for their successful completion of KAMANDAG, a joint military exercise held for the first time this...
Cold Arm of ‘Jihad’ Sponsored by the West is Reaching Rebellious Philippines
A month ago I wrote an essay exposing the complex network of Western-sponsored terrorism in Asia (“Washington Jihad Express: Indonesia...
The CIA’s Cloddish ISIS Attack on Duterte
The only word I find for it is cloddish. I refer to the latest CIA-instigated attempt to initiate regime change against outspoken Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The so-called ISIS terror attack in the minerals-rich southern...
ISIS Touches Down in the Philippines
Mayhem broke out across the southern Philippine city of Marawi where militants besieged it and hoisted flags of the so-called "Islamic State." Located on the southern island of Mindanao, the city is only slightly removed from...
The Philippines in the Center of Asian Realignment
Philippines, for decades a limping invalid, poor and suffering from countless ailments, is now suddenly finding itself at the vanguard, reshuffling the entire Asia Pacific, sending Western...
US Feigns Human Rights Concerns in Philippines
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is heading a controversial campaign against crime, embodied in his "war on drugs" which has led to violence spanning the nation's troubled urban centers. President Duterte's comments have ranged...