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Jeoffrey Maitem
Languages Spoken:
English
Analysts say the near-simultaneous exercises reflect a shift in US strategy that enables allies to play a greater role in regional security.
The community is drawing attention partly due to the South China Sea row and spying cases involving Chinese nationals in the Philippines.
The underwater drones could enhance Manila’s capability to record Beijing’s intrusion in its waters, analysts say.
As politicians stall on updating a 50-year-old building code, experts warn the devastation in Mindanao is just a preview of a worse disaster.
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By making undersea cables and fisheries the issue, analysts say Manila is trying to give all Asean members ‘skin in the game’.
The visit comes amid expanded military ties with the US but is unlikely to signal a shift in Philippine foreign policy, analysts say.
Limited evacuation routes in densely populated Metro Manila would make rapid, orderly evacuation a major challenge, disaster planners warn.
A net satisfaction rating of minus 15 marks the worst showing of Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s presidency so far.
The vice-president’s calls to ‘defend sovereignty’ are an attempt to please voters at home while not alienating Beijing, experts say.
Manila’s military already operates superior weapons, but analysts say Tokyo’s Cold War-era hardware still has something to offer.
The trend in defence is for civilian infrastructure that can be rapidly adapted for military use during contingencies, experts say.
Analysts say this year’s drills, which stress tested a new generation of mobile strike capabilities, were a pointed display of resolve.
The facility in Davao signals that defence ties are now focusing on sustainment, endurance and operational continuity, analysts say.
However, some analysts say that if both sides can agree on equitable oil and gas production, Filipinos could benefit from lower prices.
The Philippines has long been the closest US ally in Asia. Now Washington wants something more: a place to make bullets and shells.
The Iran war has underscored the need for robust air systems and Manila should look to build a layered defence architecture, experts say.
South Korea couldn’t stop the pull-out. Now, Manila must figure out if it is indeed a strategic partner or just another supply depot.
Indonesia wants to project power. The Philippines wants to deny it. In the South China Sea, one approach may matter more than the other.
Analysts said the move bolsters the First Island Chain strategy and deepens Manila’s role in regional defence planning.
Australia also joins the fray as the US and its allies shift away from simple bilateral deals towards tighter regional security networks.
Canberra’s security interests are more closely aligned with Manila than those of Washington, observers say.
Observers say the case of John Patrick reflects human exploitation and the structural pressure on Russia’s manpower resources.
Analysts say Manila is unlikely to back the surviving victims of sex slavery, fearing it could jeopardise billions in infrastructure funding.
The talks are likely to focus on Manila’s push for a South China Sea code with ‘teeth’ as this year’s Asean chair, analysts say.
The moves will help strengthen regional stability and prevent Indo-Pacific connectivity from being quietly weaponised, analysts say.
The roll-out of the new Cobra weapon system is part of Manila’s push to build a self-reliant defence industry.
As Moscow wages an information war far from the battlefields of Ukraine, an improbable front has opened up in Southeast Asia.
Next year’s Balikatan drills are set to incorporate advanced threat-emulation software to simulate live-fire cyber defence.
Nickel is vital to the global green transition, but its extraction is bringing environmental disaster to Filipinos on the front line.
