Geo Politics

Former Philippine Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is expected to meet with US President Joe Biden in May 2023 to discuss defense and green bonds. The summit, according to reports, would focus on bolstering the Philippines’ military capabilities as well as the country’s efforts to battle climate change. Marcos, who is set to run for president in 2022, wants to …

After China brokered a peace accord between Iran and Saudi Arabia, many people, particularly in Indonesia, felt a sense of relief and optimism. Muslim-majority Indonesia has been monitoring the developing situation very carefully. The administration is aware of the conflict’s role in fostering regional unrest and instability. Indonesia’s relations with both Iran and Saudi Arabia have been friendly for quite …

Social media has been awash with rumors that Indonesia blew up 60 Chinese ships in its waters as a show of force in response to China’s encroachment on its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). VERA Files, however, undertook a thorough fact-check and discovered that this information is untrue. According to VERA Files, there is no reliable evidence to back up Indonesia’s …

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have denounced what they see as arbitrary immigration restrictions imposed on departing Filipinos, expressing concern about the impact on their livelihoods and families. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) recently issued a memorandum circular limiting the departure of Filipino employees to specific nations, citing labor abuse and exploitation concerns. The OFW association, on the other hand, …

Even while tensions in the South China Sea remain high, Malaysia has handled the situation with admirable diplomacy. Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s recent words and the government’s official stance indicate a commitment to regional peace, stability, and respect to international law, setting an example for all parties. Malaysia said categorically that it believes in peaceful dispute settlement in line with established …

Since Wednesday, approximately 10,000 Burmese have fled to Thailand to escape the intense fighting between the military and elements of a powerful ethnic armed group, according to Thai authorities. The refugees are fleeing the pro-military militia-controlled town of Shwe Kokko, which is home to casinos owned by the Chinese. This is one of the most significant cross-border migrations since the …

BDO Unibank, the largest bank in the Philippines, has partnered with Hyakujushi Bank, a regional bank established in Japan, in a move that will increase BDO’s presence in the Japanese market and provide enhanced financial services to both Japanese and Filipino customers. Under the terms of the agreement, BDO and Hyakujushi Bank will work together to provide trade financing, remittance …

China is Singapore’s largest trading partner, and Singapore is China’s largest foreign investor. China is Singapore’s largest trading partner, and Singapore is China’s largest foreign investor. The two nations inked a free trade agreement (FTA) in 2008 in an effort to strengthen their economic connections. Currently, negotiations are underway to improve the current FTA. Recently, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong …

Singapore’s Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said on Wednesday that the notion that Singapore has “supplanted” Hong Kong puts too much weight to short-term considerations (Mar 29). Mr. Shanmugam stated, in response to comparisons between Singapore and Hong Kong as financial capitals in Asia, that both economies benefit from each other’s growth and vibrancy in the area. Paul …

Indonesia has made progress in improving the human rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, while the Philippines has regressed, according to the response of the Asean SOGIE Caucus to the United Nations mechanism that analyzes member states’ human rights records. Monday’s 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva marked the conclusion of the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic …