A recent collision between a Chinese coast guard vessel and a Philippine resupply boat near the Second Thomas Shoal has brought attention from across the world to the South China Sea. The question of whether these South China Sea episodes could spark a more serious conflict between China and the US is constantly brought up. This piece aims to examine …

The conflict between states has recently taken a new and worrying turn, spreading waves across the South China Sea.  A Philippine Navy ship was cruising near China’s Huangyan Island when it was attacked by the strong China Coast Guard (CCG). This tragic occurrence has left a long shadow on China and the Philippines’ ongoing tug of war. You see, the …

In a tale that mirrors David versus Goliath, the Philippines has fervently dismissed China’s recent claim of expelling a Philippine Navy ship near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The dispute, riddled with intrigue and defiance, paints a vivid picture of a nation’s resolve against an imposing superpower. “Even as we’re double-checking their story, there’s simply no …

In the tumultuous theater of global geopolitics, the South China Sea once again takes center stage, but this time, the script is far from ordinary. With Beijing’s audacious ten-dash line stealing the limelight and the Philippines conducting a multi-billion-dollar military makeover, a storm of intrigue swirls around the resupply mission to the enigmatic BRP Sierra Madre. This grounded warship, left …

Beijing’s assertive territorial claims in the South China Sea have garnered international attention and raised concerns among neighboring countries. If left unchecked, the situation could potentially lead to a full-blown conflict that could disrupt the fragile regional stability.  As China continues to flex its muscles and bully its neighbors out of their rightful sovereignty over parts of the South China …

Recent developments have once again brought attention to how tense the South China Sea still is. On August 6, 2023, the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannon at Philippine ships delivering supplies to the Spratly Islands’ Second Thomas Shoal. In retaliation, the Philippines denounced China’s actions as “illegal” and “dangerous,” accusing it of putting lives in danger and breaking international …

Philippines – Now that Duterte’s successor is being elected, observers believe there is a chance for a reset of the Philippines’ ties with both big countries, and the election’s result might upset Asia‘s power balance. How it plays out may depend on the goals of current presidential frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the Philippines’ late ousted …

Vietnam – According to the official media, Vietnam has decided to put the Sony’s action film Uncharted on ban from local release due to a sequence in which a map depicts a disputed line drawn by China to lay its claim to huge swaths of the South China Sea (Mar 12). Tom Holland, Mark Walhberg, and Antonio Banderas feature in …

Indonesia – Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State of the United States, paid a visit in Indonesia, beginning off a tour to Southeast Asia aimed at boosting relations in a region that has emerged as a geopolitical battlefield between the United States and China. In his first trip to Southeast Asia since US President Joe Biden took office in January, Blinken will begin his …

Philippines – Three Chinese Coast Guard ships halted and deployed water cannons on two Manila supply boats on their route to a Philippine-occupied island in the South China Sea, which the Philippines denounced “in the strongest terms,” according to its top diplomat. No one was injured in the November 16 incident at the Second Thomas Shoal, according to Teodoro Locsin , …