West Philippine Sea (WPS)
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
South China Sea states strengthen capacity to counter China’s overreach
FORUM Staff More than 20% of the world’s maritime trade flows through the South China Sea. The sea’s rich fishing grounds help feed nearly 2 billion people in Southeast Asia and its unexplored depths are believed to contain vast stores of oil and natural gas. China illegally claims almost all of the crucial waterway, ignoring the United Nations Convention on…
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Partnerships
Collective capabilities bolster Philippine security, sovereignty
FORUM Staff The Philippine Navy celebrated its 127th anniversary in May 2025 by commissioning its first guided-missile frigate and showcasing United States-provided uncrewed surface vessels (USV). The capability demonstrations highlight advancing defense collaboration among Manila and Indo-Pacific Allies and Partners. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commissioned the BRP Miguel Malvar, the country’s most powerful surface combatant ship and the first…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Philippines prioritizes submarine acquisition to counter China’s maritime pressure
Maria T. Reyes The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is accelerating plans to acquire submarines as it faces mounting pressure from China’s incursions into the West Philippine Sea, part of Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. “We are an archipelagic nation, so we have to have this capability because it is extremely difficult to defend our…
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Partnerships
Balikatan 2025 highlights increasingly complex military training in Indo-Pacific
FORUM Staff If you live in a dangerous neighborhood, it behooves you to know how to fight, Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Michael Logico told FORUM as troops from more than 20 nations gathered for all-domain exercises across the archipelago in April and May 2025. The 40th iteration of Balikatan highlighted the Philippine military’s modernization and the increasingly complex training among…
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Features
Exposing Coercion
FORUM Staff China has shown clear intent through its actions in the South China Sea: to control nearly 90% of the economically vital waters, including maritime territory in the Bruneian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Philippine and Vietnamese exclusive economic zones (EEZ). Over decades, however, China has sought to secure its illegitimate claims with lawfare activity conducted in relative obscurity. Examples include Beijing’s…
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Conflicts - Tensions
China’s bullying won’t deter Philippines’ South China Sea sovereignty, Coast Guard says
FORUM Staff The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) coercion in the South China Sea continued in early April 2025 when a China Coast Guard ship tried to ram a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol vessel off Scarborough Shoal. The CCP’s bullying did not deter the PCG from its mission of asserting Philippine sovereignty in the sea without escalating tensions, the PCG…
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Partnerships
Balikatan 2025 highlights multinational commitment to Philippine security, Indo-Pacific stability
FORUM Staff Japan joined the multinational military exercise Balikatan in the Philippines for the first time in late April 2025, participating alongside Australian, Philippine and United States forces. Observers came from 16 nations: Brunei, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Lithuania, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. The Japan Maritime…
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Partnerships
U.S. deploying advanced capabilities, concepts to Philippines for Balikatan 2025
FORUM Staff Exercise Balikatan 2025 in the Philippines will include a new anti-ship missile capability, cutting-edge drones, special operations forces training, and the debut of a rotational United States Marine Corps unit designed to be more agile, efficient and technologically advanced. The Philippine and U.S. militaries will host the annual exercise April 21-May 9 with troops from Australia and Japan…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
New maritime laws signal Philippines’ resolve against PRC’s discredited claims
Maria T. Reyes The Philippines has taken another decisive step in asserting its sovereignty and maritime rights by enacting two new laws. The Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act aim to strengthen the Philippines’ territorial claims, particularly in the South China Sea, while bolstering Manila’s economic and environmental stewardship of its waters. The legislation underscores the country’s…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
CCP coercion stands in stark contrast to Coast Guard cooperation by Allies and Partners
FORUM Staff An increasingly aggressive coast guard signals the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) willingness to risk escalation in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, analysts say. Meanwhile, like-minded nations are cooperating to uphold stability in the region. Rather than focusing on traditional law enforcement missions targeting smugglers or providing search and rescue, the CCP has militarized coast guard ships…
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