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While most headlines about the West Philippine Sea focus on China's illegal actions, domestic stability in the Mindanao region remains a crucial, yet quieter, front of Philippine national security. As history shows, violence in the south can directly affect Manila’s ability to defend its territory and project power at sea.   Seven Years On, Progress and Challenges On January 21, Bangsamoro officials marked the seventh anniversary of...

The Middle East is entering one of its most unstable periods in decades, with dramatic consequences already extending well beyond the region. The turning point came last Friday in Geneva, where negotiations between Washington and Tehran collapsed. Iran’s foreign minister accused the United States of making “excessive demands.” Less than 24 hours later, Israel and the United States attacked.   The shift did not come withou...

Every year, Chinese fishing boats extract millions of tons of seafood from oceans far from home. Squid from the South Atlantic. Tuna from the Pacific. Catch from waters off West Africa, Latin America, and increasingly near the Arctic.   China operates the largest "distant-water" fishing fleet in history. Estimates of its size range from roughly 2,000 core vessels to more than 16,000 when militia-linked and foreign-flagged ships are include...

The world has a baby problem. In almost every country in the world, fewer children are being born. This trend may not seem important but it is. Falling birth rates threaten to change economies, societies, and the global balance of power.   People still want families but many just cannot afford them. But this baby bust is not just about family life. It is about who works, who pays taxes, and who leads the world. From Southeast Asia to the U...

The United States is expanding its missile footprint in northern Philippines, deploying systems capable of striking targets more than 1,600 kilometers away. From bases in Luzon and Batanes, these new platforms place parts of eastern China, including Shanghai, within range.   The move marks a sharp escalation in the US-Philippine security partnership and reflects a broader shift in regional military strategy as tensions intensify in the Sou...