LATEST PULSE

China just pulled off a headline-grabbing Arctic voyage — and experts say it could shake up the world’s shipping map.   A Chinese container ship, the Istanbul Bridge, reached England on October 10, finishing a 20-day dash across the Arctic Ocean. The trip was almost 7,000 kilometers shorter than the usual Suez Canal route. Even after facing a rough storm near Norway, the Arctic shortcut still came out cheaper and faster.  ...

On December 4, US President Donald Trump released the new United States National Security Strategy. While the Philippines is not named directly, Southeast Asia is now closer to the center of US security planning than at any point in recent decades. With this comes new risks.   More than a political choice, it appears geography is pulling the region toward the frontline of a global rivalry it does not control.   An "America First" St...

The US military says it killed four people after striking a small vessel in the eastern Pacific on December 18, marking the latest lethal action in Washington’s expanding campaign against Venezuela-linked targets. US Southern Command said the boat was destroyed because it was operating along a suspected drug trafficking route, but provided no public evidence to support the claim.   The strike follows a series of similar attacks since...

China delivered a sharp and combative speech at the United Nations on December 8, defending its South China Sea claims and striking back at countries it accused of distorting the issue, especially the Philippines.   China's Hard Line at the United Nations Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Sun Lei, declared that the UN was “not the right place” to discuss South China Sea disputes. Yet he immediately launched into a forceful tirade ...

The United States has approved a massive $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan, one of the largest weapons packages Washington has ever authorized for the island. The decision, announced on December 17, is meant to strengthen Taiwan’s ability to defend itself as pressure from China continues to rise.   The sale includes advanced missile systems, drones, armored vehicles, and long-range artillery. Beijing has reacted sharply, warning that t...