Territory & Conflict

Southeast Asian governments are upgrading their fighter jet fleets at a pace not seen in decades, ending years of delayed procurement and underinvestment in air power. The shift reflects a new reality. Countries in the region no longer view territorial disputes and great-power rivalry as imaginary risks, but as real-world problems that demand real protections. The latest incident underscored that urgency when a Philippine fishing vessel reported ...

Recent reports show that officials in the Philippines are studying whether Beijing can be held accountable for damage to coral reefs and marine life in the West Philippine Sea caused by years of illegal fishing and construction. Philippine officials argue that large scale harm to coral reefs and marine ecosystems constitutes a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), providing ground for legal action against Chin...

Myanmar is holding a national election while the country remains in civil war, with early results showing the military tightening its grip on power. The vote is being organized by the ruling junta and has been widely criticized as neither free nor fair.   The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has dominated early voting and is expected to win the remaining rounds. The junta claims the election marks a return to c...

In a major step toward easing tensions, Thailand has released 18 Cambodian prisoners of war after holding them for five months. The release follows a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, bringing an end to months of deadly clashes along their shared border.   The ceasefire was signed on December 27, 2025, by the defense ministers of both countries. Under the agreement, Thailand committed to freeing the Cambodian soldiers if t...

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, bringing a halt to three weeks of deadly border clashes that killed at least 47 people and displaced over a million. The truce was announced in a joint statement on Saturday, December 27, 2025, following weeks of brutal fighting with tanks, artillery, jets, and drones.   Immediate Ceasefire Declared The ceasefire officially began on December 27. Both countries agreed to end all ...