Territory & Conflict

The battle over the Sulu claim has exploded into one of Asia’s most dramatic and pricey legal fights.     A group of Filipino citizens claiming to be descendants of the old Sultanate of Sulu wants Malaysia to pay nearly $15 billion over an 1878 agreement involving land in Sabah. Flaring up in 2019, the once quiet historical issue turned into a years-long legal war stretching from Kuala Lumpur to Madrid to Paris. A final dec...

The $15 billion Sulu arbitration is on the brink of collapse. What began as a global legal crusade in 2019 by eight Filipino citizens claiming to be heirs of the old Sultanate of Sulu has now unraveled in every major court they've approached.   London rejected them. Madrid shut the arbitration down. Paris froze the award. Luxembourg lifted their seizures. The Hague refused to enforce it. Washington dismissed their latest attempt.   ...

A long-running dispute between the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu and Malaysia has become one of the biggest legal battles in Southeast Asia. The dispute centers on Sabah, a Malaysian state, and an old agreement signed in 1878.   Today, self-proclaimed Sulu heirs from the Philippines are demanding almost $15 billion from Malaysia, based on an arbitration decision that many courts in Europe have already rejected. A final ruling is expected on ...

The Philippines is rushing to finish long-delayed rules for the South China Sea as China becomes more aggressive in the West Philippine Sea region. Manila hopes the long-awaited Code of Conduct can finally be completed when it leads the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.   Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said the Philippines will make the agreement a top priority next year.   Why the Philippines I...

Across Southeast Asia, thousands of people are leaving their homes each year, driven by war, violence, poverty, and climate disasters. For many, migration is not a choice but a last attempt to survive. Their stories reveal both the suffering they endure and the hope they still hold onto.   The Struggle for Survival One of the most painful examples is the tragedy of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Myanmar. Since 2017, they have faced ...