Japan’s Coast Guard said a record 14 Chinese government vessels, some with weapons mounted on them, entered a contiguous zone surrounding Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea at one point on Monday. Kyodo News via AP, File MANILA, Philippines – Japan has updated the Philippines on developments in the East… Read More

By Pia Lee-Brag The Philippines submitted evidence to the United Nations tribunal and raised six major issues, accusing China of causing severe harm to the marine environment in building its artificial islands within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Spratlys. Google Earth MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines can file a new case against China before… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase–Albert Del Rosario Institute Image Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer When the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled favorably for the Philippines on the West Philippine Sea dispute, one of the more immediate questions was: “Can Filipinos now resume fishing in the waters of Scarborough Shoal and the Spratlys without harassment from… Read More

International think tanks warned of economic impact on the region if ASEAN will not unite to stop the escalation of disputes in the South China Sea. In a published article, Bonnie Glaser, senior advisor for Asia, Center for Strategic and International Studies said, “Each year, $5.3 trillion of trade passes through the South China Sea;… Read More

Stratbase-ADR Institute together with Democracy Watch Philippines organized a Post SONA roundtable discussion entitled “The Road to Change: A Post SONA Assessment”. The panel is composed of Dindo Manhit, President of Stratbase ADR Institute & Lead Convenor of Democracy Watch; Dr. Ronald Mendoza, Dean of Ateneo School of Government; Dr. Danilo Reyes, Full Professor at the University of… Read More

  Henry Bensurto is the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, USA. He is a career diplomat and a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. He serves as one of the leading experts on maritime security in the West Philippine Sea issue. He has previously served as the Assistant Secretary of the West… Read More