Think tank: Duterte admin should strengthen ties with US, other allies

FILE – In this Monday, May 9, 2016 file photo, front-running presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gestures at photographers to move back prior to voting in a polling precinct at Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School at Matina district, his hometown in Davao city in southern Philippines. The U.S. has upset China by sending on… Read More

On the Phenomenal Rise of Duterte to Power

Dindo Manhit, Stratbase-ADRi President After the three grueling months of election campaigns, the Filipino nation has chosen “Tunay na Pagbabago” or radical change. The continuing wide lead of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte over his presidential rivals1 has cemented his position as the presumptive president who will steer the course of the country’s defense and… Read More

The Overlooked Gap in the Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative

Conor Cronin,  Research Associate with the Southeast Asia Program at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Secretary of Defense Ash Carter shakes hands with Philippine president Benigno Aquino during his visit to Manila on April 14, 2016. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter’s trip to the Philippines on April 13-15 was an affirmation of U.S. support for its treaty… Read More

Thinking Beyond Today’s Variables: A Principled Approach to National Security

Dindo Manhit, Stratbase-ADRi President While the national campaigns sprint to the finish line, foreign policy and national security concerns continue to press a heavy weight on the shoulders of Filipino decision-makers here and now. The country’s transition has presented an opportune moment for others in our backyard to improve their positions in advance of the… Read More