Oct. 25

🇺🇸 United States: Trump Expands Antidrug Naval Campaign, Targets Pacific Smuggling Routes
In a bold escalation of U.S. maritime enforcement, President Donald Trump authorized a second naval strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Pacific, expanding the administration’s antinarcotics campaign beyond the Caribbean. The operation, led by the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy, intercepted a semi-submersible vessel believed to be carrying cocaine bound for the U.S. West Coast.
Conservative analysts view this as a long-overdue pivot to maritime border security, a domain often neglected in favor of land-based enforcement. The use of military assets underscores the administration’s stance that drug trafficking is not merely a criminal issue but a national security threat.
The right-leaning narrative emphasizes the strategic implications: transnational cartels are increasingly using sophisticated technology—such as narco-submarines—to evade detection. The Trump administration’s aggressive interdiction posture sends a clear message to both smugglers and complicit foreign governments.
Critics argue the operations risk militarizing law enforcement, but supporters counter that the scale and sophistication of modern trafficking networks demand a proportional response. The administration is also pushing for expanded naval funding and bilateral maritime agreements with Pacific nations to tighten the net.
This move comes amid broader efforts to reassert U.S. sovereignty and dismantle transnational criminal networks that exploit America’s porous maritime borders. The right sees it as a necessary correction to years of lax enforcement and globalist appeasement.

🇵🇭 Philippines: ICC Rejects Duterte’s Jurisdiction Challenge, Sparking Sovereignty Debate
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected former President Rodrigo Duterte’s challenge to its jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed during his administration’s war on drugs. The decision clears the way for proceedings to move forward, igniting a fierce debate over national sovereignty and foreign interference.
Right-leaning voices in the Philippines argue that the ICC’s persistence represents a dangerous precedent—one that undermines the country’s judicial independence and weaponizes international law against sovereign leaders. They point out that the Philippines formally withdrew from the ICC in 2019, and any retroactive application of its authority is legally dubious.
The Duterte camp maintains that the anti-drug campaign was a legitimate exercise of state power to restore law and order in a nation plagued by narco-politics. Supporters argue that the ICC’s actions are politically motivated and driven by Western NGOs and media outlets that fail to grasp the scale of the drug crisis in the Philippines.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has remained cautious, neither endorsing nor condemning the ICC’s move. However, his administration’s silence is being interpreted by some as tacit approval, raising concerns among nationalist groups.
The right frames this as a pivotal moment for Philippine sovereignty. Will the nation allow foreign tribunals to override its legal system, or will it reaffirm its right to self-determination in matters of justice and security?

🌏 Southeast Asia: Thailand’s PM Proposes Referendum to Revoke Cambodia Border Pacts
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has proposed a national referendum to revoke longstanding border agreements with Cambodia, citing unresolved territorial disputes and rising nationalist sentiment. The move has sparked regional concern but is being hailed by Thai conservatives as a long-overdue assertion of national integrity.
The right-leaning narrative emphasizes that the current treaties—many of which date back to colonial-era arrangements—have disadvantaged Thailand and failed to prevent encroachments. The referendum, expected in early 2026, would allow citizens to decide whether to nullify the agreements and renegotiate terms.
Critics warn that such a move could destabilize bilateral relations and provoke retaliation. However, supporters argue that Cambodia has repeatedly violated the spirit of the agreements, particularly in disputed border zones where illegal settlements and resource extraction have gone unchecked.
The proposal comes amid broader efforts by the Anutin administration to reassert Thai sovereignty and address long-ignored grievances. It also reflects a regional trend of rising nationalism, as countries reassess their geopolitical alignments in the face of Chinese expansion and Western disengagement.
For the right, this is not just about maps—it’s about restoring pride, protecting resources, and ensuring that Thailand’s borders are defined by Thai interests, not foreign dictates.

🇯🇵🇰🇷🇨🇳 East Asia: Japan’s Takaichi Clears Path to Premiership, Signals Conservative Resurgence
Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s conservative firebrand, has secured a new coalition deal that positions her as the likely successor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. If confirmed, she would become Japan’s first female prime minister—a milestone that also marks a sharp ideological shift to the right.
Takaichi is known for her hawkish views on defense, her skepticism of China, and her unapologetic nationalism. Her rise comes amid growing public frustration with Kishida’s perceived indecisiveness and the Liberal Democratic Party’s drift toward centrism.
The right-leaning narrative sees Takaichi’s ascent as a long-overdue correction. She has pledged to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution, expand military spending, and confront Beijing’s aggression in the East China Sea. Her critics accuse her of inflaming tensions, but supporters argue that deterrence is the only language authoritarian regimes understand.
Takaichi also champions traditional values, opposing progressive education reforms and advocating for stricter immigration controls. Her platform resonates with voters who feel alienated by globalist policies and cultural dilution.
If confirmed, her leadership could redefine Japan’s role in the Indo-Pacific—transforming it from a passive ally into a proactive regional power. For conservatives, it’s a moment of vindication and a signal that Japan is ready to reclaim its strategic voice.

🌐 Asia Pacific: Rohingya Militants Surge in Myanmar, Border Trade Collapses
Rohingya militant activity in Myanmar’s Rakhine State has surged to its highest level in 2025, with coordinated attacks on the Arakan Army (ULA/AA) and civilian targets. The violence has paralyzed informal border trade with Bangladesh and raised fears of a broader regional spillover.
Right-leaning analysts argue that the resurgence of militant groups like ARSA is not organic but fueled by external actors—including elements within the Myanmar military and foreign NGOs operating in refugee camps. The goal, they contend, is to destabilize the region and extract political concessions under the guise of humanitarianism.
The ULA/AA, which controls much of northern Rakhine, claims that Rohingya militants are receiving logistical support from across the Bangladeshi border. In response, the group has launched counteroffensives, resulting in hundreds of casualties and the displacement of civilians.
The right frames this as a cautionary tale about the dangers of porous borders, unvetted refugee flows, and the weaponization of identity politics. As informal trade collapses and violence escalates, regional governments are being urged to tighten border security and reassess their refugee policies.
For nationalists across the Asia Pacific, the lesson is clear: sovereignty must be defended not just with diplomacy, but with vigilance and force when necessary.