On July 16, the U.S. Navy began constructing two boat repair facilities in Palawan, a strategic move under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The expansion is seen as a direct counter to Chinese maritime aggression in the West Philippine Sea. This development underscores Manila’s pivot toward deeper defense ties with Washington, reinforcing its maritime…
The Asia-Pacific Policy Strategy Dialogue (APPSD) concluded in London with a resounding call for a new organising principle: “America First, Allies Always.” The summit, attended by defense and policy leaders from the U.S., U.K., Japan, Australia, and South Korea, emphasized the need for integrated deterrence against the rising influence of the China-Russia-Iran-North Korea axis —…
The U.S. Supreme Court’s July 15 ruling has cleared the path for President Trump to dismantle the Department of Education without congressional approval, triggering a seismic shift in federal oversight of public schooling. The decision, delivered unsigned but backed by the conservative majority, allows the administration to lay off over 1,400 federal employees and redirect…
In a show of growing military coordination, the Pacific Alliance Naval Coalition (PANC) — comprising Australia, Japan, the United States, and the Philippines — launched a series of joint naval drills in the Coral Sea, marking the largest coordinated maritime exercise in the region since 2021. The drills, dubbed Operation Sovereign Wake, are designed to…
In a sweeping move that rattled global markets and reignited debates over trade nationalism, former President Donald Trump announced a new wave of tariffs targeting imports from the European Union, Mexico, and Brazil. The 30% duties, set to take effect August 1, are part of what Trump called a “One Big Beautiful Bill” — a…
The tariffs—ranging from 25% to 40%—will take effect August 1 and cover electronics, automotive components, and agricultural imports. Trump emphasized the need to “rebalance unfair trade deals that hollowed out American industry,” citing decades of outsourcing and foreign subsidies. On his first Asia trip, Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced a frosty reception in Kuala…
On June 22, President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces had executed precision airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—marking a historic escalation in the Middle East. The strikes, coordinated with Israeli intelligence, were described by Trump as having “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The move comes after weeks of Iranian missile attacks on…
China’s Foreign Ministry issued a sharp rebuke of the U.S. airstrikes on Iran, calling them “a reckless violation of international law” and warning of “unpredictable consequences” for global stability. The statement came hours after President Trump confirmed the destruction of three Iranian nuclear sites in a coordinated operation with Israel. Beijing’s response was swift and…
Defense officials in Japan, Australia, and Taiwan held closed-door meetings this week after satellite imagery showed increased People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval activity just outside Taiwan’s air defense zone. The activity, coupled with PLA cyber probes into Taiwanese infrastructure, has been described by analysts as “dry run drills” for a blockade or rapid escalation. The…
On June 23, President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces had carried out precision airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, claiming the facilities were “totally obliterated.” The strikes, coordinated with Israeli intelligence, mark a dramatic escalation in the Middle East conflict and a bold assertion of American military dominance. Trump’s televised address warned that further…