Manila

October 21, 2025 | Jack Burnham, Duncan Lazarow

Amid Rising Chinese Aggression, Manila Announces Plans To Procure New South Korean Anti-Ship Missiles

In exploring new arms deals with South Korea, the Philippines is targeting both missiles and messaging. On October 16, Asia Times reported that Manila began discussions with Seoul to acquire new...

September 16, 2025 | Jack Burnham |

China Creates ‘Nature Reserve’ To Boost Its Sovereignty Claims in the South China Sea

Not content with building artificial islands and bullying its neighbors, China is increasingly using its domestic environmental laws to cement its illegal territorial grabs in the South China Sea. On September...

August 13, 2025 | Jack Burnham, Miles Kershner

China Ramps Up Pressure on the Philippines — and Strikes a Blow Against Itself

China’s efforts to harass the Philippines have suffered a significant setback. On August 11, a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel collided with a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship while attempting...

April 29, 2025 | Jack Burnham, Reece Breaux

Chinese Coast Guard Forces Land on Sandy Cay, Escalating Tensions With the Philippines

China is stepping up its campaign to dominate key territory in the South China Sea. On April 24, the Global Times, a Chinese Communist Party-owned media outlet, reported that the China Coast Guard (CCG)...

April 3, 2025 | Jack Burnham |

Signaling Displeasure With Washington, China Conducts Military Exercises Around Taiwan

China’s psychological warfare on Taiwan is intensifying. Following its largest military exercises around Taiwan in three decades last December, Beijing has launched a new series of military drills. On...

April 3, 2025 | John Hardie |

Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: April

Welcome back to the Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker. Once a month, we ask FDD’s experts and scholars to assess the administration’s foreign policy. They provide trendlines of very positive, positive, neutral, negative, or very negative for the areas they watch.

March 20, 2025 | Cleo Paskal |

Crossroads of Competition

China in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands

March 5, 2025 | Cleo Paskal |

Examining the Office of Insular Affairs’ Role in Fostering Prosperity in the Pacific Territories and Addressing External Threats to Peace and Security

February 25, 2025 | Craig Singleton |

Missed Milestones

Evaluating The Last Four Years in the EAP Region and Unseized Opportunities Under President Trump

February 3, 2025 | Jack Burnham, Johanna Yang

Philippines Busts Chinese Spy Ring Targeting U.S. and Allied Military Infrastructure

China is mapping U.S. and allied military installations around the world. Filipino security officials arrested five Chinese nationals on January 30 as part of a larger investigation into an espionage ring...

November 1, 2024 | Nick Danby, Lewis Libby

How a modern Lend-Lease could help save the South China Sea

A modern US-Philippines Lend-Lease could be designated for joint civilian projects

September 19, 2024 | |

November Ceasefire in Gaza Collapsed After Hamas Lied About Female Hostages

Israeli media reported on September 18 that the week-long ceasefire in November — which saw Hamas release 81 Israeli hostages — collapsed after the terrorist group relayed false...

September 9, 2024 | Craig Singleton, Reece Breaux

Escalating South China Sea Tensions Demand Urgent U.S. Response

A series of recent maritime provocations between China and the Philippines near Sabina Shoal, a disputed atoll within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), have exacerbated Indo-Pacific tensions....

July 10, 2024 | Craig Singleton, Reece Breaux

Newly Enforced Chinese Coast Guard Law Heightens Maritime Miscalculation Risks

Beijing began enforcing a new protocol last month authorizing China’s Coast Guard to seize vessels operating within China’s claimed maritime borders, a move that coincided with several provocative...

April 17, 2024 | |

Hamas Obstructs Hostage Negotiations

Hamas rejected all proposals and expanded demands during recent hostage negotiations, Israeli and American officials said on April 14, 15, and 16. Hamas rejected the latest Gaza...

April 4, 2024 | |

Hamas Rejects Another Ceasefire Offer

Hamas rejected the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal on April 4, refusing to compromise on its maximalist position. “We are committed to our demands,” Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh...

April 3, 2024 | |

Hamas Poised to Respond to Latest Ceasefire Proposal

Israeli negotiators departed Cairo on April 2, concluding the latest round of talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators for a deal that would see Hamas free the remaining hostages....

March 7, 2024 | |

Cairo Truce Talks Falter as Hamas Stalls

The latest round of Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks ended fruitlessly on March 7, with Hamas failing to provide details on hostages it holds in Gaza. The Palestinian terrorist group...

February 23, 2024 | |

Israel Sends Negotiators to Hostage Talks in Paris

Israeli negotiators arrived in Paris on February 23 to advance a deal with Hamas to free hostages held in Gaza. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States participated in this latest round...

February 7, 2024 | |

Israel Spurns Hamas Demands, Vows Total Victory in Gaza

Israel on February 7 spurned some demands made by Hamas for a proposed Gaza truce, reiterating that the Jewish state would vanquish the Palestinian terrorist group. Prime Minister...