Philippines
China is its own worst enemy
On 3 April, the Philippines government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr formally unveiled four additional locations where US forces will be permitted to operate. Two of those…
Philippines: The best friend for AUKUS in Southeast Asia
Almost two years since it was first announced, the AUKUS submarine deal between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States hasn’t been getting much love across Southeast…
Reset in US–Philippines relations tells of yet another China fumble
The Philippines recently granted the United States access to four more military bases, reportedly including at least one strategic location facing Taiwan. It’s an…
The Interpreter 2022: Your most-read articles
Almost 3 million readers turned to The Interpreter over the year – an audience that increasingly reaches far beyond Australia. In 2022, roughly four out of every five Interpreter…
The US may force the Philippines’ (willing) hand
US Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent two-day trip to the Philippines makes her the highest-ranking official from the Biden administration to visit the country. Harris got…
Philippines’ subs: the AUKUS inspiration
The Philippines was a lonely voice in Southeast Asia expressing support for Australia’s aspiration to obtain nuclear-powered submarines under the “AUKUS” arrangement with the…
A new Marcos gets down to business
Sugar coating
As Australia’s former prime minister Scott Morrison has drawn international attention for his efforts to secretly grab power, the region’s newest leader is…
What the Philippines has at stake in Taiwan
As tensions between China and the United States grow, most Southeast Asian countries will anxiously seek to remain neutral, however difficult this may be. Yet the Philippines…
ICC pushes probe on the Philippines’ drug war
In a June resolution, the International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan asked to resume an investigation into former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, which was…
Bongbong Marcos tries the balancing act with Beijing and Washington
When Ferdinand Marcos Jr (aka Bongbong Marcos) won the Philippines presidency in May, his victory was quickly read to be a highly favourable development for China. But several…