Duterte South China Sea

The interaction spotlighted the military collaboration between the two sides despite lingering challenges.

The muted Philippine response has exacerbated existing concerns about the regional response to Beijing's maritime claims.

A recent interaction spotlighted an often-overlooked confidence-building mechanism between the two Southeast Asian states.

Advances at a recent meeting are much more modest than suggested and conceal the significant challenges that remain.

The Duterte administration continues to tout opportunities of a pact despite the significant risks it would involve.

As we hear an agreement being talked up, it’s worth being clear about what it means.

Immediate opportunities mask serious risks related to the past, current context, and the near future.

Reports indicate Beijing’s coercive efforts continue even as it plays up a cooling down period in the South China Sea.

The cooling down some are playing up masks underlying tensions and broader strategic realities.

Despite the obvious challenges, one should not dismiss the possibility of advances being made in the future.

U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Scott Swift was in Manila this week.

The suggestion demonstrates an unsurprisingly poor understanding of the regional grouping and the complex choices it faces.  

A closer look at the significance of the goodwill visit within the context of Sino-Philippine relations.

Though the Philippine president has complicated things, focusing on this episode alone obscures more enduring challenges on the South China Sea question.

Manila is stepping up efforts to safeguard its claim.

New bilateral engagements appear to be on the horizon despite lingering challenges.

Both sides are making progress toward a new coast guard body and hotline.

A look at some of the deliverables from the visit.

A deeper look at Rodrigo Duterte's effort to 'rebalance' ties between the United States and China.

If new leaderships on both sides are serious about recalibrating relations, they must keep several realities in mind.

A brief look at some of the issues that could be discussed on the Philippine president’s first foreign trip.

The ruling could end up posing profound challenges for Washington.

The secretary of state will be first U.S. administration official to meet with the new president.