SouthEast Asian Studies

The South China Sea does not belong to China! China's state-backed coercions & consistent attacks on civilians only reveal China's hollowness despite its fake “superpower” narrative. Robbing fish & militarizing the contested Sea proves China is a small thief with a big ego.

🚨 THIS IS NOT “COAST GUARD” BEHAVIOR — THIS IS STATE-SPONSORED HARASSMENT | China’s bullying in the West Philippine Sea is no longer limited to illegal blockades, water cannons, or dangerous collisions. Now they are using Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) against Filipinos inside Philippine waters. Let that sink in. A foreign vessel is using sound-based harassment tactics that can cause: * permanent hearing damage, * ear injuries, * disorientation, * and psychological intimidation. Against civilians. Against Filipino personnel. Inside Philippine waters. And China still wants the world to believe this is “peaceful conduct”? No legitimate coast guard should operate like this. Real coast guards rescue lives. They enforce maritime safety. They protect fishermen. Only an insecure power weaponizes intimidation against unarmed people and then hides behind propaganda. This is why more nations are beginning to see the truth: China does not just occupy waters. It weaponizes fear. It weaponizes pressure. It weaponizes coercion. And every time they harass Filipinos in our own seas, they expose themselves to the world as exactly what they claim not to be. The Philippines does not need to exaggerate China’s behavior anymore. China is doing that itself. #BRPSierraMadre #NationalSecurity #unitedfrontworks #illegaloperation #NotOneMore #grayzonewarfare

🇨🇳⚡ In our latest livestream with Jack Burnham (@JackBurnham802), we explored Beijing’s advancing military technologies, strategic ambitions, regional tensions, and the broader implications for the future of global geopolitics. youtube.com/live/MLxQw03bg…

Taiwan coast guard unveils last of its 12 new ships that can fit anti-ship missiles to be used as a backup for navy China spent years blurring the line between coast guard militia and navy around Taiwan Now Taiwan is returning the favor straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia…

IF CHINA IS A PEACE-LOVING COUNTRY — WHY ARE ITS MARITIME MILITIAS OCCUPYING PHILIPPINE WATERS AGAIN? | China keeps insisting it respects peace and international law — so why are Chinese maritime militia vessels once again massing inside the Philippine EEZ near Escoda and Pag-asa? If these waters are not yours under international law, then what exactly are you defending there? Why does a country that calls itself a “friend” need swarms of militia ships to intimidate Filipino fishermen and coast guard personnel inside waters recognized by UNCLOS and affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award? A nation confident in its claims does not need to hide behind gray-zone tactics, harassment, and manufactured presence. A nation acting in good faith does not normalize encroachment every single week. The world is watching. So are Filipinos. If China truly believes its actions are lawful, then answer plainly: Why are armed maritime militias repeatedly operating deep inside another country’s Exclusive Economic Zone? And if this is “peace,” why does it always arrive in formations? The West Philippine Sea is not a stage for intimidation. It is home to Filipino communities, Filipino livelihood, and Filipino rights. #BRPSierraMadre #WPS #WestPhilippineSea #UNCLOS2016 #ArbitralRuling #ChinaBully

🚨Trump-Xi Summit LIVE: Iran War, Hormuz Crisis, Taiwan & AI – High Stakes Showdown youtube.com/live/svrh-W5vt…

🚨 LIVE | A Critical Global Moment Our highly timely livestream, held on the eve of the ceasefire deadline, brought together seven PhD experts from diverse strategic backgrounds. Together, we unpacked the nature of the ceasefire and examined the potential trajectories of the US-IRAN-ISRAEL War from multiple analytical perspectives. Developments around Iran drew renewed attention to the broader trajectory of the international system. In this context, India’s position was discussed with increasing interest, particularly in relation to questions of strategic autonomy and systemic transition. The US–Iran ceasefire deadline also fell the following day. At the same time, pressures on energy corridors, uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz, and wider geopolitical recalibrations shaped the environment in which states were making decisions. This raised a set of analytical questions: What did this moment indicate about the practice of India’s strategic autonomy? How did it inform ongoing debates about India’s role within an evolving multipolar order? This livestream brought together seven PhD scholars to examine these issues in a structured, evidence-based discussion. The conversation engaged with: India’s strategic posture in 2026 and interpretations of its neutrality. Energy security dynamics, including crude oil and LPG supply considerations. Maritime developments in the Indian Ocean Region and their implications. The historical and contemporary dimensions of the India–Iran relationship. And competing interpretations of India’s role, whether as a mediator, a major power, or an emerging pole. The aim was to provide a space for careful analysis and informed reflection at a moment of heightened uncertainty. This livestream took place at a moment when decisions were being made that could shape the next phase of global politics. If you care about where the world is heading, this was a conversation worth watching. youtube.com/live/_ScQSAlza…

According to Beijing, putting Cyanide in fishing grounds & colliding warships into civilian boats, boosts trust & regional peace! However, nations conducting peaceful exercises in their own territories, undermine trust & regional peace & security! I'm sick of China's hypocrisy!

Indonesia showed that South China Sea doesn't belong to China, it cannot trespass as it pleases. Indonesia blew up illegal Chinese vessel operating in its waters. All ASEAN states have been tolerating China's wrong actions. Let's teach China a lesson. @LembagaKERIS

JUST IN: 🇨🇳🇵🇭 China warns Philippines it may lose access to emergency energy relief if Manila continues joint military drills with the U.S. near Taiwan. The warning comes amid rising Indo Pacific tensions and growing military cooperation between Washington and Manila. Source: Bloomberg reports

The name "South China Sea" gives China a lot of unnecessary entitlement. Why don't we change to "Southeast Asia Sea"? It seems fair and logical too. @MalayaIrredenta @leisbeth_recto @RommelFLopez

Over the decades, China has completely changed the face of the South China Sea, inflicting irreversible damage to the fragile ecosystem. China's reckless & illegal island building has turned over 20000 acres of flourishing Coral Reefs into Dead Zones!

Guardians of the Rising Sun, swift, sharp, unstoppable: Japan Coast Guard! A Chinese vessel breached Japanese waters near the Senkaku Islands, ignoring warnings until Japan forcibly expelled it @GeorgeDienhart @DavidMartinov11 @rs015dbph @leisbeth_recto

The @Philippine_Navy 🇵🇭's BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20) Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), @coastguardph's Teresa Magbanua-class MRRV, the Australian Defence Force 🇭🇲's HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156) and the @PhilAirForce's A-29B Super Tucano attack aircraft in one frame, during the 16th MMCA.

EXCLUSIVE! Taiwan’s coast guard detained "3 unnamed" Chinese fishing vessels near Kinmen, with missing registration & home ports, highlighting concerns over China’s opaque maritime activity. Raising concerns about unclear & IUU fishing activity in the area.

Today, as we commemorate the heroism of our national heroes, the Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, together with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, and Senator Erwin Tulfo visited Pag-asa Island to officially activate the Coast Guard District Kalayaan Island Group. This milestone has the full support and approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. It ensures that the Philippine Coast Guard is fully capable and strongly backed by the national government, in line with the President’s firm commitment to the Filipino people that not an inch of our territory shall be surrendered. The activation has four primary objectives. First, it upgrades the existing coast guard unit into a full-fledged major Coast Guard District, to be led by a senior PCG officer with the rank of Coast Guard Commodore. This ensures command by a mature and experienced leader with a strong strategic understanding of coast guard presence and operations in the area. Second, the Commandant intends to deploy dedicated, operationally controlled assets—including PCG vessels and aircraft—to this newly activated district. The utilization of these assets is not limited to maritime security roles; the district will perform the full spectrum of Philippine Coast Guard functions, encompassing maritime safety like search and rescue, and maritime environmental protection. Third, the Commandant, with the concurrence of the DOTr Acting Secretary and Senator Tulfo, also noted that upgrading the unit to a major PCG command requires corresponding infrastructure developments. These include installation upgrades and the construction of additional buildings on other occupied maritime features within the Kalayaan Island Group. The district will likewise receive enhanced logistical support and increased operational funding to carry out more significant operations across its area of responsibility. Fourth, as a major PCG command, the district will now be able to deploy officers and non-commissioned personnel from various technical services to support the national government in delivering essential services to the residents of the LGU of Kalayaan. The Commandant envisions these PCG personnel assisting the Department of Education (DepEd) to address the shortage of teachers, supporting the Department of Health (DOH) by providing medical doctors, nurses, and dentists, and even offering chaplains to meet the community’s spiritual and religious needs. This initiative aligns with the Commandant’s iCare program, which aims to intensify community assistance, awareness and transparency, as well as response and enforcement. This milestone strengthens not only maritime governance but also the Philippine Coast Guard’s commitment to holistic service and nation-building in the Kalayaan Island Group.

Putting out one of the scathing instances when China's illegal vessel loitering in Argentinian waters was shown its place. The Argentinian Coast Guard gave a warning. when unheard, they didn't hesitate; they opened fire, and the rest is history.

I’ve just uploaded the recording of my discussion with Tehran-based journalist @fresh_sadegh regarding the Iran War, past and future of Islamic Republic and its relations with regional countries, expectations from 14-day ceasefire between the #US and #Iran and many other topics. We also covered: The Leadership Vacuum: How the loss of key figures in the IRGC and the administration will affect Tehran’s decision-making process during these negotiations and in the future. Pakistan’s Role: The mechanics of the Islamabad Accord and why #Pakistan emerged as the primary mediator at the 11th hour. The Regional Future: What the new Iran looks like for its neighbors and how the current ceasefire terms might redefine the future of the region. The Opposition: A realistic look at the internal dynamics in Iran and the status of opposition movements following the recent escalations. If you want to understand the long-term implications of today’s developments, this conversation can give you some important glimpses about the ongoing developments. Watch the full replay here: youtube.com/live/MUlWKrSci…

Finally, China is openly saying that Okinawa isn’t Japan. Next they will start claiming Okinawa outright At this rate, don’t be surprised if Hokkaido and Kyushu get dragged into the same narrative next. We absolutely must never, ever allow this to happen!

The @Philippine_Navy is partnering with a local university to develop autonomous drone prototypes, supporting the country’s goal of building a more self-reliant defense posture (SRDP) amid rising security challenges 🇵🇭 By @Frances_Mng navalnews.com/naval-news/202…