Why SEATO dissolved?

Along with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), SEATO is one of the Cold War alliances the United States and its allies created in order to contain the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, particularly that of People’s Republic of China (PRC), which supported communist movements in the region. Formed in 1954, the alliance parties were France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, and the United States. While NATO persists, SEATO bit the dust in 1977.

Mahjong on the Sea: A Reinterpretation of of Lui Lui's Beijing 2008

I wrote this in 2014. It's a geopolitical analysis of the emerging new world order, using Canadian-Chinese Lui Liu’s Beijing 2008 a.k.a. Women Playing Mahjong. I think the message is still very relevant. It will also give you an overview of why China will never leave the South China Sea.

Yasay's Face and James Blunt

So much has been said about the face Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Perfecto Yasay had when he announced the results of the Arbitration Case between Philippines and China.

A lot castigated Yasay for not joining their jubilation. For them, that face is the face of a traitor.

The Hague Memorandum: Towards a Philippine South China Sea Policy Based on Kadagat Thinking

The real problem of Filipino fishermen operating in the South China Sea: dwindling fish stocks

In May 2016, Filipino fishermen were arrested by the Malaysian navy near the waters around Commodore Reef, one of the disputed features in the South China Sea. These fishermen are from Zambales. Why did they go as far as that? The same reason Chinese fishermen can now be found near Indonesia: dwindling fish stocks. Every coastal community in the South China Sea has been overfishing; and overfishing in one part of the Sea could affect fish stocks in another area.

Dear Filipinos: Stop Using the Word Bully

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...to describe any of your adversary in international relations.

The international arena is not a kindergarten playground. Your country is not a kid bullied by the biggest kid in the playpen. The international arena is more like a boxing ring. Can you imagine how stupid it is to call Mayweather Jr. a bully while he's punching Pacquiao?

A Realist Critique of Vicente Rafael's "Hobbesian World"

On the 13th of June 2016, Filipino historian Vicente Rafael published a commentary in the Inquirer entitled “Duterte’s Hobbesian World." In that article, Rafael pointed out the seeming non-existence of the idea of “universal human rights…in the local-regional world of Duterte.” And in Duterte’s world, these principles, Rafael argued, are “abstract impositions by the West that infringe on the sovereignty of nations.”

It’s a thoughtful piece that contextualised Duterte’s vision of justice. Rafael believes that Duterte was shaped by a “Hobbesian world,” i.e. the Davao of the 1990s.

Reality Bites: The indispensability of Marcos Jr

Eyebrows raised (including mine) when Duterte said that he wouldn’t give Robredo, the Vice President-elect, a cabinet position. “You know why?” he said. “I don't want to hurt the feelings of Bongbong Marcos. He is my friend. That is the political reality.” Robredo’s supporters got mad, running around as if the sky is falling.

It is politically risky to give Robredo a cabinet position while Marcos Jr is still considering to file an electoral protest against her.

The Dirty Job that Makes Democracy Work

A lot of well-meaning people are ashamed, nervous, and disgusted by the way Duterte responded to Australia. "Stay out," he said. Such boldness coming from a brown man, a lumpen-proletariat as how one Filipino political analyst characterised Duterte, telling his white bourgeoisie superiors to bugger off.