Author: Mico Galang

The year 2026 has been particularly active for Philippine diplomacy. With Myanmar deferred from assuming the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship, the Philippines currently holds the rotating chairmanship and has hosted – and will continue to host – numerous ASEAN summits and ministerial meetings throughout the year. Beyond these multilateral responsibilities, Manila also […]

On April 10-14, 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr embarked on a working visit to the United States. While the trip was his fourth to the United States since assuming office in 2022, it was arguably the most impactful yet. Indeed, President Marcos traveled to Washington to attend the inaugural Japan-Philippines-U.S. trilateral summit. The […]

In November 2015, against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the South China Sea, the Philippines and Vietnam established a strategic partnership. A vocal critic of Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea at the time, Manila pursued a dual approach  by bolstering its defense capabilities and enhancing its military alliance with Washington through […]

In light of the upward trajectory of the relationship between Manila and Tokyo, one might ask what a strategic partnership is, and what diplomatic advantages it confers. How does the Philippines-Japan strategic partnership figure in Duterte’s quest for an independent foreign policy? And how does the strategic partnership meet the shared interests of Manila and Tokyo?