Opinion

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is back from this week’s 50th ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Commemorative Summit in Tokyo. The Summit reviewed the achievements of ASEAN-Japan relations over the past five decades and discussed the future direction of ASEAN-Japan ties. The leaders later adopted a Joint Vision Statement and its Implementation …

CHINA’S aggressive behavior in the South China, with its big coast guard vessels teeming in front of small Philippine ships on humanitarian missions, is pain in the backside which should alarm other countries. We heard Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro say the Philippines should continue its thrust towards “proactive diplomacy” and …

The way China has fielded massive Coast Guard vessels as well as a number of maritime militia ships in the South China Sea, it would appear it is really intent on claiming ownership of the vital sealane where a significant percentage of global trade passes on a regular basis. But …

Climate experts have ended their 13-day summit in Dubai, with an agreement seen by many as the world’s strongest statement to date on the need to transition away from fossil fuels. But many, particularly the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), have said “the course of needed correction has not …

The Marcos administration took two giant steps toward restoring peace in the country through its proclamation of amnesty for various rebel groups and its agreement with the National Democratic Front to restart peace negotiations and reach a political settlement of the 55-year old Maoist insurgency. But while the twin peace …

WITH the Islamic State already claiming responsibility for the deadly bombing at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City on Dec 2, authorities should move decisively to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Investigators believe the bombing was the handiwork of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group that operates in …

Chinese harassment of Philippine vessels on humanitarian missions in the disputed South China Sea is continuing, with Beijing accusing Washington of encouraging Manila to provoke China for its own purposes. China has not offered any direct evidence to support its accusation, but observers noted the continuing acrimonious confrontations underline China’s …

The 13-day United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai ends today with hopes high from observers round the world the thorniest issue on the use of oil and gas had been addressed. The participation of more than 160 countries represented in the summit shows how important the conference has …

The House of Representatives deserves commendation for taking a strong stand behind the Marcos administration’s bold move to forge national unity through peace talks with the National Democratic Front and an offer of amnesty to various rebel groups. Party leaders from among the more than 300 members of the House …

Hopes are high world leaders meeting now in Dubai during the Conference of Parties 28 or COP28 would find themselves committed to achieving a “breakthrough” to save the planet. Hot issues during the 13-day summit ending on Tuesday next week range from how to contain fuel fossils to regulating carbon …