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OCT 31, 2025
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In Defense of the World's Bravest Coast Guard
I have been deeply disappointed—indeed, appalled—to hear of recent attacks on the men and women of the Philippine Coast Guard by certain prominent Filipino politicians. These attacks question the PCG's loyalty, accuse them of provocation, suggest their service should be abolished, or imply its officers are serving foreign interests rather than their nation's. This is not merely unfair, it is a shameful slander of what I believe is demonstrably the world's bravest coast guard.
SEP 24, 2025
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Beijing "Think Tank" Connects the Dots...or Something
A new video by China Media Group's "Voice of the South China Sea" refreshes a familiar narrative that its detractors must be at the center of a vast, sophisticated and well-funded American government conspiracy.
AUG 24, 2025
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Flashpoint: Second Thomas Shoal (Again!)
Is China trying to change the subject after its August 11th mishap? To stage a provocation? To finally move against the Philippine outpost? These are not mutually exclusive motivations for its alarming new aggression at a flashpoint that had been quiet for over a year.
AUG 16, 2025
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China's Navy Plays Stupid Games, Wins Stupid Prizes
Eight things you need to understand about Monday’s shocking collision at Scarborough Shoal.
JUL 15, 2025
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A Candid Conversation on Philippine Defense Strategy: Insights from Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro
SeaLight Director Ray Powell's exclusive interview with Philippine Secretary of National Defense on the challenges of building a credible deterrent against an increasingly aggressive superpower.
JUL 6, 2025
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Beijing's Disinformation Campaign Against West Philippine Sea Transparency
On July 4th, Executive Director Ray Powell issues a public statement of Beijing's campaign to discredit SeaLight and the Philippines' transparency program.
JUN 25, 2025
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Iran’s Maritime Gray Zone: Tactics, Threats and the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s maritime gray zone activities have long been central to its approach towards the Persian Gulf at large. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy and the regular Iranian Navy both play key roles, often coordinating with regional partners and, increasingly, with Russia and China.
JUN 3, 2025
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Gray Zone Tactics Playbook: Intrusive Surveying
China's oceanographic survey activities routinely conflate legitimate scientific research with assertion of excessive maritime claims and collection of military intelligence--a classic gray zone tactic.
MAY 21, 2025
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China's Escalating Gray Zone Campaign Against Japan's Senkaku Islands
A recent incident around the contested Senkaku Islands highlight's Tokyo's need for more and better options to counter Beijing's maritime aggression.
MAY 6, 2025
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Beijing is Lying About the Condition of Scarborough Shoal
Despite Beijing’s assertions that the environmental condition of Scarborough Shoal is “excellent” and that authorities have cracked down on giant clam harvesting, the preponderance of the evidence—including legal documents, investigative journalism, satellite imagery and even Chinese state records—demonstrates that its stewardship since 2012 has actually resulted in severe damage to the shoal and its ecosystem.

News & Articles

NOV 9, 2025
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China Urges Philippines to Stop 'Provocation and Propaganda' in South China Sea
The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Saturday released a statement from Beijing’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) calling on the Philippines to halt what it described as “infringement, provocation and propaganda” in the South China Sea.
NOV 9, 2025
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Vietnam Builds 21 Artificial Islands in the South China Sea... Why Is China Staying Silent?
Vietnam is attempting to strengthen its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea by constructing dozens of artificial islands in areas contested with China. These islands are expected to soon surpass those built by China in number, but contrary to expectations, the Chinese government appears to be tolerating this expansion.
NOV 4, 2025
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Satellites Capture Iran’s Suspected ‘Shadow Fleet’ in Action
New satellite imagery shows what appears to be Iran’s shadow fleet operating in the South China Sea, transferring oil via ship-to-ship to tankers possibly bound for China.
NOV 3, 2025
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Chinese ship spies on Australia, Philippines and the US in South China Sea
A sophisticated Chinese spy ship monitored Australian, Philippines, United States and New Zealand naval forces as they conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea last week, with Beijing again labelling Manila a "troublemaker" intent on undermining "regional peace".
NOV 2, 2025
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US and China agree to set up direct military communication channels, Hegseth says
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday that Washington and Beijing would establish military-to-military communications channels, adding that bilateral ties between the countries have “never been better.”
NOV 2, 2025
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Vietnam Is Building Islands to Challenge China’s Hold on a Vital Waterway
Over four years, Vietnam has built out a series of remote rocks, reefs and atolls to create heavily fortified artificial islands that expand its military footprint in the Spratly Islands, an archipelago where Hanoi’s claims clash not only with China’s but also with those of Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.
NOV 1, 2025
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China’s Military Says It Tracked Philippine Patrol In South China Sea
China’s military said on Saturday it monitored and tracked a joint patrol organized by the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea on October 30 and October 31.
NOV 1, 2025
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US urges ASEAN to be firm in countering China in South China Sea
Secretary Hegseth urges Southeast Asian nations to strengthen maritime forces.
OCT 31, 2025
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US, Philippines form military task force for areas including South China Sea, Pentagon says
The United States and the Philippines have formed a new joint task force to strengthen cooperation and increase military readiness in areas including the South China Sea, the Pentagon said on Friday.
OCT 29, 2025
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U.S. plans "show of force" against Chinese aggression in South China Sea as Trump, Xi to meet, sources say
As the highly anticipated meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to take place in South Korea Thursday, the U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command quietly issued an order this week to stage a "show of force" against recent Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
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