The ASEAN's continuing claim to “centrality” in helping dene the region's security architecture faces two important contrasting developments in the region: a strongly consolidated political leadership in China under President Xi Jinping and the unilateralist, divisive leadership style of President Donald Trump that has upended many of the established practices of American foreign policy. A continuing crucial test of ASEAN's centrality lies in its ability to push through a bi

After 80 years of independence, the Philippines is struggling with economic growth and security challenges. Today, the country is trapped in a multipolar world. It is caught between colliding global and regional powers - primarily the United States and China, alongside rising middle powers and shifting economic blocs, such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) bloc.

The US persists in provoking a war with China by toughening its military bases in the Palawan Islands. Defense alliance with America is dragging the Philippines into such provocations – as it already does by hosting US war drills sharpening war capabilities against Washington’s existential enemy. Such acts endanger the Filipino people’s sovereign rights as well as Southeast Asian countries’ resounding voice for peace, stability, and non-interference. This is another issue tha

The Xi-Trump September summit may have stabilized momentarily their countries’ relationship. But it does not make the Philippine situation any better. The room of competition is big only for the two powers but small for a country like the Philippines to wriggle its way from the main contenders.

The Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administration has continued to highlight favorable macroeconomic indicators, strengthened security partnerships, and international recognition as evidence that the country is moving toward stability and prosperity. Behind declarations of economic progress, however, are Filipino families struggling with agonizingly high prices and wages that remain far below the cost of a dignified standard of living.

Center for People Empowerment and Governance (CenPEG)Comprehensive Analysis, February 2026 Synthesis This paper aims to analyze the Philippines' precarious position in early 2026 as it navigates a domestic political crisis and a high-risk alignment with U.S.’ "aggressive unilateralism." While the Marcos administration faces a "governance-induced paralysis" fueled by a ₱805-billion corruption scandal and a "popularity flip" favoring the resurgent Duterte bloc, the nation h

Widening power rifts in Philippine politics as the 2028 elections are in the horizon; corruption deepens; tensions grow in East Asia while Donald Trump attacks Venezuela in a bid to reinstall America’s sphere of influence in the western hemisphere I. PHILIPPINE POLITICS Corruption, Accountability, and the Marcos-Duterte Rift Breakdown of the Marcos Jr.-Sara Duterte dynastic alliance The Marcos-Duterte entente has collapsed, one-and-a half years since the unravelin

By: Roland Simbulan - @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:04 AM September 11, 2025 China’s military objectives in the...

Political Briefer Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) August 2025 Introduction Philippine politics in August 2025 is...