Articles by Manuel Oxales

Taiwan and the Philippines

In the event tensions escalate to a conflict between China and Taiwan, will the Philippine be involved? This may be one of the risk scenarios in 2022.* China’s President Xi Jinping blamed the U.S. for the tensions  between the two world economic and military powers on “Repeated attempts by Taiwan authorities for U.S. support  in their independence agenda as well…




Very Significant U.S. Foreign Policy Statements on the Disputes in the South China Sea

Notably preceded and followed by major military movements, I wonder what would be the impact on RP’s claim on certan islands and sea areas in the SCS. Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914), graduate of the US Naval Naval Academy, wrote of the interdependence of military might and seaborne commerce, “whoever controls the sea lanes controls the islands; who controls islands controls…


Making A Choice Defending The Country’s Seas

“The goal of the AFP Modernization Program reads: the Philippines has the longest coast line in the world next to Indonesia and Canada. The sea is extremely significant from an international, navigational, economic, geopolitical and strategic perspective. There is an urgent need to develop a modern and adequately equipped force that will ensure maritime and air space security.” – National…


Federalism in Canada: An Observation

I have been going back and forth to Canada for the last 10 years visiting my son’s family, staying in for six to eight months and I have observed and read about how a federal government works. Canada is located on the northern boundary of the of United States which lies in the south of Canada, and extends to the…


Will the Philippines Be Involved in a Conflict Between the United States and North Korea?

In the Korean War (1950-1953) between the United Nations coalition led by the military forces of the United States and South Korea against North Korea backed up by Chinese troops, the Philippines sent 3 battalions of some 7,000 personnel equipped, supplied, placed by and fought under U.S. operational command (The PMA post-WWII Class of 1951 had an early graduation, were…


The Conflict in Korea – Rivalry of the Big Powers

“An enemy of my enemy is a friend.” –An Arab Saying “There are no eternal friends, nor permanent enemies, only eternal and permanent interests.” –Lord Palmerston Last September 2017, two heads of states — President of the United States Donald Trump and President of North Korea Kim Jong-un hurled invectives at each other and issued statements threatening to launch an…


US President Obama speech to US and Filipino soldiers at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

Philippine Vulnerabilities in its Rift with China

“[Beijing is] building a Great Wall of sand over islands claimed by several countries. China’s pattern of provocations toward smaller claimant countries on the basis of the sweeping 9-dash Line which is inconsistent with international law, and the wide asymmetry between China’s capabilities and of her weak neighbors, raises serious questions about Chinese intentions.”