Essays and Commentaries

2024. “The China-Philippines united front on online gambling.” Think China, 9 May 2024.

2024. “South China Sea and Taiwan: Two Regional Flashpoints Overlap.”Voices 17 (21 March).

2023. “From Duterte’s ‘Pivot to China’ to Marcos Jr.’s ‘Rebalance to the US’?.” Fulcrum, 17 April 2023.

2023. “Bound to Comply: the Philippines’ One China Policy and Mutual Defense Treaty with the US.” Fulcrum, 17 January 2023.

2022. “The Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippines’ Post-Duterte China Challenge.” Fulcrum, 25 March 2022.

2022. “How the Philippines presidential election will shape its love-hate relationship with China,” South China Morning Post (SCMP), 31 January 2022.

2022. “The China Factor and Bongbong Marcos’ Foreign Policy.” Fulcrum, 12 July 2022.

2021. “Has the securitization of Confucius Institutes in Western Liberal Democracies spilled over to the Philippines?.” PACS Viewpoints (12 October).

2021. “Philippine foreign policy: A leveled analysis.” RUSI, 7 October 2021.

2021. “The Social Implications of Philippines-China Security Competition in the South China Sea.” Asia Global Online, 3 September 2021.

2021. “‘Political Connectivity’: A New Dimension of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Philippines.” ISEAS Perspective 53 (26 April).

2020. “The Challenges Facing Philippines-China Joint Development in the South China Sea.” Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, 16 October 2020.

2020. “Is the Philippines-US Alliance Obsolete?.” The Diplomat, 22 April 2020. (Co-authored with Elliot Silverberg).

2020. “The Implications of COVID-19 on China’s Belt and Road in the Philippines.” China-US Focus, 27 March 2020.

2020. “Philippines-US Alliance Under Duterte: Unravelling?.” RSIS, 12 February 2020.

2019. “The other trade war – Japan vs South Korea.” Inquirer, 6 September 2019.

2019. “Outstanding Issues in the Philippines-U.S. Alliance.” Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, 14 March 2019.

2019. “Factors Shaping Philippines-North Korea Relations.” Asia Pacific Bulletin, 20 February 2019. .

2019. “Can a South China Sea code of conduct help ensure regional stability? Here are four ways it could be strengthened.” South China Morning Post, 8 January 2019.

2017. “The Implications of Cross-Strait Conflict for the Philippines.” The Manila Times, 25 October 2017. 

2018. “Duterte’s China policy: beyond law.” The Interpreter, 28 June 2018.

2018. “Is the ‘Indo-Pacific’ Construct Trump’s Pivot to Asia Policy.” Pacific Forum (PacNet) 13 (16 February).

2018. “The Dynamics of Xi’s Term Extension.” China-US Focus, 11 April 2018.

2018. “Duterte’s Push for Joint Development in the South China Sea.” The Strategist, 31 January 2018.

2015. “China’s Counter-Pivot Response.” International Policy Digest, 11 May 2015.  

2015. “The South China Sea: Lessons From Thirteen Days.” International Policy Digest, 28 June 2015.

2015. “The Philippines between the US and China.” Asia-Pacific and Policy Society Forum, 24 August 2015.

2016. “What a Duterte government means for Sino-Philippine relations.” Rappler, 7 June 2016.

2016. “Strategic Perceptions and Misperceptions in the South China Sea.” China-US Focus, 20 September 2016.

2016. “Rebalancing Philippine Foreign Policy.” East Asia Forum, 24 November 2016.

2017. “Sino-US Relations and Trump’s Asia Policy.” Asia Times, 31 January 2017.

2017. “Philippines-China Relations: A Deepening Partnership.” Pangoal Institution, 18 March 2017.

2017. “China’s Diplomatic Strategy and Expanding Philippines-China Political Cooperation.” Asia Dialogue, 12 July 2017.

2017. “A Balanced Philippine Foreign Policy: Managing Relations with Major Powers.” Asia Dialogue, 17 April 2017.

2017. “Duterte’s ASEAN Policy.” International Public Policy Review, 13 September 2017.