Why Asean is watching the Philippines' strategy in South China Sea

In The Straits Times' Asian Insider Podcast above, global contributor Nirmal Ghosh delves into the current regional situation with his guests – former Philippine Navy rear admiral Rommel Ong, now professor of praxis at the Ateneo School of Government in the Philippines, and Dr. Colin Koh, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The Philippines' 2024 National Budget allocates US$103.5 billion (S$139.47) for defence and maritime – 9.5 per cent higher than in 2023. This is partly to ensure the Philippines is not a weak link in the US-Philippines Mutual Defence…