For decades, the struggle for peace in the Philippines’ southernmost island of Mindanao has been characterized by armed conflict between the Philippines government and Moro separatist groups, like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and cycles of… Read more
Executive SummaryOrganized crime is a significant driver of conflict globally. It preys on weak governance, slack law enforcement, and inadequate regulation. It tears at the fabric of societies by empowering and enriching armed actors and fueling violent… Read more
Tensions between China and the Philippines have sharply escalated in recent months over territorial disputes in the South China Sea that could draw in the United States.On March 5, Chinese coast guard vessels sideswiped a Philippine patrol vessel and… Read more
On December 3, militants placed a bomb amongst parishioners gathered for Catholic Mass on the floor of the Mindanao State University (MSU) gym in Marawi City. Minutes later, it detonated killing four and injuring dozens. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed… Read more
Editor’s Note: The following article is part of a new USIP essay series, “Southeast Asia in a World of Strategic Competition.” The opinions expressed in these essays are solely those of the authors and do not represent USIP, or any organization or… Read more
During the August 5 crisis at Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs tried to contact its Chinese counterparts through a bilateral hotline. Manila’s effort to de-escalate the standoff despite being the victim of Chinese… Read more
In recent weeks, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has dispatched ships and other maritime forces to the disputed Spratly islands near the Philippines. The goal has been to coerce the Philippines into withdrawing from the contested Second Thomas Shoal… Read more
Editor’s Note: The following are remarks delivered on August 10 by Justice Antonio T. Carpio, a former senior associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, before the USIP-Stratbase ADR Institute Forum, “Assessing Crisis Communication… Read more
Editor’s Note: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have a vital role to play in protecting Bangsamoro peace efforts from a range of armed groups operating across Mindanao. Decades of fighting local insurgencies and terrorist groups have honed the… Read more
Editor’s Note: Belying Mindanao’s stunning natural landscape and its vibrant cultural diversity is a troubled history of war, social instability, extreme poverty and cycles of failed peace efforts. Contrary to the intentions of its perpetrators, the 2017… Read more
Editor’s Note: The 2017 Marawi siege was a turning point in the trajectory of peace efforts in Mindanao, helping to rejuvenate peace talks that had largely derailed at the time. For many in Mindanao, the Marawi siege serves as a reminder of what is at… Read more
Editor’s Note: The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) stretches across the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Within its almost 38,000 square kilometers of territory resides a complex diversity of… Read more