[ICYMI] The Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea officially kicked off last Wednesday night at the Grand Hyatt Manila, bringing together senior officials, diplomats, scholars, and maritime experts from across the world. Learn more about the Dialogue here: scsdialogue.org

🇵🇭Honored to once again participate in the Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea, a valuable platform for informed and constructive discussion on the evolving dynamics of Indo-Pacific security. Grateful to @JeffreyOrdaniel and the @wps_ph for their outstanding organization.

Last week at the #ManilaDialogue on the #SouthChinaSea, I explained why it was 🇨🇳#China's aggressive maritime expansionism--not some imaginary provocation by the 🇵🇭#Philippines--that caused the collision between two Chinese ships near #ScarboroughShoal.

Solid analysis from @RSIS_NTU on the growing regional interest in nuclear submarines. Further thought: AUKUS may have proved its critics right by triggering an arms dynamic (not race) among US regional allies, but that’s not all bad for deterrence vs 🇨🇳: rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication…

[ICYMI] #MNLDialogue Day 3 On the final day of The Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea, participants explored transparency as policy and the safeguarding of the information space against malign influence operations. They examined the nexus of maritime security and economic security, discussed dispute management and risk reduction in the South China Sea, and assessed the role of the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum as an ASEAN regional mechanism. The day concluded with discussions on maritime capacity-building and a fireside chat on the South China Sea and perspectives on defending the rules-based order. More about the dialogue, here: scsdialogue.org @HumasBakamlaRI @kasphilippines @SITREPph @coastguardph @NSCPhil @AsiaPacificFdn @ycapsjapan @DFAPHL @WongiChoe @StratbaseADRi @StratbasePH @onenewsph @PacificForum @BradGinTokyo @wpstransparency

[ICYMI] #MNLDialogue Day 2 The Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea continued on its second day, featuring intensive discussions on history and law, the South China Sea as 'Global Commons', submarine cables in the South China Sea, cross-regional defense cooperation, and a high-level special roundtable with select National Security Advisers in the region. More about the dialogue, here: scsdialogue.org/agenda/ @wpstransparency @kasphilippines @SITREPph @AmbDBHartman @germanyinphl @AmbJPNinPH @MarieFontanelPH @AusAmbPH @StratbaseADRi @StratbasePH @onenewsph @cesdrilon @jaytaryela @nscphilippines @GordianKnotRay @PacificForum @DFAPHL @coastguardph @CollinSLKoh @braun_daniela @ukinphilippines @OfPalau @jenansonpalau

The 2025 Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea brought together diplomats, scholars, security practitioners, and policymakers for open, evidence-based conversations on the region's most challenging questions. Congratulations, @wps_ph! #MNLDialogueontheSouthChinaSea

I would like to thank the ambassadors from @AusAmbPH, @AmbDBHartman, @FrenchEmbassyPH, @germanyinphl, @AmbJPNinPH, @USAmbPH, and @ukambassadorph for their unwavering support for this year’s Manila Dialogue. Dr. @JeffreyOrdaniel promised that since the inaugural Manila Dialogue last year, this Track 1.5 dialogue would serve two purposes: first, to amplify the importance of international law in order to put an end to any attempts by some states to erode the rules-based order; and second, to highlight the need for transparency in exposing unlawful activities to stop bullies who believe that might justifies right. These two strong foundations are continuously being fortified by these embassies. We need to keep doing this not just to make our voices louder, but to aspire to influence other states, not only in the region but also in different parts of the globe. It may take time, but we remain optimistic and have faith that goodness still exists in this world and that evil aspirations cannot trample it.

Kepala Bakamla RI Laksdya TNI Dr. Irvansyah, S.H. M.Tr.Opsla., menjadi pembicara pada sesi ke enam The Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea 2025 dengan tema “Advancing The Asean Coast Guard Forum (ACF) As A Regional Mechanism”, di Filipina, Jumat (7/11/2025)

Kepala Bakamla RI Laksdya TNI Dr. Irvansyah, S.H., M.Tr.Opsla., menggelar pertemuan bilateral dengan Vice Commandant for Operations Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Vice Admiral Hiroaki Kanosue, guna memperkuat kerja sama di bidang keamanan dan keselamatan maritim.

Direktur Kerja Sama Bakamla RI Laksma Bakamla Askari, P.S.C., S.I.Kom., M.Sc., M.A, menjadi pembicara pada sesi “Maritime Capacity-Building For A Rules Based, Equitable and Sustainable Maritime Order in the Indo-Pasific”, di Filipina, Jumat (7/11/2025)

Great experience attending the 2026 edition of the Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea, organised by @wps_ph, under the leadership of @JeffreyOrdaniel. It was also a pleasure to reconnect with fellow YCAPS members and friends from the broader MarSec community.

Lucky to be up in the Philippines this week, when I also launched a new @ASPI_org special report on 🇦🇺🇵🇭 defence cooperation. Here’s a preview on the Strategist, including link to the report itself.

Honored to be part of the 2025 Manila Dialogue on the SCS & to witness its success as one of the most vital forums of our region. Privileged to be in the presence of such great minds. Congratulations & thank you for your leadership Dr. @JeffreyOrdaniel & Commodore @jaytaryela

ICYMI: We Protect Our Seas (WPS) hosted the third and final day of the Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea at the Grand Hyatt Manila today, November 7. Four plenary sessions discussed the increasingly limited space for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to address defense and economic security issues amid ongoing regional disputes and global tensions. Distinguished panelists from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Grandview Institute, Stratbase Group, and Korea National Diplomatic Academy acknowledged the South China Sea-related military escalations and economic coercion involving China, Southeast Asian states and actors outside of the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, experts from the South China Sea Probing Initiative, the University of Nottingham Malaysia, the University of Canterbury, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and the Philippine Coast Guard challenged disinformation surrounding disputes in Southeast Asia through investigative and journalistic initiatives led by actors beyond the state, such as civil society, think tanks, and non-traditional alliances. Photos by Sohaila Somera #BeyondLoyola

Dr. Bradford ended the discussion by emphasizing the need to manage common challenges: complexities of civil/military operations, dealing with hybrid threats, and tackling the rise of technologies

This concludes Day 2 of The Manila  Dialogue on The South China Sea proper on November 7, 2025. Thank you for following the plenary and roundtable threads and for your participation in this dialogue. See you again on the next!

Catch the livestream/playback here: piped.video/live/IU5wW4Fib5I…

Catch the livestream/playback here: piped.video/live/Pv9lQfX5dE0…