Context Dispatch
Japan reaffirms peace at Leyte Gulf Landing Commemoration
Japan’s Chargé d’Affaires Ono Sho joined Philippine officials and foreign diplomats in marking the 81st anniversary of the historic Leyte Gulf Landings, held from October 19 to 20, 2025, at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park in Palo, Leyte.
Stronger alliances, inclusive governance crucial to Indo-Pacific stability — experts
Stronger regional alliances and inclusive maritime governance are vital to ensuring peace, security, and sustainability in the Indo-Pacific, experts said during a recent high-level forum hosted by the Stratbase Institute and the French Embassy in Manila.
Japan joins PH naval drills, underscoring growing security ties
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer JS OONAMI arrived in Manila for a port visit ahead of joint military drills. The visit highlights deepening defense ties between Japan and the Philippines amid growing regional security cooperation.
Recto warns against trimming VAT rate
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto on Tuesday cautioned senators against approving a proposal to cut the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 12 percent to 10 percent, warning that such a move could significantly increase government debt and risk a credit rating downgrade.
Stratbase condemns Chinese aggression in West Philippine Sea
The Stratbase ADR Institute has strongly condemned a recent act of aggression by China in the West Philippine Sea, following an October 12 incident where a China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship and fired water cannons at its crew.
