News stories by Richard Heydarian, page 2

MANILA, Oct 16 (IPS) - As the U.S. struggles with a weeks-long government shutdown which has threatened the country's economic recovery and forced President Barack Obama to cancel a series of high-stakes visits to Asia, China has instead taken the centre-stage, boosting ties with Asian neighbours and promising multi-billion trade and investment deals.

MANILA, Oct 01 (IPS) - Under the reformist leadership of President Benigno Aquino III who has placed "good governance" initiatives at the heart of his administration's agenda, the Philippines has enjoyed an unprecedented period of economic revival and political stability. 

MANILA, Sep 23 (IPS) - With the administration of Philippines President Benigno Aquino III devoting much of its political capital to resolving the conflict in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, which has claimed around 150,000 lives over decades, many came to believe in the genuine possibility of a new era of stability and economic prosperity in the region.

MANILA, Apr 19 (IPS) - With little sign of a meaningful diplomatic breakthrough on the South China Sea horizons, coupled with a dangerous escalation between Vietnam and China in the disputed waters, the Philippines has faced an added crisis over the Malaysian state of Sabah.

, Mar 14 (IPS) - After almost two decades of non-stop negotiations, and two years of intense U.S. opposition, the much-delayed and controversial 7.5 billion dollar Iran-Pakistan pipeline is well on its track to full operation in the next 15 months.

MANILA, Feb 11 (IPS) - After a year of intense diplomatic standoff and territorial brinkmanship among disputing states in the South and East China Seas, the U.S. military ‘pivot' to the region appears to be in full swing - a move that could further aggravate an already combustible regional dynamic.

MANILA, Feb 04 (IPS) - With territorial tensions in the South China Sea entering a new phase of confrontation, there are signs of growing Indian involvement in regional affairs.

MANILA, Nov 24 (IPS) - Against the backdrop of growing territorial tensions in the South China Sea, inflamed by a more explicit Sino-American rivalry in the Pacific theatre, the recently-concluded ASEAN Summit in Cambodia represented the best chance at bolstering regional security through peaceful, multilateral mechanisms.

MANILA, Nov 19 (IPS) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Cambodia, bringing together top leaders of all ten member nations represents a critical juncture to ensure regional security and in shaping the fate of the organisation itself, as divergent strategic positions among member countries threaten the very fabric of the regional body.