Georgi Engelbrecht
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duriandiaries.bsky.social
Georgi Engelbrecht
@duriandiaries.bsky.social
Senior Analyst @CrisisGroup. Posts on Philippines, Peace Processes+Deterrence and Durians.
8. Lastly, deterrence needs to be complemented by diplomacy too.

Crisis management channels with Beijing remain important to navigate the unruly waves.
August 14, 2025 at 11:43 AM
7. Funding, procurement procedures and the force structure remain other critical parts of the equation for modernisation.

Maximising defence partnerships, and working on the nuts and bolts of establishing a truly joint force, remain key tasks as well.
August 14, 2025 at 11:43 AM
6. There are still gaps: It is not easy to develop a strategic culture that moves from land-based threat perceptions to a more maritime approach and a strategy that both looks at the South China Sea and the northern Philippines as critical theatres.
August 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
5. Increasingly dangerous confrontations at sea risk more distrust and even armed conflict.

The recent events near the Scarborough Shoal are a case in point.

But also regionally, the Indo-Pacific security architecture is in flux:

www.crisisgroup.org/asia/north-e...
Asia in Flux: The U.S., China and the Search for a New Equilibrium | International Crisis Group
The U.S. and China are reshaping the Indo-Pacific security architecture. As China rises, and the U.S. sends mixed messages about its intentions, Asian countries are beefing up their own militaries. Be...
www.crisisgroup.org
August 14, 2025 at 11:41 AM
4. The modernisation effort is unfolding amid growing tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea; worries about a confrontation between the U.S. and China over Taiwan; shifting geopolitics; and uncertainty surrounding the second Trump administration’s policies.
August 14, 2025 at 11:39 AM
3. Manila is increasing its defence acquisitions, augmenting its military partnerships and deepening its alliance with Washington.

It tries to balance the “hardware” of new equipment with the “software” of thinking beyond jungle warfare/counterterrorism towards coastal defence.
August 14, 2025 at 11:38 AM
2. The shift is still a work in progress.

But under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the Philippines is modernising its military capabilities and accelerating efforts to change gear from counterinsurgency to territorial and external defence.
August 14, 2025 at 11:36 AM