The poverty of most of Muslim Mindanao is, like the rest of the Philippines, as much consequence of local rivalries and feudal hangovers as of centuries of conflict with Christians

China's expansionism is not confined to the SCS. Read the recent AFP report on the celebrations of de facto independence of Myanmar's Wa State bordering Yunnan. Yuan is now the currency, Chinese the official language. Not long before it is an "autonomous region" of the PRC

Quote from review of "Empire of the Winds" in SCMP. "[The author] does a wonderful demolition job on Beijing's self-serving take on Asian history"

See review of "Empire of the Winds" in South China Morning Post

Truly shocking but not surprising from a government with no sense of the rule of law

Implications of bankruptcy of Hanjin's Subic Bay shipyard is getting far less attention than they deserve from strategic and economic perspectives.

@jnery_newsstand I am still trying to find out when and where it will be on sale in Manila but I am giving a talk to the Philippine Map Collectors Society on Feb 27, If you are interested I will ask if you can come as a guest

Vietnam's challenge to China re Code of Conduct on the sea deserves open support from the Philippines and Malaysia. But are they too venal to defend their rights?

@SCSDocumentary Know the long term history of the region. Out this month: "Empire of the Winds The Global Role of Asia's Great Archipelago" by Philip Bowring. Puts China's "historic" claims into perspective. Forever non-Chinese seas.

That the Lee dynasty will likely end soon does not mean it never existed! But say that out loud and expect a suit.

Note yet another defamation suit being brought by Sinagpore PM Lee Hsien Loong. It has become a family habit to file cases it is sure to win.

The debate on Chinese Filipinos parked by Solita Monsod reaches South China Morning Post. For background read soon to be published Empire of the Winds, the deep history of Nusantaria

Nusantarians need to stand up for their own not kowtow either to western beauty standards or Chinese money

A very demeaning display in the Philippines as nation goes crazy about award of Miss Universe crown as though it were a Nobel prize. The lady is a 5ft 10 inch Australian, a mestiza like most Miss Philippines.

@SCSDocumentary Those interested in the long history of this and neighbouring seas, and the whole Nusantaria region should read upcoming book by Philip Bowring: "Empire of the Winds" due January 2019 from IB Tauris/Bloomsbury. 340pp + plates

@SCS_news Coming soon "Empire of the Winds" a Big Picture view of two millennia of sailing, trading and political change in the maritime region of southeast Asia. Huge scope and puts China in perspective. By Philip Bowring, Published Jan by IB Tauris/Bloomsbury. 340pp plus plates

@SouthChinaSeas Coming see "Empire of the Winds" by Philip Bowring, sweeping history of two millennia sailing and trading by the mostly non-Chinese peoples of the South China and adjacent seas. 340pp plus plates. January 2019 by IB Tauris/Bloomsbury. A must read.

Out soon "Empire of the Winds The Global Role of Asia's Great Archipelago" Sweeping history of Nusantaria. By Philip Bowring. Published by IB Tauris/Bloomsbury. Recommended by Anwar Ibrahim etc What you need to know about maritime southeast Asia's past and present