Armando J. Heredia

About Armando J. Heredia

Armando J. Heredia, a civilian observer of naval affairs. He is an IT Risk and Information Security practitioner, with a background in the defense and financial services industries. He is a regular contributor to the Center for International Maritime Security's NextWar blog. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, any particular nation’s government or related agency.

Recent Posts By the Author


Analysis: Trump, Duterte and the Future of Philippines

Analysis: Trump, Duterte and the Future of Philippines

By:
President-elect Donald Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

President-elect Donald Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

With an upset win President-elect Donald Trump has an opportunity to positively reset deteriorating U.S.-Philippines relations. The news of his victory was received with much elation by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. While the two executives may appear to be birds of a feather—certainly in their personalities, tactical use of strong language and statements of extreme policy—there are key differences that bring clear limits to the honeymoon period. Read More →

Analysis: What’s Next for Manila Following South China Sea Ruling?

Analysis: What’s Next for Manila Following South China Sea Ruling?

By:
Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

The Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

The long-awaited tribunal ruling on China’s territory grab of the Western Philippine Sea finally emerged on July 12. As expected it was a mostly clean sweep for the Philippines government—judging that the claims under the PRC’s Nine-Dash Line vision were invalid, and its current activities of island reclaiming and resource grabbing were both illegal and harmful to the environment. Read More →

Analysis: New U.S.-Philippine Basing Deal Heavy on Air Power, Light on Naval Support

Analysis: New U.S.-Philippine Basing Deal Heavy on Air Power, Light on Naval Support

By:
Civil service mariners from USNS Sacagawea train with Marines by connecting a HUMVEE to a MV-22 Osprey in the Philippines in 2013. US Navy Photo

Civil service mariners from USNS Sacagawea train with Marines by connecting a HUMVEE to a MV-22 Osprey in the Philippines in 2013. US Navy Photo

Over the weekend, the United States and the Philippines concluded their Sixth Annual Bilateral Security Dialogue session in Washington, D.C. At that forum, one of the first fruits of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) came to bear: the announcement of five bases where the United States could rotate troops and pre-position facilities and materials in support of the U.S. Pacific Pivot. Read More →

Opinion: U.N. Ruling is Turning Point for Overlapping South China Sea Claims

Opinion: U.N. Ruling is Turning Point for Overlapping South China Sea Claims

By:
A map of China's shifting definition of the so-called Nine-Dash Line. US State Dept. Image

A map of China’s shifting definition of the so-called Nine-Dash Line. US State Dept. Image

The United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration handed out a decision on Thursday that the Republic of the Philippines’ case against the People’s Republic of China regarding Law of the Seas violations can be heard. This long-awaited decision marks a turning point in the complex landscape of international legality as more maritime nations seek to establish boundaries on their oceanic and littoral territories. Read More →

Opinion: The Philippines Military Modernization Severely Snagged

Opinion: The Philippines Military Modernization Severely Snagged

By:
President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Philippine Nay (PN) Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC) Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, tour and inspect the facilities of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16) in 2013.

President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Philippine Nay (PN) Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC) Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, tour and inspect the facilities of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16) in 2013.

The Philippines’ armed services modernization program took a strange and alarming turn recently as President Benigno Aquino III’s final term comes to a close. Read More →

Analysis: Growing The Philippines South China Sea Outpost

Analysis: Growing The Philippines South China Sea Outpost

By:
An undated photo of BRP Sierra Madre, grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratley Islands

An undated photo of BRP Sierra Madre, grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratley Islands

The Philippines government has begun efforts to reinforce the tiny outpost of BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated World War II-era landing ship deliberately beached on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999. Due in no small part to extensive media coverage, the vessel is a well-known symbol of the ongoing territorial dispute over the mineral- and resource-rich Spratleys Island group. Read More →

Analysis: The Philippines' Naval Build Up

Analysis: The Philippines’ Naval Build Up

By:
HMAS Balikpapan, Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) L133 HMAS Betano, and Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1665 transit out of the Segond Channel during Pacific Partnership 2011. US Navy Photo

HMAS Balikpapan, Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) L133 HMAS Betano, and Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1665 transit out of the Segond Channel during Pacific Partnership 2011. US Navy Photo

Like many of its regional peers, the Philippines is in the midst of a defense buildup, motivated in no small part by China’s assertive moves in the western Philippine Sea and the resource-rich Spratly islands. Read More →