Key Issues
Important maritime and shipping issues.

Kampung Ulu Tual: Indigenous people struggling for better life
Visiting the aboriginal community of Semai in Northwest Pahang, Malaysia, is an experience like no other. Maritime Fairtrade recently ventured into this area and was

Despite China’s opposition, Philippines strengthens military ties with U.S.
If a war breaks out between the United States and China, will the Philippines be caught in the middle? This is a serious concern for

Would the U.S. be successful in wooing Vietnam to counter China?
Lambasted and shunned by China, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 15 2023,

G7: Worries loom over China’s militarization of East, South China Seas
Although the Group of Seven (G7) gathering of foreign ministers in Karuizawa, Japan, focused primarily on tackling the Russo-Ukraine crisis, the shadow of China’s military

Historical, economic case for why Communist China should not invade Taiwan
During a recent interview with the “Fox News Rundown” podcast in April this year, US Representative Dusty Johnson of South Dakota remarked that “Taiwan is,

French president Macron’s appeasement of Communist China undermines Indo-Pacific peace
In a much-criticized interview with French news outlet Les Echos after his recent visit to China in April 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that

Indonesia espouses diplomacy in South China Sea, Taiwan Strait crisis
As global and regional geopolitical tension persists, diplomacy remains the only viable option to Indonesia in the midst of rising Chinese influence in the region,

Myanmar’s junta rule, two years on: Suppressed civilians, crippled economy and frosty foreign relations
Two years since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the junta has been ramping up its suppression on the country’s civilians to quell all opposition,

Why is the Philippines standing up to China on South China Sea dispute after years of close bilateral ties?
Amid Chinese incursions in the South China Sea and in the waters of what the Philippines terms the West Philippine Sea, diplomats from the Philippines

Filipino human rights groups appeal for release of women political prisoners
Frenchie Mae Cumpio, 24, is an Eastern Visayas community journalist who was arrested on February 7, 2020. She was taken into custody by police and

Covid-19 lockdowns trigger explosion of online child sexual abuses in Philippines
On March 8, Australia’s ABC News published an alarming report that indicated “online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the Philippines” more than doubled during the Covid-19

Singapore still top in fighting corruption in Asia
In the 10th edition of the Global Legal Insights to Bribery & Corruption (2023) published by Global Legal Group, Allen & Gledhill

Transparency International reveals neglect of anti-corruption efforts in Asia Pacific
The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released January 31 by Transparency International shows that leaders have ignored anti-corruption efforts, with

Scant progress against corruption as world becomes more violent, says Transparency International
The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released January 31 by Transparency International shows that most of the world continues to

Dark Side of Maritime Industry: Tales of Corruption
The maritime industry is no stranger to tales of corruption. From illegal fishing, human trafficking, or pollution to tales of
In Pictures: Photo stories
Unsung heroes of Navotas Fish Market
Seafarer Avenue: Empty street, broken dreams
A Hard Life at the Port
We stand united against corruption.

South Korea, U.S. conduct combined maritime counter-special operations exercise
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) conducted a series of exercises with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, April 24-27, in

Philippines, U.S. agree to modernize, strengthen alliance
The United States and the Philippines will continue the fundamental work needed to modernize and strengthen the alliance between the two nations, said Secretary of
The Problem.
Over 90 percent of the global trade is carried across ocean. However, the maritime industry is also prone to rampant corruption.

We need to be ethical now more than ever
An investor told a start-up founder he was reviewing his investment and might not provide further funding next year. However, the investor also insisted that the

Kampung Ulu Tual: Indigenous people struggling for better life
Visiting the aboriginal community of Semai in Northwest Pahang, Malaysia, is an experience like no other. Maritime Fairtrade recently ventured into this area and was

A crusader to reduce risk, increase resilience in era of climate change
The term climate change has been spewed around quite often in recent years – and for good reason. It poses significant challenges to various industries

Why communism is bad for business
According to the WIPO Global Innovation Index 2022, the top 10 most innovative economies in the world are Switzerland, the U.S., Sweden, UK, Netherland, South

Why beach clean-up is a fallacy in Malaysia
Similar to an overflowing sink, Malaysia should turn off the tap for marine debris before it endangers marine life. The most efficient way to reduce

Swire Bulk joins Sustainable Shipping Initiative
Swire Bulk becomes the latest member of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI), joining ambitious organizations across the maritime ecosystem in working towards a more environmentally,

UN wants urgent global action to support world’s least developed countries
The world’s most vulnerable economies need urgent global action as current crises threaten to reverse decades of development gains. The world’s 46 least developed countries

NYK to invest in Climate Tech Growth Fund
NYK has signed an agreement to invest in the Marunouchi Climate Tech Growth Fund, a new investment fund that will

HMM has cut carbon emissions by half in last decade
HMM announced that it plans to conduct field tests of an onboard carbon capture system (OCCS) for containerships along with