SeaLight

06/01/2026

Executive Director Ray Powell: "Sometimes the 🇨🇳Global Times pretends to be an actual news organization rather than a propaganda outlet. At other times it removes all doubt and pulls adolescent stunts like this." 🙄

05/31/2026

USNI News: U.S. Coast Guard Patrols Near Scarborough Shoal with Philippine Forces Amid Concerns of Potential Chinese Build-Up

A 🇺🇸U.S.- 🇵🇭Philippine patrol near Scarborough Shoal this week amid Manila’s concerns of potential structures placed by Beijing at the South China Sea hotspot.

The exercise from May 26 to 30 was the first time a U.S. Coast Guard vessel joined Philippine forces for a maritime cooperative activity. Also known as a joint patrol, the naval drills are designed to showcase the U.S.-Philippine alliance’s resolve in waters disputed by China. Washington and Manila committed to these drills in 2023, following a year of increasingly escalatory incidents from China at contested maritime features.

Cutter USS Midgett (WMSL-757) joined the Philippine Navy frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FFG-14) and Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) for the maritime cooperative activity. The drills focused on law enforcement training, including maritime interdiction of vessels and boarding operations.

According to maritime tracking data posted by the SeaLight Foundation, the American and Philippine vessels held activities around 35-40 nautical miles from the Chinese-occupied maritime feature.

“This direct involvement by the USCG in a Philippine challenge to China’s maritime aggression inside the West Philippine Sea is a significant step forward for the alliance,” read a social media statement from SeaLight.

A U.S.-Philippine patrol near Scarborough Shoal this week amid Manila’s concerns of potential structures placed by Beijing at the South China Sea hotspot. The exercise from May 26 to 30 was the first time a U.S. Coast Guard vessel joined Philippine forces for a maritime cooperative activity. Also ...

05/31/2026

🚨 "I am a militiaman. If I'm given the order, I'll set sail."

That's what a 🇨🇳Chinese fisherman told an 🇯🇵Asahi Shimbun reporter — confirming what ship-tracking data had strongly suggested: those massive lines of boats forming across the aren't fishing fleets. They're maritime militia mobilizing on command.

But this isn't the 's full-time militia. These are genuine commercial fishermen organized by provincial authorities and mobilized at intervals for wartime rehearsals — essentially ready reservists, larger and harder to attribute than their SCS cousins.

The scale is striking 📊: last Christmas, ingeniSPACE flagged ~2,000 vessels forming a 470-km inverted-L barrier, then shared it with The New York Times.

This set off a torrent of reporting, but Asahi Shimbun's on-the-ground interview inside was a particularly audacious and important confirmation.

A mobilizable fishing fleet lets Beijing contest these waters without committing its navy — intentionally blurring every line defenders rely on: civil vs. military, legal vs. illegal, peace vs. war.

Read the full analysis on our blog (link in comments)👇

05/30/2026

🚨 HAPPENING NOW — 1st-ever US Coast Guard-Philippine Coast Guard joint patrol challenging PRC's exclusion zone at Scarborough Shoal

🇺🇸🇵🇭 For what appears to be the 1st time, a US Coast Guard cutter is operating directly alongside the Philippine Coast Guard in a joint presence operation challenging Beijing's exclusion zone around (Bajo de Masinloc).

🛰️ Automatic Identification System tracking data from Starboard Maritime Intelligence shows the USCG cutter Midgett sortieing from Manila Bay on 28 May alongside PCG cutter BRP Melchora Aquino & taking station on the western approaches to the shoal starting yesterday, 29 May and holding roughly 35-40 nm out.

🇵🇭 Also visible in the operation are PCG patrol vessel BRP Cabra & Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources BRP Datu Pagbuaya (now returning to Manila Bay, followed closely by CCG 21563). History suggests others may also be involved but operating "AIS-dark".

🇨🇳 Arrayed against them is a layered Chinese paramilitary cordon: at least 9 CCG cutters are visible on AIS forming an outer picket line 20-40nm from the shoal, while at least 7 large militia vessels are visible forming an inner cordon 5-17nm out.

🇨🇳 Past experience strongly suggests PLA Navy vessels (not visible on AIS) are also in the area, but will likely keep their distance to ensure no repeats of the disastrous 11 August 2025 "friendly fire" collision near Scarborough.

🤝 This direct involvement by the USCG in a Philippine challenge to China's maritime aggression inside the West Philippine Sea is a significant step forward for the alliance.

05/29/2026

❌Unhinged from Reality

Asked by Taiwan Talks to react to Global Times, a state mouthpiece, regarding its post on Philippine President Marcos Jr.’s visit to Japan to explore Taiwan’s seabed. SeaLight Executive Director Ray Powell called the Global Times “unhinged from reality,” noting that the Philippines lacks the capabilities to exploit seabed resources around Taiwan.

Source: Taiwan Talks

05/29/2026

HEY LOOK who's in 🇹🇼 this week: SeaLight's Board Chair Jim Carouso & Executive Director Ray Powell. Read all about it HERE on their podcast page: 👇👇👇

05/28/2026

Thank you, Xi Jinping! 🐼🇨🇳

SeaLight Executive Director Ray Powell was invited for an interview with Taiwan Talks to discuss the Philippine President Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr.'s visit to Japan. He thanked Xi Jinping for his critical role in supercharging the Philippines-Japan bilateral relations due to their shared threat perception against .

Source: Taiwan Talks

05/28/2026

📍"We should take a moment and appreciate what Xi Jinping has done to bring this moment to pass."
-- SeaLight Director Ray Powell on 🇹🇼TaiwanTalks, "Takaichi and Marcos Unite: 's Worst Nightmare"

Ray joined the program to help unpack this week's summit in Tokyo -- an important moment in security.

🔑 Key takeaways:

✅ can be his own worst enemy. 🇨🇳Beijing's aggression is what's supercharging the 🇯🇵Tokyo–🇵🇭Manila relationship into a near-alliance, including a likely intel-sharing pact and expanded arms transfers.

✅ The First Island Chain is becoming real. and the moving from a 🇺🇸 US "hub-and-spoke" model to interactive planning together meaningfully complicates the PLA's calculus across the and .

✅ PRC state media in rare form. The Global Times' claim that Manila's "real objective" is seabed minerals around is unhinged from reality and a transparent attempt to drive wedges between partners.

✅ The – summit raised flags. If FT reporting is accurate that Trump didn't highlight China's massive military buildup while defending PM Takaichi, that omission was regrettable. China's military buildup is the largest in our lifetimes; Japan's response has been modest and overdue.

✅ Mixed messages on arms hurt deterrence. The acting Navy Secretary's comments on a "pause" in Taiwan's $14B sale and severe delays on Japan's 400 Tomahawks damage credibility — but if this finally forces serious reform of the US defense industrial base, it may be worth the pain.

🤝 Beijing wants to divide. Instead, it's accelerating alignment. 🇯🇵🇵🇭🇹🇼🇺🇸

Watch the full discussion at the link in the comments 👇👇👇

05/25/2026

🚨Why Should We Care About the US-Philippines bilateral relations?

Retired U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson joins SeaLight Executive Director Ray Powell and Why Should We Care About the Indo-Pacific? podcast co-host Jim Carouso to discuss U.S.-Philippines relations.

Ambassador Carlson discusses the importance of the US-Philippines relationship and why this is a significant year in the bilateral relations between the 🇺🇸 United States and the 🇵🇭 .

05/21/2026

🚨 Why does the 🇺🇸 need to support the 🇵🇭 ?

In her first exclusive interview since stepping down, retired U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson joins SeaLight Executive Director Ray Powell and Why Should We Care About the Indo-Pacific? podcast co-host Jim Carouso to discuss U.S.-Philippines relations.

During her term, Ambassador Carlson played a pivotal role in the dramatic transformation of the U.S.-Philippines alliance. As an ambassador, she witnessed numerous breakthroughs that are now a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Among them are the following: 1. The largest Balikatan exercise in history; 2. The expansion of EDCA sites; 3. The creation of the Luzon Economic Corridor; 4. The new $2.5 billion Philippine Enhanced Resilience Act, and 5. The U.S.-Philippines 123 civil nuclear agreement.

In this video, Ambassador MaryKay Carlson discusses the critical need for the United States to stand alongside the Philippines in defending its sovereignty and enforcing the 2016 Arbitral Award to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/OUbBEyFkq-I