Philippines, Vietnam
Manila and Hanoi bypass ASEAN on South China Sea dispute

Europe, Philippines
European networks actively lobbying for the Philippine rebellion in Brussels

To organise their people's court in Brussels, aimed at denouncing Manila's crackdown on the rebellion, Filipino communists tapped into the European ‘anti-imperialist' movement. They hope to secure a better position in the forthcoming peace negotiations with the government.

The Intelligence Gazette
Priority on foreign interference, Malaysia-China secret maritime deal, new adviser to France's CNCTR

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

AustraliaGovernment increases spending on fight against foreign interference and financial intelligence

China/MalaysiaKuala Lumpur and Beijing's discreet South China Sea agreement

FranceEx-adviser to Macron's Renaissance party joins CNCTR commission

France, Philippines, Vietnam
New defence attachés carry French hopes for armament contracts in Indo-Pacific

With the creation of a post in Manila and a replacement in Hanoi, France is continuing to prospect for equipment contracts around the South China Sea, coming up against China's expansionist aims.

Philippines, Russia, United States
Brain drain: Russian energy and banking veterans slip into Asian fintech

With finance from US fund Argentem Creek Partners and the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, a former top executive and statesman of Russia's strategic sectors has quietly left Moscow to develop a bank in the Philippines.

United States, Vietnam
Hanoi keeps US firms at arms length as political turmoil deepens

The US delegation that just travelled to Vietnam was given a cautious welcome, with the Ministry of Public Security putting off signing memorandums of understanding with the threat of political turbulence looming.

China, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam
Chinese and Philippine experts clash over US bases in Manila

Tensions in the South China Sea are apparent even in hushed discussions between experts. The agreement between the United States and the Philippines on access to four military bases is a sticking point that has left the Chinese military fuming.

Russia, Vietnam
Russia lobbying hard for its Mir payment system, from Moscow to Hanoi

Moscow is ramping up efforts to convince Vietnam to adopt the Mir payment system, citing the Vietnam-Russia Joint Venture Bank as an early adopter. Russia's objective is to guarantee its hydrocarbon contracts are paid, but Hanoi, currently rethinking its geopolitical position, is being cautious.

Vietnam
IAI plays trump card for spy-satellite deal

Competition between French and Israeli manufacturers to provide Vietnam with a spy satellite is heating up. While Airbus and Thales were chatting to prime minister Pham Minh Chinh in Paris, IAI had a delegation in Hanoi trying to get defence minister Phan Van Giang and his teams to sign a contract.