Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 30, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte speaks upon his arrival at Davao International Airport. Photo: Reuters/Lean Daval Jr

Richard Javad Heydarian, Asia Times: Philippines draws three hard lines on China

In a shift, President Rodrigo Duterte threatens war if Beijing crosses three 'red lines' on Philippine-claimed features in the South China Sea

As China relentlessly militarizes contested islands and features across the South China Sea, the Philippines appears to be finally taking a tougher stance on its competing claims. How Beijing responds to Manila’s apparent harder line will have implications for regional peace and stability.

For the first time, President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has issued several seemingly official “red lines” amid China’s creeping presence in Philippine-claimed waters. If Beijing continues to push, it jeopardize its rapprochement with Manila and put relations back on a confrontational track.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 30, 2018

North Korea Wants to End up Like Pakistan, Not Libya -- Dominic Tierney, Defense One/The Atlantic

Will North Korea summit happen? Depends on closing gaps in talks -- Scott Snyder, The Hill

Trump and North Korea: Total denuclearization must remain the goal -- Lori Esposito Murray, Defense News

America Should Not Play Smallball at the Singapore Summit -- Lyle J. Goldstein, National Interest

Is the US bypassing Pakistan for new Taliban strategy? -- Anwar Iqbal, DW

A vision for war without end in Myanmar -- Anthony Davis, Asia Times

How will the US nuclear deal pullout affect Iran's economy? -- Seyed Yasser Jebraily, Al Jazeera

Libya peace talks: More of the same? -- Ramy Allahoum, Al Jazeera

Ethiopia Already Is the 'China of Africa' -- Tyler Cowen, Bloomberg View

Italian political crisis: This is not a drill -- David P.Goldman, Asia Times

Italy’s Election Troubles—There Is Worse to Come -- Scott B. MacDonald, National Interest

If López Obrador wins Mexico’s presidential election, it will be a setback for democracy in Venezuela -- Andrés Oppenheimer, Miami Herald

China’s Looming Financial Crisis -- Stephen Joske, Lowy Interpreter

White House move raises trade tensions with China -- Vicki Needham, The Hill

Obama’s spying scandal is starting to look a lot like Watergate -- Micahel Barone, New York Post

How Kinder Morgan won a billion-dollar bailout on Canada pipeline -- David Ljunggren, Liz Hampton and Gary McWilliams, Reuters