Brian Harding

Jul 25, 2024 | usip.org | Andrew Scobell |Daniel Spinelli |Brian Harding |Carla P. Freeman

China and the Philippines this weekend reached a deal aimed at reducing their growing tensions over Second Thomas Shoal. The agreement comes as maritime confrontations have been increasing in frequency and intensity, raising fears of a broader conflict that could lead to the Philippines invoking its mutual defense treaty with the United States.

Mar 14, 2024 | usip.org | Carla P. Freeman |Brian Harding |Andrew Scobell

On March 5, Chinese coast guard vessels sideswiped a Philippine patrol vessel and used water cannons against another boat carrying a Filipino admiral and provisions to Filipino service members stationed at the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal, or Ayunyin Shoal, in the South China Sea. Manila, which calls the sea the West Philippines Sea, has been pushing back against China’s so-called ten-dash line through which Beijing stakes claim to much of the sea, including land parcels.

Sep 2, 2023 | philstar.com | Brian Harding |Alex Stephenson

During the August 5 crisis at Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs tried to contact its Chinese counterparts through a bilateral hotline. Manila’s effort to de-escalate the standoff despite being the victim of Chinese aggression was laudable. Unfortunately, the calls went unanswered. Officials in Washington have shared the same experience on many occasions – when communication is needed most, Beijing can’t be reached.

Aug 10, 2023 | usip.org | Brian Harding |Andrew Scobell

Chinese-Filipino tensions have been on the rise since last year, as a new Philippines president has moved Manilla closer to Washington and China has continued to assert its claims over most of the South China Sea through similarly proactive actions. Given that Washington and Manilla have a mutual defense treaty, there is credible concern that an incident like this could trigger a wider U.S.-China conflict.

Mar 16, 2023 | techsmart.co.za | Brian Harding

By Brian Harding, Head of iOCO Digital Digital transformation has been a business buzzword for many years now, but while most organisations have already embarked on the journey, they often forget that digital transformation always needs to be viewed in the context of the end consumer. Typically, organisations embark on a digital transformation journey to drive growth and sustainability, improve productivity, and deliver a more engaging customer (and employee) experience.