The character of warfare in the Indo-Pacific is changing fast, moving beyond ships, missiles, and troop deployments into a new domain where control of data, signals, and digital networks could determine the outcome of future conflicts.

This caveat was underscored by Italian electronic warfare expert Antonio Dovizio during a high-level security forum organized by the Italian Embassy in Manila, where he emphasized that future conflicts will increasingly be shaped by dominance in cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Speaking at the seminar “Indo-Pacific: Cyber Domain as the New Frontier of Security,” Dovizio said the global security environment is undergoing a profound shift — from a unipolar world order toward an increasingly volatile multipolar landscape marked by intensifying strategic rivalry among major powers.

At the center of this transformation is the electromagnetic spectrum — the invisible but critical domain that enables communications, intelligence, surveillance, navigation, and weapons systems.

“The battlefield of the 21st century is no longer made of metal, but of frequencies, data, and signals,” he said.

From radar and satellites to maritime communications and civilian telecommunications networks, modern societies are deeply dependent on spectrum-based systems, making them vulnerable to disruption, interference, or manipulation.

This has given rise to electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO), an integrated approach that combines electronic warfare, cyber operations, signals intelligence, and spectrum management into a unified operational framework.
Dovizio warned that cyber and electromagnetic threats are increasingly converging, exposing even secure digital systems to risks due to their reliance on wireless connectivity.

“Defending the network without defending the spectrum is like not defending the network at all,” he said.

Cyberattacks delivered through electromagnetic pathways, he noted, could target critical national infrastructure, including energy grids, telecommunications systems, maritime logistics networks, and military command structures — with cascading effects that could disrupt essential services and economic stability.

Cognitive warfare and the battle for decision-making

Beyond physical infrastructure, Dovizio highlighted the rise of cognitive warfare — a strategy focused on influencing decision-makers by manipulating information.

False or distorted data, he explained, can lead to flawed strategic decisions, misallocation of military assets, and operational failure.

“In modern warfare, influencing decisions can have direct effects on the use of force,” he said.

He outlined a broader doctrinal shift in global military strategy — from platform-centric warfare focused on ships and weapons systems, to network-centric operations, and now toward data-centric warfare, where the ability to collect, process, and act on massive volumes of information is key to gaining strategic advantage.

Major powers are rapidly investing in integrated cyber-electromagnetic capabilities, increasingly supported by artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies designed to achieve preemptive dominance across multiple operational domains.

West Philippine Sea vulnerabilities

For the Philippines, these developments carry significant implications, particularly amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Dovizio identified a range of vulnerabilities linked to the country’s maritime geography, including cyber espionage targeting naval operations, hybrid attacks on maritime logistics and port infrastructure, supply-chain disruptions, and deep infiltration of both digital systems and personnel networks.

He warned that cyber operations are increasingly mirroring physical confrontations, with digital attacks capable of shaping real-world military standoffs in contested maritime spaces.

In such an environment, the human factor remains a critical vulnerability, as phishing campaigns, social engineering, and insider threats continue to exploit gaps in cybersecurity awareness.

Rising threat environment, technology as defense

Cyberattacks have surged sharply in recent years amid ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, highlighting the urgency for countries to strengthen cyber resilience in an increasingly unstable security landscape.
Dovizio stressed that technological innovation remains a crucial line of defense, with integrated cyber-electromagnetic solutions enabling governments to enhance situational awareness, detect emerging threats, and protect critical infrastructure.

These capabilities, he said, are becoming essential as warfare evolves into a complex, multi-domain contest where digital superiority can shape outcomes on land, at sea, in the air, and in space.

Strategic imperative for the Philippines

For the Philippines — strategically positioned at the heart of Indo-Pacific geopolitical competition — strengthening cyber-electromagnetic capabilities is no longer a hypothetical risk but an empirically grounded national imperative.
Safeguarding national security, protecting maritime interests in contested waters, and sustaining economic growth now hinge on the country’s ability to adapt to the realities of modern conflict, where control of information, data, and the electromagnetic spectrum increasingly determines strategic advantage.

The 20-minute discussion, held shortly after Prime Minister Takaichi assumed office, reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to further strengthen their strategic partnership and advance shared goals under a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision.

President Marcos congratulated the Japanese leader on her new post and highlighted the importance of building on the strong foundation of the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2026.

Stronger Security Ties for Regional Stability

Both leaders welcomed the recent in-principle agreement on the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) and celebrated the entry into force of the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) this September—an important milestone that enhances interoperability and rapid humanitarian response. The RAA’s first application, supporting logistics during the recent Cebu earthquake, showcased how defense cooperation now extends to real-world disaster assistance.

They also acknowledged the progress in Official Security Assistance (OSA) and agreed to continue strengthening the foundation for security cooperation that upholds peace and stability in the Philippines and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Economic and Development Cooperation

Prime Minister Takaichi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting the Philippines’ economic resilience and infrastructure modernization, including food security initiatives such as the provision of post-harvest rice processing equipment.

President Marcos expressed deep appreciation for Japan’s continued Official Development Assistance (ODA) and emphasized his administration’s desire to expand collaboration beyond traditional aid, covering a wide range of strategic economic sectors.

Partnership in Energy and Climate Action

The leaders also recognized the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on comprehensive energy partnership during the recent AZEC Ministerial Meeting, paving the way for joint progress in clean and civil nuclear energy initiatives. Prime Minister Takaichi expressed Japan’s intention to work closely with the Philippines toward the success of the AZEC Summit next year.

Looking Ahead: Shared Leadership and Global Challenges

As the Philippines prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination on regional and global issues—including the South China Sea, North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats, the Myanmar crisis, and cross-border stability in the Cambodia-Thailand region.

The Japan-Philippines relationship, rooted in mutual respect and shared democratic values, continues to stand as a model partnership in Asia, strengthening not only bilateral ties but also the collective resilience of the Indo-Pacific community.

On September 24 in New York, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya chaired the first ministerial meeting of the “Friends of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT)”, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the Embassy of Japan from Manila said.

The session lasted about 45 minutes and gathered countries from different regions that support nuclear disarmament.

In his remarks, Iwaya pointed to today’s tense global security climate, citing North Korea’s continued nuclear and missile development and the opaque nuclear build-ups of other states.

He stressed that an FMCT—banning the production of fissile materials like enriched uranium and plutonium—would place real limits on nuclear arsenals.

He called on the international community to turn dialogue into action and finally begin negotiations on the treaty, which has been stalled since first proposed in 1993 by then US President Bill Clinton.

Officials from Australia, the Philippines, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom also delivered statements.

United Nations disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu underscored the urgency of advancing the treaty, while the United States participated as an observer.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint ministerial statement reaffirming support for the treaty’s negotiation.

The FMCT Friends group—made up of countries including Japan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, the Philippines, the UK, and the US—aims to keep international focus on the treaty and broaden political support for its adoption.

Japan emphasized that starting negotiations on the FMCT without delay is vital to strengthening the global disarmament and non-proliferation framework. V. Uy

“We remain deeply concerned by the use of force and coercion to alter the status quo in the region,” said the foreign ministers in a statement released from Charlevoix, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union,

“This includes the troubling use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels, as well as efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, contrary to international law,” they added, affirming that their shared goal remains one of upholding sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful dispute resolution.

The statement also underscored the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.

“The G7 remains opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion and continues to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in relevant international organizations,” the ministers said.

The G7 expressed particular concern over China’s increasing military presence and nuclear weapon expansion. They urged China to engage in discussions to reduce strategic risks and promote stability through transparency.

“China must avoid actions that undermine the security of our communities and the integrity of democratic institutions,” the G7 leaders added.

In addition to security issues, the G7 raised concerns over China’s non-market practices, which they believe contribute to harmful market distortions. They called on China to refrain from adopting export control measures that could disrupt global supply chains, reiterating that a growing China adhering to international rules would be in the best interest of the global community.

The statement also condemned the North Korean regime’s continued nuclear weapons development and ballistic missile programs, calling on Pyongyang to abandon its weapons of mass destruction in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“We are also deeply concerned about North Korea’s criminal activities, including its theft of cryptocurrency,” the ministers added.

Finally, the G7 strongly denounced the military regime’s brutal repression of Myanmar’s people and called for an end to violence and unhindered humanitarian access.

The G7 members’ statement is a clear reaffirmation of their collective commitment to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific, where sovereignty, peace, and international norms are upheld.

The G7 represents some of the world’s largest advanced economies and plays a key role in addressing global economic, political, and security challenges. Through collaborative efforts, the G7 promotes democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and seeks to address pressing international issues.