Peace through the rule of law and partnerships
Tomorrow marks the ninth anniversary of the July 12, 2016 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) recognizing the Philippines’ sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. It is a victory not only for us Filipinos but for the community of nations that respects the supremacy of international law.
That ruling was a decisive and moral victory for the Philippines. Grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it affirmed the legitimacy of the country’s maritime entitlements and nullified China’s expansive claims as baseless.
The late Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario, who served as honorary chair of The Stratbase Institute, said: “The award is final and binding. We won on every significant point. It is a victory not just for the Philippines but for the rule of law, and for all nations that seek to maintain peace and stability through international law.”
We remember these words as we commemorate the PCA ruling amid China’s continued coercive acts. This year alone, over 260 Chinese vessels—warships, coast guard, and maritime militia—have swarmed Philippine waters, blatantly violating our sovereignty.
Just last month, China Coast Guard ships harassed Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels near Bajo de Masinloc, issuing radio threats and attacking with water cannons.
Since 2016, hundreds of incursions have been recorded across key maritime features such as Ayungin Shoal, Sabina Shoal, and Pag-asa Island. These incidents have grown in both frequency and severity—ranging from ramming to obstruction of resupply missions—endangering Filipino lives and our marine ecosystems.
In response, the Philippines continues to protest every incursion, filing over 400 diplomatic notes since 2016. We uphold diplomacy, but with firm assertion of our rights under international law. But our defense must also confront a more insidious front: information warfare.
The recently published statement of Col. Raymond Powell, director of SeaLight and nonresident fellow of the Stratbase Institute, warned, “The People’s Republic of China has waged a coordinated information warfare campaign—not just against me or the SeaLight initiative—but against the Filipino people’s right to truth in the West Philippine Sea.”
He probed into Beijing’s extensive disinformation campaign as a systematic distortion of facts, and a desperate smear campaign against all advocates exposing the truth. I agree with his observation that, “some elected officials—not fringe voices, but those entrusted with safeguarding national interest”—have become amplifiers of these falsities. for either political interest or plain opportunism. Amidst overwhelming public sentiment against China’s persisting violations of our sovereign and territorial rights, their silence reveals a traitorous, opportunistic political agenda.
Powell aptly states, “Its goal is to delegitimize the Philippines’ evidence-based defense of its maritime rights by turning truth into treason.”
As we assert our maritime claims diplomatically and legally, we must also remain vigilant against coordinated efforts to erode public trust, confuse the national narrative, and weaken our resolve from within. Asserting our rights in the West Philippine Sea and exclusive economic zone is fought not only in our waters but in the information space—and both fronts demand clarity, courage, and unity.
We are also building self-reliance in defense and deepening alliances with like-minded states. The United States, Australia, Japan, and others have consistently reaffirmed their support for the 2016 ruling.
A recent example is the joint statement by the defense ministers of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States in May, wherein they announced coordinated efforts in defense investments, intelligence sharing, cybersecurity resilience, and expanded joint operations—all aimed at strengthening regional deterrence and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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Today, Stratbase Institute is holding a forum titled “The Ninth Year of the Arbitral Victory: Defending the Rules-Based Order Through Reinforced Defense Capabilities and Partnerships.” Among the speakers are ambassadors from Australia, the UK, Canada, the EU, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the United States, and Vietnam—demonstrating the breadth of global support for the Philippines and for rules-based peace in the Indo-Pacific.
The forum reinforces a united front to uphold the rules-based order and safeguard the gains of the arbitral ruling—sending a clear message: defending the West Philippine Sea is a global imperative grounded in international law and sustained by strong partnerships.
We bank on this solidarity to defend our sovereignty and uphold peace, stability, and the rule of law in the region and beyond.
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Dindo Manhit is the founder and CEO of Stratbase Group.
