As tensions continue to churn in the West Philippine Sea, the waves crash not only against our vessels—but against the fragile promise of international law itself.


Exactly a year from now, it will be a decade since the 2016 arbitral ruling denying China’s sweeping territorial claims—a ruling that declares the nine-dash line as unlawful and the Scarborough Shoal as the traditional fishing ground for Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese fisherfolk. A ruling that the Philippines remains committed to in the pursuit of “law and peaceful settlement of disputes in the West Philippine Sea.”

With the recent conflict over missiles in the Middle East and what seems to be a renewed pivot from the US and allied nations as they deepen military and economic ties with the Philippines, two superpowers, locked in a struggle for global dominance, are pulling the country into a geopolitical tug-of-war. Meanwhile, Filipino fishermen and coastguards bear the brunt of aggression as they continue to get harassed, infringed, and bullied by the superpower China.

Just last month, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported the “illegal swarming” of Chinese maritime militia ships near Rozul Reef, as well as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ vessel being hit by the Chinese Coast Guard’s water cannons. These infractions, albeit not often reported by the media, are practically a “daily situation,” as stated by outgoing Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.

To the Chinese, their constant loitering around Philippine waters is a matter of reaffirming their ideology of the nine-dash line. They were the first nation to exploit the sea, drawing historical entitlement from ancient maps and maritime expeditions. A narrative that is deeply embedded in Chinese national identity, which is taught in school and fortified by generations raised to view the 2016 arbitrary as a testament to their country’s unreckoned global dominance.

On the North side, the US reiterates its promises of defense and development to the Philippines, while expanding its military presence following the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.  Military bases across the Philippines have been set up under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, and its military presence in Subic has returned after nearly three decades. Allies like Japan, France, and Canada have also joined in Balikatan 2025, a trilateral summit that highlighted the improvement of the military and economic facets of countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

However, the US involvement is far from altruistic—it is, in many ways, deeply hypocritical. Having risen to global power in the aftermath of World War II, they sought to preserve their global dominance and contain the rise of rival powers like China. Its neoliberal foreign policy frames interventions like these as a defense of freedom, democracy, and the “rules-based order.” Yet, these values seemingly serve as a façade for advancing strategic and deeply-rooted imperial interests, which in this context is gaining control of the Indo-Pacific region.

With both the US and China all hands on deck to pursue global dominion, the Philippines is left in uncertainty on which government to depend on. The country’s nuanced position both geographically and politically constantly puts ordinary Filipinos in peril, as Chinese forces will continue to fence around the economic zones that the 2016 arbitration claims to be legally ours.

The government’s consistent filing for protests against Beijing’s atrocities, as well as media releases and statements that push for “diplomacy” and maintain “regional peace and stability,” could only do so much to contest the aggression faced by the working sector whenever a vessel is rammed.

If there is one lesson the Philippines may learn from the diplomatic maneuvers of China and the United States, it is how deeply their foreign relations are rooted in ideology. Both superpowers embed their foreign policy in national narratives to justify intervention and expand their influence.

It is time we step up and pursue active and coordinated diplomatic efforts by working closely with our Southeast Asian neighbors to build a united regional front in addressing and managing tensions with China. While the Chinese government has made it clear that they find the arbitral ruling irrelevant and a challenge to the growing assertion of its global supremacy, multilateral bodies and organizations they have participated in say otherwise.

We must leverage this international consensus to assert our legal and moral standing, not in isolation, but through a collective regional voice alongside other disputed nations like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. By diplomatically coordinating and strengthening our connections with them, we can amplify our position and push back against unilateral aggression.

Simultaneously, ordinary citizens and basic sectors must stay informed, speak out, and support leaders who uphold sovereignty and diplomacy. From mass protests that aim to pressure lawmakers to strengthen maritime defense to active engagement in fact-based media that shape public opinion, we become critical players in defending national sovereignty.

In turn, a reactive and politically fragmented Philippines should realize that depending on superpowers will not stop Beijing’s maritime assets from loitering around the seas and disturbing the livelihood of Filipino fishermen. 

Through an alliance geared to our calls for peaceful and genuine diplomatic relations, the Philippines can help shape a region that is not dictated by foreign powers but led by the shared interests of its people. With the rising tide of conflict steered by global leaders, it is imperative for the Philippines to resist tension and for Filipinos to oppose a global power struggle.

The West Philippines Sea must not turn into a strategic battleground of leading nations, where the rule of law is drowned by brute force. Most importantly, Filipinos do not deserve to be dragged into a conflict fueled by the ambitions of dominant nations eager to serve their interests.