*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD
China’s strategy in the South China Sea is not simply about islands and waters—it is about control. It is a long, calculated plan to reshape the political behavior of its neighbors by using diplomacy as a weapon and economics as bait. Through charm, trade, and selective friendship, China seeks to isolate the Philippines and Vietnam, turning the rest of ASEAN into silent bystanders content with economic promises while sovereignty quietly erodes.
For the Philippines, the issue is more than a geopolitical challenge—it is a test of national character. Our position as the only U.S. treaty ally in the region, and one of the few nations bold enough to assert its maritime rights, makes us both a target and a symbol. China knows that by dividing ASEAN, it weakens collective resistance. And by dividing Filipinos through political chaos, it weakens the very core of our defense—unity.
What truly endangers us is not China’s military might, but our own political disunity. Every change in administration resets our foreign policy, as if sovereignty can be redefined by popularity. We have had leaders who trade firmness for loans, and politicians who equate diplomacy with submission. Our national weakness has never been about the lack of weapons—it is about the lack of will, wisdom, and vision in leadership.
As we move toward 2028, this realization must awaken every Filipino. The next President should not merely be someone adored by the masses or skilled in rhetoric. The next leader must be a statesman—one who understands the full spectrum of national security. Defense is only one part of it. True national security includes food security, so no Filipino child starves; health security, so our nation remains strong against pandemics and poverty; literacy and education, so our people cannot be manipulated; and diplomacy, so we can stand as equals among nations, not as dependents of the powerful.
The Philippines needs a leader who understands law, governance, and the delicate balance between sovereignty and diplomacy. A leader who can navigate international relations with firmness, not arrogance; with prudence, not fear. A leader who can unify a divided nation through the moral strength of example—not through coercion or charm.
If 2028 becomes another contest of personalities and dynasties, then China’s strategy will not need to succeed—it already has. Because a nation divided within is already isolated. The cycle of opportunism, corruption, and short-term politics will continue to rot our institutions from within. But if Filipinos rise above emotional politics—if they finally seek a leader of intellect, conscience, and courage—then we can transform isolation into resilience.
This is not only about defending the West Philippine Sea. It is about defending the Filipino soul. China’s goal may be to make us feel small and helpless, but the true power of the Philippines has always rested in its people—our unity, our dignity, and our unwavering belief that we deserve better leaders and a better nation.
In 2028, we must choose not just a president. We must choose the protector of our children’s future, the guardian of our seas, and the restorer of our nation’s pride. The challenge is clear: elect a statesman, not a showman; a thinker, not a talker; a servant, not a dynasty’s heir. Only then can the Philippines truly stand unbowed—respected, sovereign, and whole.
