Manila: National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo A±o announced that the Philippines will maintain its transparency policy to address China's gray-zone activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 'At the heart of our national strategy lies the necessity of transparency to counter China's gray zone activities,' A±o stated, emphasizing the pivotal role of transparency in the country's national strategy. 'By uniting in this way, we safeguard not just our sovereign rights but the sustainability of the seas that sustain millions across Southeast Asia,' he added.
According to Philippines News Agency, the transparency policy was initially proposed by A±o in 2023 when he became the chairman of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS). A±o highlighted the importance of providing the Filipino people with verified information to overcome fear, counter defeatist narratives, and bolster national determination.
A±o clarified that the country's transparency policy is both measured and principled, refuting claims that it is provocative. 'Let me be clear: transparency is not provocation. It is a principled and necessary approach to asserting our sovereign rights without resorting to aggression. By embracing transparency, we are not escalating tensions; we are deescalating them through clarity and resolve,' he asserted.
Since its inception in 2023, the transparency policy has developed into a sustained national doctrine based on discipline, credibility, and adherence to international law. 'We have exposed Chinese maneuvers for what they truly are: Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive, and Deceptive (ICAD) actions. By systematically documenting and publicizing these incidents, we impose significant reputational costs on the aggressor, deterring further escalation and establishing credible below-the-threshold deterrence,' A±o explained.
He also noted that by releasing verified footage, eyewitness accounts, and factual reports from the frontlines, the Philippines directly counters falsehoods in real-time, thereby validating its position and exposing the manipulative intent behind these actions. A±o remarked that transparency has reshaped the global understanding of the issue, transforming the WPS from an isolated bilateral dispute into a broader challenge to international norms and the rules-based order, in which all nations have a stake.
