Manila: The Philippine government’s transparency initiative in the West Philippine Sea is effectively raising international awareness among Europeans, particularly about the situation in the South China Sea, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said on Thursday. Speaking at the Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea held in Taguig City, Fontanel said the heightened attention the region is receiving has helped the French government advance its efforts to strengthen security cooperation with the Philippines.
According to Philippines News Agency, Fontanel emphasized that the initiative has already achieved substantial progress in making European public opinion more aware of the developments in the South China Sea. She noted that while European public opinion remains focused on domestic issues and the war in Ukraine, the media’s increased interest in the South China Sea has been instrumental in shifting attention to the region.
Fontanel mentioned that this growing awareness among Europeans significantly bolsters France’s ongoing efforts to deepen and expand its partnership with Manila. Under the administration of President Marcos, the Philippine government has pursued a policy of “assertive transparency” in the West Philippine Sea. This policy aims to expose China’s aggressive actions within the country’s maritime zones.
The initiative allows key government agencies to publicize information and critical developments in the area promptly. The latest OCTA Research survey, commissioned by the We Protect our Seas (WPS) Foundation, revealed that 80 percent of Filipinos support the transparency initiative. The survey indicated that the public believes the government should continue to expose China’s coercion of Filipino vessels and fishermen truthfully.
WPS Foundation President Jeffrey Ordaniel stated that transparency is not merely a communication strategy but a practical means to counter Beijing’s unlawful activities. He highlighted that it helps combat disinformation, demonstrates the Philippines’ non-acquiescence to China’s claims, and shapes global opinion against the use of force or coercion in territorial disputes.
Ordaniel further explained that transparency enables allies and partners to offer support, both diplomatically and in terms of capacity-building. He warned that if the Philippines remained silent in the face of provocations, it would weaken the moral and political basis for international support and tangible assistance.
