A NATIONAL security expert believes China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea are not mere diplomatic reactions, but a deliberate strategy to shift the regional balance of power in its favor. “China’s expansionism is not reactive diplomacy. It is deliberate strategic revisionism, executed through incremental encroachment, sustained maritime pressure and calculated ambiguity,” said Jose Antonio Goitia, chairman emeritus of several civil society groups. He said these patterns — routine patrols, regulatory changes and consistent messaging — signal intent even in the absence of formal declarations. “Strategic ambition is rarely proclaimed. It is revealed through sustained and consistent action,” Goitia said. Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea was affirmed in 2016 when the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China’s sweeping nine-dash line claim. The decision, Goitia said, is legally binding, but pressure from Beijing has persisted, testing the nation’s resolve. He warned that strategic pressure is not limited to maritime areas. Last February, authorities arrested pilot trainee Bold-Erdene Boldbaatar in Zambales for allegedly violating visa conditions and misrepresenting prior military training. Officials said Boldbaatar’s flew training flights near Bajo de Masinloc included aerial surveys of sensitive locations, raising national security concerns. “A Republic that respects itself does not ignore warning signs. Vigilance is not aggression. It is the discipline of sovereignty,” Goitia said. He highlighted the risk of weakening sovereignty through words. Downplaying legal rulings or framing expansionist claims as inevitable sends a signal that the nation’s rights can be questioned. “When a nation begins to speak timidly about its own rights, it sends a signal. And signals matter,” Goitia said. He added that engagement with China is acceptable, but cooperation must never come at the cost of national dignity. Goitia said the government’s approach combines legal affirmation, strengthened alliances and consistent diplomatic protest. “It is not enough to win a ruling. A nation must defend itself with unity, discipline and moral courage,” he said.