MANILA, Philippines — Sovereignty must be upheld as a universal principle and not invoked selectively to suit geopolitical interests, national security expert and civic leader Jose Antonio Goitia said, amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Goitia made the statement on Wednesday following criticism by China against the United States for its recent military strikes on Iran, which Beijing said destabilized the international order and violated Tehran’s sovereignty. A spokesman for China’s defense ministry described Washington as a “war addict” and urged respect for Iran’s territorial integrity while calling for dialogue to address the conflict. Goitia, however, said sovereignty remained a fundamental pillar of international relations, particularly for countries that depend on international law rather than military power to safeguard their rights. “Sovereignty is not a rhetorical device. It is a universal standard. If it is invoked as a principle, it must be honored everywhere,” he said in an interview. Goitia argued that if China insisted on respecting Iran’s sovereignty, it must also recognize the maritime rights of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea. The waters form part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone as affirmed by the landmark ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016, which invalidated China’s sweeping “nine-dash line” claim in the South China Sea. Despite the legally binding decision, Beijing has rejected the ruling and continued maritime activities in the disputed waters, including patrols by the China Coast Guard and encounters with Filipino vessels. Philippine authorities have reported incidents involving water cannon use, obstruction of resupply missions, and hazardous maneuvers against boats operating within the country’s recognized maritime zones. Goitia said the continued presence of Chinese vessels and infrastructure developments in contested areas indicated a consistent pattern of maritime pressure. “China’s expansionism is not reactive diplomacy. It is deliberate strategic revisionism, executed through incremental encroachment, sustained maritime pressure, and calculated ambiguity,” he said. He added that strategic intent can often be discerned through repeated actions rather than formal declarations, citing the regular patrols and regulatory moves that gradually normalize foreign presence in disputed waters. Goitia said credibility in defending sovereignty depended on consistency. “True authority is earned through consistency. A nation cannot defend sovereignty in distant conflicts while undermining the lawful maritime rights of its neighbors,” he said. He stressed that the issue should not be viewed as a matter of aligning with one global power over another but as a question of respecting established international rules. “The Philippines does not seek confrontation. It seeks adherence to established rules. Economic influence does not supersede legal obligation. Diplomatic statements do not outweigh conduct,” he said. Goitia also currently serves as chairman emeritus of several civic organizations, including Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya, People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and the Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement.