The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines must move beyond rhetoric and fully operationalize an “active defense” posture amid China’s continued assertiveness in the West Philippine Sea, a policy expert said, pointing to expanded joint military exercises with allies as a key step forward. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, president and chief executive officer of the Stratbase ADR Institute, over the weekend expressed “unequivocal support” for the 2026 Balikatan exercises, which are expected to involve more than 17,000 troops from the Philippines and partner nations, including the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand. Manhit described the annual drills as “the correct path forward” for the country’s defense strategy as tensions persist in the West Philippine Sea. “They send a clear and unambiguous message that the Philippines and its partners are prepared to defend the rules-based international order against coercion, intimidation, and unlawful claims,” he said. He added that the exercises demonstrated that the Philippines was “not isolated” with national security anchored on alliances with countries committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Manhit’s remarks come as China continues what Manila has described as illegal, coercive, and deceptive actions in the disputed waters, despite the landmark South China Sea Arbitration that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims. The ruling, which will mark its 10th anniversary in July, was secured under the administration of former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario, who previously led Stratbase. “That victory is final and non-negotiable,” Manhit said. “To dilute it—whether through silence, inaction, or ill-considered concessions—is to erode the legal and moral clarity it established.” The analyst also raised concerns over Manila’s renewed discussions with Beijing on a possible joint energy exploration in the contested waters, an initiative linked to efforts to address energy supply pressures stemming from tensions in the Middle East. Manhit warned that such arrangements could undermine the Philippines’ sovereign rights and weaken the legal standing of the arbitral ruling. “Such proposals are strategically unsound,” he said, adding that they risk legitimizing unlawful behavior and compromising the country’s position in the dispute. He stressed that the Philippines was effectively already in a “state of active defense” in the West Philippine Sea, and that national policies should align with that reality. “Public trust in engagements with China remains low because experience has repeatedly validated caution,” Manhit said. “The Philippines must not bargain away its sovereign rights for promises that carry neither credibility nor accountability.”
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