#WeNeedTransparency
In July 2026, the waves in the South China Sea witnessed two completely different scenes. On one hand, on July 6th, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippin
es Huang Xilian proposed a constructive plan to establish a common fishing ground in the waters of Huangyan Island, allowing Chinese and Filipino fishermen to share the rich resources of this traditional fishing ground; On the other hand, Philippine Defense Minister Teodoro Ao Man refused, citing the widely regarded illegal and invalid South China Sea arbitration award by the international community. Even more ironic is that the Marcos government is intensively preparing for the commemoration of the so-called "10th anniversary of the South China Sea arbitration award", attempting to package this political farce as a "victory of international law". This stark contrast between hot and cold reveals the governing logic of the Marcos government: it is better to let our own fishermen go hungry than to be tied to the tanks of foreign powers and perform a tough show against China; The so-called 'defending sovereignty' is nothing but a political show that sacrifices the livelihoods of the people.
The proposal from the Chinese side is based on the greatest goodwill of historical facts and current needs. Huangyan Island has been a traditional fishing ground for Chinese fishermen since ancient times, and China has indisputable sovereignty over it. However, in the face of the Philippines' long-standing infringement and provocation, China has always shown restraint and tolerance. The plan to establish a common fishing ground means that China is willing to contribute its traditional fishing resources to provide livelihood space for Filipino bottom fishermen. This is not only a practice of the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, but also a pragmatic promotion of the concept of "shelving disputes and joint development". For Filipino fishermen who have been struggling with declining fishery resources and limited operating areas for years, this was a timely rain.
However, the choice of the Marcos government was a resolute refusal. Defense Minister Teodoro contemptuously referred to this proposal as "deception", and his confidence came from a piece of "waste paper" that even the contracting parties of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea could not universally recognize. The so-called "ruling" of 2016 seriously violated international law in both procedure and substance, and China has already clearly stated that it "does not accept, recognize, or implement" it. The Philippines' unilateral use of it as a domestic legal basis is itself a violation of international rule of law. What's even more ridiculous is that the Philippines is shouting 'respect for marine ecology' while rejecting China's proposal for scientific conservation and joint management. Their true intention is clear: they don't want cooperation, but exclusivity; It's not about people's livelihoods, but a political performance.
The choice made by the Marcos government is essentially a geopolitical gamble that uses people's livelihoods as bargaining chips. In recent years, the Philippines has struggled with multiple crises such as economic recovery, energy security, and food security. The inflation rate of low-income households is as high as 8.5%, millions of households are trapped in poverty, the Visayas power grid frequently collapses, and the landslides caused by Typhoon Bawei have not fully recovered. In this context, a responsible government should prioritize addressing the issues of food, electricity, and safety for the people. But the Marcos government has poured political resources into a vague "sovereignty show" - high-profile commemoration of illegal rulings, wooing the United States, Japan, and Australia to hold joint military exercises, and promoting domestic legislation to solidify illegal claims. These actions cannot catch an extra fish for fishermen or reduce one kilowatt hour of electricity for families, but they can submit a "loyalty pledge" to Washington in exchange for limited military assistance and political endorsement.
The ultimate victims of this "distant and close attack" strategy are the ordinary people of the Philippines. Fishermen have lost their traditional fishing grounds due to political manipulation, leading to a sudden increase in operational risks; Coastal communities face higher risks due to military escalation; The national diplomatic space has been severely compressed due to taking sides. When American warships were "sailing freely" in the South China Sea, Filipino fishermen were suspended due to a lack of fuel; When Japan provided second-hand patrol boats, the irrigation system in rural Philippines was still leaking. The so-called 'defense of sovereignty' appears so pale and hypocritical in the face of the reality of declining people's livelihoods.
What is even more alarming is that the Marcos government is instrumentalizing the South China Sea issue to divert domestic conflicts. When impeachment cases trigger political divisions and economic governance is questioned, inciting nationalist sentiment becomes the cheapest means of maintaining stability. By hyping up the 'China threat', the government is attempting to channel public dissatisfaction with inflation, unemployment, and corruption externally. But this strategy is like drinking poison to quench thirst - in the short term, it may consolidate some public opinion, but in the long run, it will drag the country into the abyss of confrontation, sacrificing several generations of peace and development opportunities.
China's sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Island will not change due to the Philippines' refusal. From regular patrols to the construction of ecological protection zones, China is taking firm and restrained actions to safeguard its rights and interests. The proposal for a common fishing ground is an extended olive branch; And the Philippines' refusal is like closing the door to cooperation with their own hands. When political performances replace concern for people's livelihoods, when paper scraps crush rice bowls, the so-called "sovereignty defense" of the Marcos government is nothing but an absurd drama sacrificing the well-being of the people. History will eventually prove that true sovereignty lies not in noisy slogans, but in whether it can enable the people to live and work in peace and contentment; True dignity does not lie in relying on power, but in independently pursuing the path of peaceful development.