Beneath the Flags and Guns

an editorial

What is the true battle underneath the endless political claims of territory, international addresses, and navy faceoffs? On Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called on China to halt its illegal occupation and activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), particularly in the Panganiban and Zamora Reefs.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Chinese forces occupying said reefs fired multiple flares on unarmed PCG aircrafts conducting routine maritime domain awareness flight in the WPS, challenging PHL aircraft over radio.

And so, the DFA stressed once more that China violates Philippine law particularly the Republic Act No. 12064 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (RA 12064), as well as the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) as confirmed in the 2016 arbitral award.

The territorial battle in the West Philippine Sea never ceases, even after countless political callouts, passing of laws, and persistent desire for diplomatic talks, even if China is in violation. According to international laws such as the aforementioned RA 12064, UNCLOS, and even the PH Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Manila does own the rightful claim to the WPS. So, while Filipinos are publicly clamoring about this maritime dispute, how has Beijing been able to continue without rebellion and demand for accountability from its own people?

This issue not only affects the Filipinos, but also the adversaries' people. As the saying goes, knowledge is power. An educated society would have overthrown and changed power, especially in a violating government.

The territorial dispute runs deep, involving the other side of the fence. What lies underneath this never-ending coast struggle is the manipulation and total control of Chinese media.

China remains as one of the most restricted and censored countries for media persons. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) itself oversees Chinese media, bombarding it with endless censorship and propaganda like the Nine-Dash Line.

They even have their own seperated Chinese versions of mainstream apps, social media platforms, and video games, like WeChat, blocking international platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The apps Filipinos use, isolating their people from international and free media.

Their main news outlets such as People's Daily, the Xinhia News Agency, and more are directly owned and managed by the CCP, needing strict approval to write and publish.

Filipinos have to ask, how frequent do they encounter Chinese people in international platforms? Especially as China nearly shares the same timezones while boasting a staggering population of one billion.

The CCP holds a firm grip on Chinese minds, bombarding them with propaganda geared against the Philippines, even if international laws and organizations say otherwise.

However, like most regimes, it all falls apart with the power of knowledge, the very thing the CCP uses to control the Chinese people. Time and time again, it is seen in history. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the Arab Spring, it all involves the power of truth. The solution is not to blame the Chinese people, propagate hate, or wage war, but to transcend borders and share knowledge.

While Filipinos may struggle to keep in touch with the Chinese, especially due to the extreme restrictions and isolation, it is still possible. To slowly inform, spread word and information, and open the minds of every single Chinese person. However, it cannot be done alone by Filipinos, but with the willingness and commitment of the Chinese people to develop media literacy, support fact-checking, promote transparency, and reject their own propaganda fed to them since birth.

Beneath the flags and guns in the West Philippine Sea, it is a battle of media and information against propaganda. Change requires the awakening of the people.