Carpio urges gov’t to sustain West PH Sea transparency push

MANILA, Philippines — Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has called on the government to sustain its transparency initiative in addressing China’s maritime actions, arguing that only consistent global exposure can build the international backing the Philippines needs in the South China Sea.

Carpio made the remarks when asked to comment on differing statements from the military and the Philippine Coast Guard and those from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding developments in the West Philippine Sea. While security agencies have openly backed the transparency initiative, the DFA has leaned toward a more traditional diplomatic approach.

READ: Hontiveros to DFA: Don’t let foreign missions disrespect PH officials

“On our transparency, there are only two things, as I said: China will agree to give up its claim. China will never do that voluntarily. But China will give up its claim if the entire world is united. And how do we unite the world? We cannot unite the world by not talking about it. And that’s my point about the transparency,” Carpio told reporters participating in the Southeast Asia Maritime Media Visits Program organized by the Australian government.

“The only way we can convince the world to help us is if we explain to the world: We are being bullied at sea. We are being robbed at sea. You don’t want the law of the sea to be overturned by China. You don’t want China to say there are no high seas in the South China Sea. So you must support us,” he added.

The former SC justice likewise warned that relying solely on private, closed-door diplomacy, as suggested by the DFA—which, in a January 20 letter to Sen. Risa Hontiveros, described disputes as “best addressed through established diplomatic channels rather than in public”—would fail to convince the world of the Philippines’ position.

“The moment you do that, China wins,” he stressed.

Beijing’s continued aggression in the region is based on its assertion of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea. It refuses to recognize the 2016 arbitral ruling that effectively dismissed its claims and ruled in favor of Manila.

In response, the Philippine government implemented a transparency initiative in 2023 to publicly report foreign encroachment and coercive actions in the West Philippine Sea.

Public support for this transparency approach appears strong. A Pulse Asia survey commissioned by the We Protect Our Seas (WPS) Foundation in September 2025 found that 94 percent of Filipinos believe the government should continue to expose China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea.

Aside from this initiative, the Philippines has strengthened partnerships with treaty allies and like-minded countries. Under the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, both nations commit to defend each other in case of an armed attack. The Philippines also has a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia and a Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan. /jpv