The Philippines, defending their sovereignty? Or just plain "anti-China"?

By Andrew M. Talidong

On July 1, 2025, China banned ex-Senator Francis Tolentino. For China, the ban is justified due to "malicious deeds" made by Filipino politicians. For the Filipino elite, it was an achievement. For instance, Tolentino himself proudly posted in social media to be honored by such sanction. As the US supplies the Philippines with military equipment and the Philippine government's procurement of missile, the Filipino oligarchy justified their stance on the South China Sea, defending that they represent the "will of the Filipino people."

Senator Francis Tolentino

Of course the Filipino public don't know any better. Their education system, public information space, and media are controlled by these very same elites. The South China Sea issue has been the "golden goose" by politicians to further their career in government via gaining popular support from the miseducated populace.

Why do I use the term "miseducated"? Compared to the popular term "uneducated", miseducation is the phenomenon whereas even the educated believed to a malicious information.

As of now, many senators and congressman are running for the bandwagon of being "anti-China". Media perpetrated the notion that being "anti-China" is equivalent of being a "Filipino". With stories surrounding footages of Chinese ships harassing "poor Filipino fishermen", I think The West did a pretty good job of portraying the Chinese as the boogeyman.

Racism has its historical roots

The anti-China rhetoric and blatant racism is not new in the Philippines. During the Spanish colonial period, Spanish authorities segregated the Chinese from Filipinos because of how the Chinese refused to be enslaved. This sentiment became worsened when the Americans came along. In fact, the US viewed the Chinese as an "inferior race" and many American politicians shared sentiment that China might be the cause of World War II. Nowadays, the anti-China sentiment evolved over time in the Philippines: from being a sympathizer of the Communist NPA, jokes on how poor-quality their products are, stereotypes of being greedy businesspeople, to being greedy of acquiring territory on Filipino soil—nothing has changed. The Filipinos are still latching on that Chinese society is still a backward society.

On the political question

To get back on the question of politics, China and the Philippines have been partners and enemies at the same time. During the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, China was the biggest trading partner the Philippines could ever have. However, during this time there were fear-mongering from the Filipino elite media that this will be the downfall of the Philippine economy. The oligarch politicians warned, that anytime, the Chinese economy will collapse (parroting the Western media and academia). Filipino presidents tried to balance pro-US and pro-China policies. However, the pro-US influence always topples anything what the government does. Not only the Filipinos were trying to justify their century-old hatred to the Chinese but also believed what the "whites" spew from their mouth.

It's no surprise that the Philippines is always been anti-China, American interference has been that way. In 1946, after the so-called independence of the Philippines from American colonization, Pres. Manuel Roxas agreed with the advise of the Americans by provoking China in the South China Sea, a problem which still persist today. In addition, Roxas also agreed to maintain US military bases "lto protect ehem...ehem..."Philippine interests". His successors were no better either. Elpidio Quirino maintain US policy and supplied the US with military personnel to help with the Korean War. As for Ramon Magsaysay, he only became famous due to the CIA's interference in the Hukbalahap rebellion as well as helping him win the 1953 election. The "Golden Age" was but a mere mirage as the Philippines did not improve economically but solely rely on American, maintaining the illusion that the Philippines is becoming a wealthy nation under him. Although to give due credit, Magsaysay tried to eliminate the influence of the oligarchy but failed miserably as his legislature majorly composed of wealthy landowners.

The only president that I give respect was Carlos P. Garcia, president from 1957 to 1961. He knew very well the importance of Asian cooperation at the expense of American hegemony. Unfortunately, the Magsaysay faction is too powerful and CIA involvement was at its full swing to portray him as corrupt and detestable as possible. Under Garcia, the Philippines improved its manufacturing prowess as well as making the Philippines an economic powerhouse.

Garcia's successor were heavily pro-US, with the worst of the bunch being Ferdinand E. Marcos, who gave a good impression to the Reagan administration.

Conclusion

Basing from the social and political dimensions, the Philippines main goal as to why they support anti-China policies was not due to sovereignty concerns but due to centuries-old Western influence in the archipelago. The South China Sea issue was just a little aspect of the larger picture on sinophobic sentiments in the Philippines.