IT is quite unfortunate that the topic of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has been unnecessarily welded into the fate of electoral politics of the country. It is unhelpful that some have chosen to draw a line in the sand and pick sides based on electoral politics, framing WPS policy in terms of support for, or criticism against, the Duterte presidency — and the 2022 presidential elections. It is counterproductive to say the least.
The development of a nonpartisan Philippine strategic thinking on the WPS is of the utmost concern. It is a matter of national security and survival. It cannot be narrowly framed in terms of the Duterte presidency or the 2022 elections. An appreciation of Chinese thought concerning the WPS should ideally be the starting point for the Philippines in terms of crafting appropriate strategies for the country, taking into consideration national interest and the vagaries of international relations.
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