28th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Shining A Light: Countering Illegal, Coercive, Aggresive, and Deceptive Actions in the South China Sea
RADM Rommel Jude Ong outlined China’s maritime ambitions through three key maritime axes of advance, reflecting its strategic expansion towards Europe, Oceania, and the Arctic. He highlighted the growing imbalance between the U.S. and China’s naval forces, which enabled Beijing’s increasing control over the South China Sea using a combination of its navy, coast guard, militia, and occupied bases.
He emphasized that China’s grey zone activities, now termed ICAD (Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive, and Deceptive Actions), amount to economic and psychological warfare aimed at weakening Filipino resolve. These activities include blockades, mission-kill tactics against supply boats, and occupation of disputed areas. In response, the Philippines is focusing on transparency initiatives to counter Chinese propaganda and is enhancing military capabilities to deter Chinese dominance in the West Philippine Sea.
To address the challenge, RADM Ong proposed strengthening regional cooperation through minilateral partnerships such as trilateral (India, Australia, U.S.) or quadrilateral (India, Australia, U.S., Japan) alliances, alongside ASEAN maritime mechanisms. Applying counterinsurgency principles, he stressed ASEAN’s central role in regional stability, the need for coalitions of like-minded states, and strategic, sustainable efforts to counterbalance China.
He introduced the “Filipino Theory of Victory,” which hinges on national and political resilience. Key aspects include restoring the Philippines’ maritime rights, fostering a patriotic electorate, resisting Chinese economic and political coercion, and advocating for a regional collective defense mechanism. In conclusion, RADM Ong called for a holistic maritime defense strategy, multi-domain security efforts across land, sea, air, cyber, and cognitive domains, and breaking down institutional barriers to improve coordination. He stressed leveraging alliances and securing strategic sea lanes as key priorities in future conflicts.
