Philippine Congressman Rodante Marcoleta has doubled down on defending China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, posting statements on social media that directly contradict Manila's official position and reveal the deepening split in Philippine politics over how to handle Beijing.
The posts by Marcoleta, a former deputy speaker and prominent member of the House of Representatives, argue that China's claims to disputed waters have historical merit and that the Philippines should prioritize economic cooperation with Beijing over territorial disputes.
The statements come as Philippine and Chinese vessels continue dangerous confrontations near Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal, with Manila accusing China's Coast Guard of water cannon attacks and ramming incidents against Philippine supply missions.
Political fault lines on China strategy
The debate exposes a fundamental divide in Philippine politics: between those who see China primarily as a security threat requiring alliance with the United States, and those who view Beijing as an essential economic partner whose territorial demands might be negotiable.
Marcoleta represents a faction—including some allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte—that favors economic engagement with China even at the cost of territorial compromise. During Duterte's presidency (2016-2022), Manila soft-pedaled the South China Sea dispute in exchange for Chinese infrastructure investment promises, many of which never materialized.
Current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken a harder line, reviving defense ties with Washington and allowing expanded U.S. military access under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. His administration regularly invokes the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that rejected China's expansive claims as inconsistent with international law.
Economic leverage versus sovereignty
For politicians like Marcoleta, the calculus is straightforward: China is the Philippines' largest trading partner and a crucial source of investment. The Philippine economy imported $53.8 billion from China in 2024, while Chinese tourists represented a significant share of the country's recovering tourism sector.
Opponents counter that China's promised investments rarely match rhetoric, while Beijing's territorial assertiveness threatens Philippine sovereignty, fishing rights, and potential energy resources in the West Philippine Sea—Manila's term for waters within its exclusive economic zone.
The fishing industry is ground zero. Filipino fishermen report being blocked by Chinese Coast Guard vessels from traditional fishing grounds near Scarborough Shoal, costing livelihoods in coastal communities that depend on marine resources.
Regional pattern: economic dependency meets security anxiety
The Philippine debate mirrors tensions across Southeast Asia. Nearly every ASEAN member depends heavily on Chinese trade while harboring security concerns about Beijing's growing assertiveness. ASEAN's consensus-based decision-making has prevented the bloc from taking strong positions on the South China Sea, as some members prioritize economic ties.
Ten countries, 700 million people, one region—and for the Zambales fisherman who can't reach Scarborough Shoal, the congressional debate about balancing economics and sovereignty is about whether his nets come home full or empty.
