MANILA — The Philippine Navy urged the public to remain vigilant in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), warning that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seeks to sow division through political and information warfare.

During a briefing, Navy Spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad cautioned Filipinos against being distracted by political debates surrounding the WPS issue, saying such discourse plays into Beijing’s strategy of dividing Philippine society and leaders.

“The objective of foreign malign influence (FMI) is to divide Philippine society, divide leaders, and make us forget that the bigger issue is the PLA Navy, Chinese Coast Guard, and maritime militia infiltrating our EEZ,” Trinidad said.

“Understanding how they operate is crucial so we don’t lose sight of our real enemy in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.

Trinidad explained that FMI refers to “subversive, undeclared, or coercive activities by foreign actors designed to manipulate public opinion, erode trust in institutions, and subvert democratic processes to serve their own interests.”

He emphasized that the government’s position on the WPS remains firm.

“WPS is ours. We will not give up one square inch. There has been illegal presence since 1992 of the Chinese Coast Guard, the PLA Navy, and recently the maritime militia. The AFP will continue performing its mandate as we have done ever since,” Trinidad said.

Trinidad added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) operates strictly within constitutional and territorial limits and is ready to defend national sovereignty.

“Our personnel are mature enough to separate political discourse from our mission to secure and protect the country’s territory. We have legal, international, and domestic law on our side,” he said.

He also welcomed the Department of Foreign Affairs’ designation of a new WPS spokesperson, describing it as a more effective way of delivering a unified message.

“We follow the dictum that one message, many voices… One message but different messengers. So long as the message is the same, it’s more effective that way,” Trinidad said.

Trinidad reiterated that the CCP poses an “existential threat” to the Philippines, citing alleged illegal activities, coercive actions, and deceptive messaging.

“Numbers do not lie, people do. Their deceptive messaging gives legitimacy to their coercive actions. They are an existential threat. We are prepared to perform our mandate of ensuring the integrity of the national territory. Make no mistake about that,” he said.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a route for more than $3 trillion in annual shipborne commerce, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring China’s claims “without legal basis,” a decision Beijing has refused to recognize.