Thetransparency initiative, also known asassertive transparency, is a counter-gray zone strategy used by the Philippines to combat China's assertions concerning in theSouth China Sea dispute. It is marked by the Philippines publicizing of altercations involving China and Filipinos including fishermen and personnel of coast guard and the navy.
The transparency initiative was adopted in February 2023 during the presidency ofBongbong Marcos. This was after alaser incident occurred at theSecond Thomas Shoal when theChina Coast Guard allegedly pointed a laser at the crew of a Philippine Coast Guard ship.[1] China justified the move as its coast guard using laser as a measuring tool as part of routine law enforcement operations.[2]
It precededRodrigo Duterte's foreign policy of silence and selective disclosure on dealing with China in regard to theSouth China Sea dispute.[1] Duterte previously insisted that publicizing China's actions would provoke it to be more aggressive.[3]
Since then, the Philippine government has shifted to publicizing altercations between China and the Philippines in theSouth China Sea.[1][3]
The transparency initiative seeks to frame China as a "bully" of its smaller neighboring countries in the context of theSouth China Sea dispute. It serves as an awareness campaign for Filipinos on China's "illegal presence and dangerous maneuvers" in the contested sea which Manila insist deprives Filipino fishers of their livelihood and affront to its sovereign rights. It is also meant to garner support from the international community on the2016 South China Sea Arbitration ruling which declared China'snine-dash line claim as invalid.[1] It is seen as a response to China'sgrey-zone tactics in the South China Sea.[3]
The Philippine government has published photos and evidence of Chinese alleged harassment of its fishers and its navy and coast guard personnel as part of the strategy.[4][5] It has also invited journalists, both foreign and local, to join the Philippine Coast Guard's missions to theScarborough Shoal and theSpratly Islands.[3][5]
National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya described the transparency initiative as having mixed results in 2024, stating it increased awareness both internationally and domestically in regard to China's actions but concedes it did not change China's behavior.[1] At least for 2023, trade relations between China and the Philippines remain largely unaffected.[6]
Benjamin Goirigolzarri of theStanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation said that the initiative "damaged" China's global reputation and economic ambitions, while the Philippines has gained moral support from major Asian and European countries.[7] In March 2025, the foreign ministers of theG7 countries issued a condemnation of China's "illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions" and formally supported the results of the 2016South China Sea Arbitration ruling that favored the Philippines.[8][9]
University of the Philippines political scientists Edcel John Ibarra and Aries Arugay called the maritime transparency initiative a "necessary step forward" that has yielded strategic benefits such as garnering international solidarity and support and cultivating strong domestic public approval for the government's efforts to defend the country's national interest. However, they argue that merely exposing grey-zone tactics is insufficient, because of the personal and materials risks involve with the approach, and that challenges remain on the strategy's ability to weather domestic political disturbances.[10]
The initiative has strengthened commitment of the United States with its military alliance with the Philippines, while areciprocal access agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan was signed by both countries' legislatures in 2025.[11][12] The Philippines was also able to conduct joint-patrol exercises with foreign nations in the South China Sea as a result of the initiative.[13]
In 2025, Lithuanian defense ministerDovilė Šakalienė has praised the strategy which challenges "the illusion of China being peaceful and friendly".[4]
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