Leaked letter exposes fault lines in Philippines’ South China Sea strategy

The letter by Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro warns against public exchanges that could narrow the country’s ‘diplomatic space’

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A Philippine coastguard vessel sails in disputed waters of the South China Sea during a maritime drill. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 9:55pm, 11 Feb 2026

A leaked letter from the Philippines’ foreign secretary has exposed a fault line in the country over how to publicly confront Beijing in the South China Sea, days before the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) created its own maritime spokesman role.

The new position was in addition to existing voices from the Philippine coastguard, armed forces and the National Maritime Council.

The episode has cast a spotlight on a delicate balancing act in President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s China policy: between a military-led “transparency initiative” that publicly documents maritime run-ins to rally domestic and international support, and a more traditional diplomatic approach that seeks to preserve room for negotiations with Beijing, including talks on a long-delayed code of conduct.

Government and military officials have said the new DFA post does not signal disarray, but instead reflects different institutional roles addressing the same issue, with all agencies aligned behind a single message – that the Philippines will assert and defend what it says are its claims in the South China Sea while pursuing diplomacy.

The January 20 letter, written by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro to opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, argued that maritime disputes were best handled through diplomatic channels and cautioned against public exchanges that could narrow the country’s “diplomatic space”, according to accounts cited by Filipino academic Dr Jeffrey Ordaniel.

Hontiveros’ office has not responded to requests from This Week in Asia for a copy of the letter.

Leaked letter exposes fault lines in Philippines’ South China Sea strategy

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The letter by Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro warns against public exchanges that could narrow the country’s ‘diplomatic space’

The letter by Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro warns against public exchanges that could narrow the country’s ‘diplomatic space’