去年以来，菲律宾加大在南海的侵权挑衅行动，主要以两手推进其海上非法主张权益。一是菲律宾海军海警频繁在海上滋扰生事，包括在仁爱礁“非法运补”，在黄岩岛、铁线礁和牛轭礁等敏感地点加大挑衅活动，企图改变现状。二是强化针对中国南海维权的舆论战和认知战，通过曝光中国维权行动和在国际上“卖惨”，打造自身受害者形象，污蔑中国“胁迫”和“不遵守国际法”。眼下，因为自身实力劣势明显，在海上占不到什么便宜，编造虚假叙事正成为菲律宾在南海的主要武器。

一方面，菲律宾总统马科斯在国际场合频频抛出南海议题，态度十分强硬。近期举行的香格里拉对话上，马科斯大谈南海问题，称菲律宾在其海岸线附近的水域正面临来自中国日益增大的压力，强调如果中国在南海的“故意挑衅行为”导致菲律宾民众丧生，菲政府将视之为“战争行为”，渲染紧张局势的意味明显。今年2月29日，马科斯访问澳大利亚并在澳议会发表演讲，誓言菲方将坚决捍卫自己的主权，不允许任何外国势力侵占菲律宾“哪怕一平方英寸”的领土。在不久后出席东盟—澳大利亚特别峰会和在澳大利亚洛伊国际政策研究所发表演讲时，马科斯又多次提及南海问题，指责中国在南海的所谓“挑衅性、单边和非法行动”。4月的美日菲三边峰会联合声明也以大段篇幅指责中国南海政策，对中国所谓“危险和挑衅行为”表示严重关切，批评中方针对菲方向仁爱礁非法运补所执行的维权执法措施。

另一方面，菲律宾着力在南海实施“进攻性透明度（assertive transparency）” 计划，也即所谓新的“点名羞辱”（name and shame）策略，以“揭露”中国在南海的所谓“灰色地带”策略。这一计划背后的主要推手是美国斯坦福大学“戈尔迪之结”国家安全创新中心，该中心“妙手项目”负责人鲍威尔就表示，“进攻性透明是指故意寻找灰色地带行为者施行非法、恶意和胁迫行为的黑暗空间，然后将其暴露在公众视野中的策略”，这“不仅对菲律宾具有重要意义，也对世界各国有启示”。在这一策略指导下，菲方海警在南海挑起事端时，会特意安排菲律宾和西方记者登上海岸警卫队船只，录像记录中国海警对菲海上人员和渔民所谓的“骚扰”，并通过网络发布各种文本、视频和音频资料，展示中国的所谓“欺凌行为”。美国主流媒体如《纽约时报》、NBC等在菲记者均受到过邀请。菲律宾也开始组织渔民和民间组织到南海挑衅生事。近日，菲律宾海岸警卫队还频频炒作中国在仙宾礁“填海造岛”。可以说，菲律宾在南海不断自导自演各种“作秀”“碰瓷”，并散布谣言抹黑中国，可谓在舆论战上煞费苦心。

可见，当前菲律宾在南海打舆论战认知战的特点是官方强硬表态，海上制造事态，海军海警与媒体记者、民间组织紧密配合，借助西方媒体和大量社交媒体账号，炮制传播虚假叙事，引导舆论。菲律宾打的小算盘一是将自身塑造成“受害者”，将中方炒作成“过错方”，将中国置于被动地位；二是借渲染“中国威胁论”拉拢域内外国家为自身提供支持，并为其他南海声索国提供示范，扩大在南海反对中国的“统一阵线”；三是策应配合美国更深层次介入地区事务和扩大在本地区军事存在以围堵中国的战略需要。

面对菲律宾的套路，中国也越来越有准备，开始用更多的事实回击，包括现场影像资料、客观数据资料等，并加大力度通过媒体和网络平台传播中方声音，向国内外公众揭露菲律宾的挑衅行为和真实意图，传递中国在南海问题上的立场和主张，激浊扬清。

菲律宾当前在南海频繁制造事端并炒作舆论，背后显然离不开美国的支持怂恿。美国向来唯恐南海不乱，而马科斯政府与美国勾连，使得菲律宾成为东南亚地区唯一选择对抗中国的国家，也由此日渐被东盟其他成员国所孤立。美国拉拢日、澳等盟友介入南海的行径也在加剧该地区的阵营对抗，引发东南亚国家的担忧。本地区各国逐渐看清美菲激化南海局势的意图，表达了推动南海形势“降温”的意愿。面对当前复杂严峻的国际地区形势，应对南海问题最好的办法仍是通过对话协商管控争议、搁置争议。以东方之道和亚洲智慧妥处分歧，维护地区和平稳定的发展局面，也是本地区多数国家的主流共识和共同期望。

The Philippines has stepped up its provocative actions in the South China Sea since last year, aiming to advance its illegal claims of maritime rights and interests.First, the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard have frequently engaged in provocations at sea, including illegal replenishment at Ren'ai Reef, and have stepped up their intrusions and provocative activities at sensitive locations such as Huangyan Island, Ren'ai Reef and Niu'e Reef in an attempt to change the status quo.Second, the Philippines has intensified its efforts to pit public opinion and perception against China's attempts to defend its legitimate rights in the South China Sea, posing itself as a victim by smearing China's actions to defend its rights in the international arena as Chinese coercion and non-compliance with international law.Because it cannot gain the upper hand given its limited strength, it has resorted to the fabrication of false narratives as a weapon on issues related to the South China Sea.

On one hand, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has adopted a tough tone and frequently raised the issue of the South China Sea on international occasions. In a clear act to play up tensions, Marcos spent much time on the topic at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, claiming that the Philippines is facing mounting pressure from China near its coastline. He stressing that if a citizen of the Philippines were to be deliberately killed in a clash with China's Coast Guard, this would be “very close to what we define as an act of war.”On Feb. 29, Marcos visited Australia and delivered a speech to the Australian Parliament, vowing not to allow any attempt by any foreign power to take “even one square inch” of Philippine territory, and would resolutely defend its sovereignty. At the special ASEAN-Australia summit and in a speech at Australia's Lowy Institute for International Policy soon afterward, Marcos made repeated references to the South China Sea, accusing China of “provocative, unilateral, and illegal actions.” In April, the joint statement of the U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral summit included a long paragraph attacking China's policy in the South China Sea and expressed serious concern over China's so-called “dangerous and provocative actions.” It criticized China's enforcement measures to safeguard its rights against the illegal resupply of Ren'ai Reef.

The Philippines, on the other hand, has been focusing on implementing an “assertive transparency” strategy in the South China Sea, also known as a new name-and-shame strategy to expose China's alleged “gray zone” activities. The main driving force behind this strategy is Project Myoushu at the Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation.Ray Powell, the project leader, said that assertive transparency — the strategy of deliberately seeking out the dark spaces where gray zone actors conduct their illegal, malign and coercive acts and then exposing them to public view — is not only important for the Philippines but also as a model for countries around the world. Guided by this strategy, the Philippine Coast Guard has been stirring up trouble in the South China Sea and inviting Philippine and Western journalists to board the Coast Guard vessels to film the alleged “harassment” by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine personnel and fishermen. It has released articles, video and audio on the internet purporting to show China's “bullying behavior.” Mainstream media in the United States, such as the New York Times and NBC, have all been invited to work with Philippine journalists.The Philippines also encouraged fishermen and civil organizations to provoke trouble in the South China Sea. Recently, the Philippine Coast Guard is hyping China's construction of an artificial island at Xianbin Reef as part of its broader orchestrated moves to spread rumors to smear China.

The features and intentions of the “cognitive warfare” conducted by the Philippines are clear: First, it has combined official hard-line rhetoric with deliberate provocation. It manufactures false narratives by mobilizing the Coast Guards, journalists and civil society organizations in a bid to sway public opinion. It wants to portray itself as the victim and the Chinese side as the villain.Second, it plays up the “China threat” theory to garner support for itself within the region and beyond, to expand a united front against China in the South China Sea.Third, it coordinates with the United States in meddling in regional affairs, as well as the U.S. strategic need to encircle China with an expanded military presence in the region.

Over time, China has grown more adept at dealing with the deliberate provocations of the Philippines and has pushed back, including by releasing more facts, such as on-site images and objective data. China has also stepped up its efforts to let its own story be heard through the media and internet, thereby exposing the Philippines' provocative behavior and true intentions to the public both at home and abroad. It has also explained the Chinese stance on the South China Sea to set the record straight.

Without a doubt, the Philippines could not have gone to such lengths to stir up noise over the South China Sea without the support and instigation of the United States, which is actually pleased to see chaos in the region. That said, the Marcos government has only alienated itself from other countries in Southeast Asia by working hand in glove with the U.S. It is alone in taking sides against China, so it will find itself increasingly isolated from other ASEAN member states.America's efforts to co-opt allies such as Japan and Australia into intervening in the South China Sea also exacerbate bloc confrontation in the region and raises concerns among Southeast Asian countries. They see through the intention of the U.S. and the Philippines and all express their willingness to cool down the situation. In the face of the fluid regional situation, the best way forward is to manage disputes through dialogue and consultation, set aside disputes and deal with differences with Asian wisdom. This will safeguard regional peace, stability and development, which is also the prevailing consensus and the shared expectation of the countries in the region.