Carpio: Let’s be clever to China’s ‘playbook’

Former Supreme Courtroom Senior Affiliate Antonio Carpio. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former Supreme Courtroom Senior Affiliate Justice Antonio Carpio warned on Thursday that China might flip Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal right into a “monitoring station,” following a sample Beijing has used to ascertain manned amenities on different options within the South China Sea.

“China is saying (they) are placing up a nature reserve. Now, to function a nature reserve, you need to monitor it and it may be manned,” Carpio instructed reporters on the sidelines of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Management Summit in Quezon Metropolis.

Carpio famous that in 1987, China constructed a climate station on Fiery Cross Reef, which it initially mentioned was for oceanic analysis with the United Nations Instructional, Scientific and Cultural Group or Unesco. Fiery Cross has since grow to be considered one of Beijing’s largest navy outposts within the Spratly Islands.

He identified {that a} comparable method was used at Mischief Reef, the place Beijing initially claimed it was setting up solely a shelter for fishermen.

READ: Carpio fears PH pact on Ayungin Shoal might develop China’s attain

Sample

“They’ve a playbook. We’ve seen this earlier than and we have to be wiser this time. Let’s put together for it. How? Let’s expose them … You’ll be able to see all of the maps, historic maps, paperwork and all the pieces. So, we’ve got to counter disinformation,” he added.

Panatag lies about 220 kilometers west of Zambales, throughout the Philippines’ 370-kilometer unique financial zone (EEZ).

The shoal has been below Chinese language management since 2012, a scenario that continues to intensify tensions within the West Philippine Sea.

Carpio was a part of the Philippine delegation concerned within the case earlier than The Hague, whose landmark 2016 ruling invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” declare over the South China Sea, together with areas throughout the Philippine EEZ.

READ: Año, Carpio warn of China’s subsequent transfer after ‘nature reserve’ ploy

BrahMos missiles

Carpio additionally mentioned the Philippines ought to reply not solely by way of authorized channels but additionally by boosting navy deterrence, notably with extra BrahMos cruise missiles.

“I go away it to the navy. However my suggestion is to amass extra BrahMos missiles as a result of they’re cell. When you may strike your enemy at any time and your enemy can not strike you, you management your enemy,” he mentioned.

Carpio added that the BrahMos missiles could possibly be hid behind pure terrain, whereas Panatag’s mounted location meant that missiles may merely be programmed to strike it, giving the Philippines a strategic benefit.

The BrahMos system can journey at speeds as much as Mach 2.8 and has a spread of 290 to 400 kilometers. It may be launched from ships, plane, submarines or land platforms.

The Philippines acquired its first batch of BrahMos missiles in April 2024, adopted by a second supply in April 2025.

Underneath a 2022 settlement with India, the nation will purchase a complete of three missile batteries value P18.9 billion.

Second arbitration case

Carpio urged the federal government to anticipate Beijing’s technique, citing China’s “three warfares”: shaping public opinion by way of disinformation, advancing a authorized narrative, and maneuvering diplomatically.

He additionally renewed requires a second arbitration case in opposition to China, expressing hope that the Marcos administration will act earlier than the tip of its time period.

In the meantime, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad mentioned the navy has ready contingency measures ought to China take any escalatory steps.

“The federal government has been very clear that each one our actions will make sure the integrity of the nationwide territory,” Trinidad instructed reporters in an opportunity interview on the sidelines of the identical summit.

“Within the occasion that actions from the opposite facet are deemed escalatory, we’ve got acceptable contingency plans to make sure that not one sq. inch of our territory can be misplaced,” he mentioned.

Trinidad added that buying extra missile techniques has lengthy been a part of the navy’s modernization program.

“A part of the modernization plans of the Armed Forces consists of different missile techniques or relatively, extra missile techniques,” he mentioned, noting that particular particulars fall below the Division of Nationwide Protection.