Articles by Elaine C. Tolentino

Beijing’s sanctions only strengthened the Philippine defence chief

After Beijing made strong remarks and sanctioned Philippine defence chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr, the moves backfired — bolstering his standing at home, validating his criticisms of China and further damaging Beijing’s image in Southeast Asia, says Philippine academic Elaine Tolentino.

Elaine C. Tolentino

18 Jun 2026

Philippine academic: The Philippines’ challenge facing China’s aggression

Philippine academic Elaine Tolentino analyses the recent Philippines-China 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism held in Manila, concluding that while there is willingness on both sides for dialogue, recent escalation of tensions point to a need for the Philippines to rework its strategy.

Elaine C. Tolentino

04 Sep 2024

Philippines must exercise its agency in a ‘rules-broken’ international order

Philippine academic Elaine Tolentino says President Ferdinand Marcos Jr made it clear at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that efforts to resolve the South China Sea dispute should be “anchored on international law, particularly UNCLOS”. In the face of discrepancies between China’s rhetoric and practice, the Philippines should continue to exercise its agency in protecting its maritime domain.

Elaine C. Tolentino

05 Jun 2024