China’s alleged Sandy Cay move ‘part of their propaganda’

Chester Cabalza, PhD, an expert in International and Security Cooperation (IDSC) and the founding president at UP Diliman's Department of Anthropology, discussed the importance of boosting cognitive warfare as part of propaganda in an interview with DZBB on Tuesday.

Cabalza explained why this seems to be the case: "Makikita natin na malakas 'yung pagtingin ng China na china-challenge nila ngayon ang Pilipinas, lalong-lalo na mayroon tayong balikatan exercises."

He further clarified that cognitive warfare is carried out through gaslighting, challenging, and confusing Philippine forces to successfully occupy Sandy Cay.

Cabalza shared that he has been advocating for the armed forces, the coast guard, and the police to strengthen the country’s cyber warriors, as the domain of warfare is now a multi-domain one.

"Importante na ang naratibo laging pro-Philippines," he added. He also emphasized that disciplinary actions should be applied not only against Chinese spies but also against Filipinos who may be swayed by China’s promises. “Ma-edoctrinate talaga tayo sa naratibo natin (sa pagiging pro-Philippines) na may pagmamahal at ipinaglalaban ang teritoryo lalo sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.