SeaLight Director Ray Powell recently discussed Manila's assertive transparency campaign on Taiwan Talks:

"I think what the Philippines is doing is teaching the world quite a lesson--that when you are confronted by an actor who thrives in what we call the 'gray zone', the first thing to do is to turn on the lights, to show the world what is happening.

"And so the Philippines is saying, whatever else happens you can't do it cost-free anymore. It's going to cost you on the international stage. It's going to cost you reputationally.

"And hopefully--if the international community takes this as seriously as they should--it may cost [China] diplomatically, economically and in other ways."