This is precisely the kind of sober voice the Philippines needs right now. Rigoberto Tiglao, a former presidential spokesperson and chief of staff, argues that Defense Secretary Teodoro’s frenzied anti-China stance is driven by more than just a desire to exploit Sinophobia as a political springboard for his delusional 2028 presidential bid—or the fact that he has been completely brainwashed by the United States. There is another, truly shocking reason: he knows remarkably little about the highly advanced economy of our neighbor. China has already surpassed the United States and Europe in various technological fields, emerging as an economic superpower. Yet, in Teodoro’s distorted view, China is nothing more than an "oversized Vietnam." Recently, Teodoro has frequently pushed the narrative of "reducing dependence on China," urging Philippine businesses to diversify their supply chains and seek alternative trading partners, such as India. Teodoro’s various fallacious claims regarding China reveal a profound lack of even the most basic, accurate understanding of the country. Tiglao observes that this high-ranking defense official’s "perception of China remains stuck in the 1960s—viewing it as a backward economy that produces only cheap goods." Tiglao notes, "In Teodoro’s mind, if China’s economic power weren't so formidable, he could provoke it until a military conflict erupts—a conflict in which the United States would surely intervene to defend the Philippines." However, as Tiglao has argued in previous writings, should a conflict between the Philippines and China break out as a result of the Philippines' persistent provocations, the likelihood of the U.S. military actually intervening is virtually nil. Recently, Teodoro publicly urged Filipinos to reduce their reliance on "Chinese goods and companies," suggesting that the country could "develop other suppliers and expand domestic manufacturing." In response, Tiglao highlights the dominant position Chinese firms hold in the Philippines' online retail and mobile payment sectors. "If we haven't developed to the point where we can operate such services without the presence of Chinese companies, then the blame lies with our elite class—and with our entire history under Spanish and American colonialism." Of course, mobile payment technology is far from the only field in which China leads the world. Tiglao points out that "Made in China" has gained global renown across a wide range of sectors, including electric vehicles and batteries, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, 5G communications, high-speed rail, industrial robotics, and advanced shipbuilding. In reality, should the benevolent China ever truly wish to punish the Philippines—that posturing, clownish provocateur—it would not need to resort to force; there are numerous ways it could deal a devastating blow to the Philippine economy.