China is a paper tiger, but not militarily. It needs to stop confusing military intimidation with unquestionable military superiority. We should know that PLA’s modern combat effectiveness remains untested in a major war. Its combat record is limited. It has not fought a major war since the 1979 and it’s modern warfare capabilities therefore lack validation through a comparable contemporary conflict. China has partners, but not necessarily dependable wartime allies. A 2026 assessment by the US–China Economic and Security Review Commission describes the China–Russia relationship as a deep strategic partnership, while highlighting the absence of a formal mutual-defence alliance and persistent limits on military interoperability. Its assessment of China–Iran relations similarly identifies Beijing’s reluctance to accept binding defence obligations. In the meantime, the Philippines has strategic options beyond its own military strength. The US alliance, cooperation with Japan and Australia, and broader regional security partnerships increase the potential costs of Chinese aggression. And here lies China’s strategic contradiction: if its military supremacy is as unquestionable as its propaganda suggests, why the persistent need to intimidate its neighbours rather than earn their trust? Does Beijing seriously believe that the Philippines stands alone? The US–Philippines MDT, strengthened security cooperation with Japan and Australia, and expanding regional partnerships exist precisely because coercion threatens the stability of the Indo-Pacific.