Critique of Tiglao Argument on China Leverage and Defense Secretary
Critique of Tiglao Argument on China Leverage and Defense Secretary Amiel Gerald A. Roldan™ October 31, 2026 The critique correctly identifies a non sequitur and a category error in Tiglao’s instrumentalization of economic interdependence, while itself remaining incomplete on the mechanics of leverage and the broader political economy of asymmetric interdependence. Tiglao’s recent columns (Manila Times / rigobertotiglao.com, late October 2026) establish two empirical claims with reasonable grounding: Ant Group-linked entities hold a substantial minority stake (reported in the 33–38% range) in Mynt, the parent of GCash, and supply core payments technology (Alipay infrastructure and Alipay+ gateway); Tencent holds approximately 15% of Maya and has contributed technological and capital inputs. These platforms dominate Philippine mobile payments (GCash ~94 million users, Maya ~50 million). He then pivots to a policy prescription: the Ayala Group (largest owner of Mynt) and Manuel V. ...
