Huddled in the presidential situation room in February last year, senior Philippines officials faced a stark choice. Military and intelligence leaders watched as coast guard officers showed photos of what the agency said was a military-grade laser that China had pointed at a Philippines ship in disputed waters days earlier.
Eduardo Ano, the national security adviser and chair of the South China Sea task force, had to decide whether to release the pictures and risk Beijing's ire, or refrain from aggravating his giant neighbor.
"The public deserves to know," the retired general told the officials. "Publish the photographs."