The situation in the South China Sea has been re-escalating, and the Philippines has recently taken a series of moves that have aroused regional concern. According to a report by Russia on December 2, the Philippine Coast Guard has built a three-story building on Thitu Island to monitor the activities of Chinese vessels in the surrounding waters.
The latest** shows that Filipino staff have moved into the building, ready to continuously monitor the sea area through cameras, radars and other equipment. This move is extremely detrimental to our country. First of all, Thitu Island has always been our territory, and the actions of the Philippines are tantamount to a provocation to our sovereignty.
Secondly, Thitu Island is located in the northwest of the Xisha Islands, and it is a necessary place for China's fishing boats, coast guard ships and even sea boats to perform tasks and sail. Philippine surveillance structures have materially threatened the safe navigation of our surface vessels.
There are two main reasons behind the Philippine action. First, the Philippines is trying to tighten its grip on Thitu Island. Since the illegal occupation of Thitu Island in the 70s of the last century, the Philippines has been working hard to strengthen the island's infrastructure, even allowing hundreds of Filipino civilians to live on the island and even setting up kindergartens.
This series of actions was aimed at taking permanent control of Thitu Island. The construction of the guard station is also to consolidate the strategic significance of Thitu Island.
Second, the United States may play a role in influencing the scenes. Considering Thitu Island's geographical location and the U.S.-Philippines cooperative relationship, it is likely that this action was supported and instructed by the United States. For the United States, the data monitored in the Philippines could be of great value.
We have been quick to take countermeasures. Less than 48 hours after the news of the Philippine construction of a security post on the island, Philippine coast guard vessels found at least 135 Chinese vessels gathered in the area when they sailed near China's oxbow reef.
The sudden appearance of a large number of Chinese ships in the Spratly Islands could be a harbinger of a larger operation. There is a possibility of reclamation and island reclamation. Oxbow Reef is located in the core area of the Nansha Islands, and if a port and airport are built, it can radiate the entire sea area on the east and west sides of the Nansha Islands.
Its geographical conditions are suitable for reclamation and island building, and China has the corresponding construction capacity.
Such an approach will effectively resist the Philippines' encroachment on the Spratly Islands and consolidate China's sovereignty and stability.
At present, China has completed the reclamation of islands at Chubi Reef, Mischief Reef, and Fiery Cross Reef in Nansha, and the construction of military facilities is quite complete. If the oxbow reef is added, China's actual control over the Nansha Islands will be raised to a higher level. The Philippines should recognize that China's rise is a historical trend, and it should not rely on the United States obviously, and should seek friendly relations with world powers to reduce contradictions with China.