The South China Sea is a regional hotspot issue, and China and ASEAN countries have long worked together to maintain peace and stability in the region. However, in order to pursue their own geopolitical interests, some foreign forces have constantly created incidents on the South China Sea issue and sowed discord among countries in the region. Among them, the Philippines and the United States are the most typical examples. The Philippines has sought closer cooperation with the United States, especially since Marcos Jr. came to power. After the escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, the Philippines hopes to use the power of the United States to counter China, so it has become an important strategy for them to woo the United States.
The United States and its allies have followed suit after seeing the Philippines' actions, condemning China's actions in the South China Sea and demanding that both sides abide by international law. This is like the United States and the Philippines giving a script, setting the stage for allies to take turns to provoke China. However, both Ren'ai Jiao and Scarborough Shoal are China's inherent territory and ChinaSpratly Islandsimportant components. This has become the consensus of the international community and is fully in line with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. At the same time, China has not accepted, participated in or recognized the 2016 arbitral award. Therefore, no matter what the United States and its allies say, China's policy propositions and rights and interests on the South China Sea issue will not change because of this.
However, as the United States and the Philippines cooperate to enlist allies to provoke China, China seems to have found a way to solve it. According to reports, China and Vietnam recently issued a joint statement, in which the two sides agreed to jointly manage the South China Sea dispute, refrain from taking actions that complicate or escalate the dispute, and jointly maintain regional peace and stability. This statement not only repositioned Sino-Vietnamese relations and promoted the interaction between the two countries, but also made China and VietnamComprehensive Strategic PartnershipAdded a new connotation.
Vietnam has been courted by many countries, including the United States, because of its geographical location, high quality of labor force and high intellectual potential. Looking at the overall situation, the South China Sea dispute is not only a problem for the Philippines, but also for Vietnam. Therefore, China's strategy is to reassure Vietnam and the entire ASEAN countries that they will not blindly follow the rhythm of the United States.
Only when Vietnam makes its position clear will China be free to fight back. Fortunately, the recent Sino-Vietnamese joint statement shows Vietnam's commitment to working with China to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and the region. What does this mean for the Philippines?From my point of view, the Philippines has provoked and co-opted allies to stir up chaos one after anotherThe situation in the South China SeaTo a certain extent, the act is to lure the war. Therefore, once China appeases Vietnam, the Philippines may be subject to tougher sanctions. If that happens, the Philippines will have to suffer the consequences of a rupture in Sino-Philippine relations. As a result, a major crisis is coming to the Philippines.
The South China Sea issue is an important issue that has a bearing on regional stability and the future of the Asia-Pacific region. In the current tense situation, China is trying to reassure Vietnam and prevent ASEAN countries from following in the footsteps of the United States. By signing a joint statement with Vietnam, China is China and VietnamComprehensive Strategic PartnershipAdded a new connotation. This move has demonstrated to the international community China's peaceful attitude and determination to solve the problem. However, the Philippines' continued provocations and co-opting allies could lead to further tensions in China-Philippines relations, with serious consequences for the Philippines. Therefore, the Philippines should recognize the reality, abide by the provisions of international law, and resolve the South China Sea issue through dialogue and cooperation, rather than by provoking war. Only through joint efforts can all parties achieve peace, stability and common development in the region.