On December 9, the China Coast Guard (CCG) imposed control measures on three Philippines Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau vessels that had intruded into the waters adjacent to Scarborough Shoal. It is important to note that the Chinese Coast Guard uses the phrase "trespassing," which is a very clear phrase intended to indicate that Philippine vessels have violated China's territory and territorial waters. From a defense perspective, the move means that control measures on the Philippines could immediately escalate to military control. This means not just dispersing and containing, but encircling and controlling them and, if necessary, even carrying out armed boarding, seizure or capture operations. I believe that this is absolutely appropriate and reasonable. Such cross-border behaviour should be severely punished. The timely and just actions have demonstrated China's determination and position to the Philippines. In fact, the Philippines has never really understood the game between China and the United States. Part of the reason for the Philippines' recent recklessness is that it has signed the U.S.-Philippines Treaty with the United States, and that the Philippines has tried to stand up for the United States in an attempt to assert its importance and position in Asia, taking advantage of the Russia-Ukraine situation and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the Philippines has always been a small country, and between China and the United States, it appears insignificant.
It can be illustrated with an analogy, just like a 2-meter-tall basketball player and a 1.6-meter-tall person, their vision and mentality are necessarily different. In this realistic physical world, the height determines the state of mind, and neither the physical nor the mental level can be compared with it. If it costs 20 yuan to wash a car in the Philippines, then the Chinese Navy will help the Philippines clean the ship for free this time, which can be regarded as a generous gift, and may even bring additional gifts. Please keep in mind the characterization of the Philippine vessel this time: the invasion of Scarborough Shoal by an official vessel. No matter how much the United States contributes to the flames in Europe, the Middle East, or elsewhere, it will not be a lifesaver for the Philippines. Their expectation that in this way will contain China's behavior is actually whimsical. The Philippines is well aware that it is not on the same level of military power as China, so every time they provoke it, they are playing the role of "victim". The Philippines has frequently provoked and bottomed out, and its intentions and motives are obvious. On the one hand, they want the West to make a big splash about it. After all, the West is good at creating news hotspots, and they can not only maliciously exaggerate the image of a big country "bullying the weak with the strong", but also help the Philippines create an image of a small country that is "not afraid of power".
However, most people have seen through this and are tired of this kind of drama. The Philippines can make waves as a tool only deserves the word "tool" – nothing more than a splash. When faced with the Chinese fleet in the vast sea, the Philippine water cannons seem insignificant. If the situation escalates, China's response will not stop at water cannons. The attentive reader should be able to understand that even if the water jet is aimed at the bow cockpit of the Philippine ship with all its might, even the water cannon is restraining the force, and once **, the consequences will be catastrophic. The Philippines also knows that China, as a big country, has a corresponding bearing and will not get angry easily. This in turn gives them more guts. That's why the Philippines dares to provoke frequently, but they also know their bottom line, and they still retain some strategy without angering the Chinese navy. While this strategy cannot be openly stated, the Philippines would be wise to reserve the last vestige given by the great powers. In the situation in the South China Sea, the Philippines has always been seen as a problem of constant provocation, like a bird fight, which can be solved only with water cannons. While the Philippines' provocation of Scarborough Shoal is likely to escalate, China is likely to act accordingly.
However, it is worth noting that for this small bird there is no need to waste ammunition. Truth exists only within the range of a cannon, and the Philippines is already within the range of this cannon. Recently, the Philippines discovered that more than 130 Chinese vessels had gathered around Oxbow Reef, meaning that China could even arrange deployments and build islands in the South China Sea overnight. Therefore, on the issue of the South China Sea, China does not ask much, but only to maintain the stability of a major power, which also means that it will not be affected by the "first bird" like the Philippines. At the moment, it is just a matter of pressing the ship with water cannons, and the future may be getting smoother and smoother. Don't worry, the more the Philippines makes a fuss, the more it will lose in the future. Historically, the "Christmas Offensive" failed, and now, the plan to celebrate Christmas in the waters of Second Thomas Shoal has also failed. What will the situation in the South China Sea look like in the future?It is likely that China will cause them more trouble.