U.S.-Philippines relations have always attracted international attention. Thanks to the support and support of the United States, the Philippines has been dominating the South China Sea issue and constantly provoking China. However, after the latest provocation in the Philippines, the United States has begun to show a turtle posture with a shrunken head. Some people familiar with the matter broke the news that the Pentagon's ** in charge of China affairs and the Chinese military attache in the United States held a meeting to discuss the holding of a high-level military meeting between the two countries in 2024. This means that China and the United States have kept the news of the meeting secret for nearly a month. Against the backdrop of tensions between China and the United States, military exchanges between the two sides have been more low-key than in other areas. And it is at a time of tension in the South China Sea that the United States refers to previous military talks, apparently to ease tensions. Such an approach would reduce the likelihood of miscalculation on both sides, and at the same time, by highlighting previous military talks, the United States would also show that it does not want to confront China and instead shift the blame to the Philippines. However, it remains to be seen whether the Philippines will be able to see this message from it. The Philippines has no small ambitions in the South China Sea, and if they are blinded by their own ambitions, it will be difficult for them to make any waves in the South China Sea without the support of the United States.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing expressed support for the Philippines' provocation on social media, citing China's 2016 international tribunal ruling. In addition, the United States has also emphasized the U.S.-Philippines mutual defense mechanism, which is clearly supporting the Philippines. But all that changed inadvertently. According to the leaks, the Pentagon** in charge of China affairs and the Chinese military attache to the United States met in San Francisco to discuss a high-level military meeting between the two countries in 2024. The leak of this news has made people wonder why China and the United States have been relatively low-key in military exchanges amid tensions in the South China Sea. Perhaps, the United States chose to refer to previous military talks at a time of tension in the South China Sea in order to bring fire to China. The United States wants to reduce the possibility of miscalculation by maintaining exchanges in the military field, and it also shows that it does not want to confront China, but instead shifts the blame to the Philippines. However, it remains to be seen whether the Philippines will see the mystery and whether their ambitions in the South China Sea will hinder their correct judgment of the situation.
China's military attache has warned the United States on the Taiwan issue, saying that China will use all means to resist the intervention of external forces. The same language can be applied to the South China Sea. Although the United States is far from the South China Sea, it is trying to meddle in the South China Sea issue with the ambitions of certain countries. China will never allow such behavior to happen, and if the United States does not believe it, China will stop at nothing to defend its interests. The warning of the Chinese major general had a certain impact on the behavior of the shrinking turtle in the United States. From the Philippines' point of view, if they wake up to China's warnings, they should be shocked by the U.S. turtle posture and even feel that they are being taken advantage of. After all, the United States has begun to retreat before the situation in the South China Sea has escalated, which means that if something does happen, the United States may not be able to intervene. However, it remains to be seen whether the Philippines will be able to see this message and understand it.
After the cooperation between the United States and the Philippines, the United States' statement and turtle posture have attracted widespread attention. What is seen from the eyes of the Philippines is that the United States is beginning to retreat, and the Philippines may be shocked and disappointed. However, in this process, the warnings of the Chinese major general played a certain role. China is firm on U.S. involvement in the South China Sea, and if the Philippines understands this, its ambitions in the South China Sea may be limited. In addition, military dialogue and exchanges between China and the United States have also demonstrated the willingness of both sides to do their best to reduce tensions. The U.S. mentioned that the previous military talks were aimed at bringing fire down on China and shifting the blame to the Philippines. However, it remains to be seen whether the Philippines can see the mystery and understand China's position. In any case, the resolution of the South China Sea issue requires the calmness and rationality of all parties, as well as the observance of international law and the resolution of disputes through dialogue and consultation. Only in this way can we maintain regional peace, stability, and common prosperity.