In the heart of the South China Sea, a Philippine landing ship called Sierra Madre has been sleeping in the arms of Second Thomas Shoal, and since 1999, the ship has continued to exist in the area as an "illegal beaching", sparking attention and discussion about territorial disputes in the region and beyond. However, the situation, which has lasted for more than 20 years, may have been turned around by the volatile political and security situation in the Philippines. The Philippines, as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country consisting of more than 7,000 islands, faces complex separatist and armed problems at home. These factors are intertwined to form the tangled military and political backdrop in the South China Sea.
These groups have extensive influence in the southern region and have a certain amount of military power. Their political goal is clear, that is, to get rid of the control of the Philippines and establish an independent Islamic state. In this context, the presence of the New People's Army of the Philippines (NPA) is particularly prominent. Unlike the Islamic Independence Forces, the NPA, led by the Communist Party of the Philippines, is a guerrilla force that advocates left-wing ideas. Since its establishment in 1969, the New People's Army has engaged in a long-term confrontation with the ** army throughout the country, showing extremely strong survivability, despite facing the joint encirclement and suppression of the ** army and the US military. Its activity spreads across most of the country's provinces, putting the security of the area around the capital, Manila, at constant risk.
Marcos Jr.'s "recruitment" policy was rendered ineffective by the Philippine military's raid operations during the peace talks, which undermined mutual trust with the NPA. Against such a military backdrop, the Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal has become a prominent symbol. Its presence is not only a challenge to China's sovereignty, but also a way for the Philippines to try to assert its territorial claims in the South China Sea. However, recent developments suggest that the ship itself is facing an existential threat. Due to the long-term lack of maintenance, the hull was severely corroded, two huge holes had already appeared, and sea water began to flood the interior of the cabin. The personnel stationed on the ship had to move the living quarters to the deck, and the possibility of the ship's disintegration was just around the corner.
The Philippines' power has long been a chronic national problem, and in a sensitive region as the South China Sea, any domestic unrest could raise international concern. The military raid is a microcosm of the challenges facing the Philippines. The military claimed that it was based on intelligence provided by the United States that the NPA could carry out an attack during a major holiday. However, this claim is not supported by substantial evidence, but instead exacerbates tensions between ** and *** forces. During the raid, 6 NPA soldiers and 1 soldier of the ** army were killed, and another 3 soldiers of the ** army were wounded. The outcome of this exchange of fire did not bring the desired peace or stability to the Philippines**, but instead led to more conflict and uncertainty.
The China Coast Guard has tightened its blockade of Second Thomas Shoal, prohibiting any ships from transporting construction materials to Second Thomas Shoal. This action undoubtedly had a decisive impact on the fate of the Sierra Madre. In the turmoil of the Philippines' domestic affairs, China has shown a wait-and-see posture, and as the domestic situation in the Philippines becomes more complex, Marcos Jr. seems to be unable to toss around the South China Sea. In the background and course of the illegal "beaching" of the "Sierra Madre" at Ren'ai Jiao, it is not difficult for us to find that there is a close interaction between the military action and the domestic political situation. The Philippine's domestic insecurity is ultimately reflected in its foreign policy, affecting its behavior and image in the international arena.
On future issues in the South China Sea, China will continue to maintain its strategic focus and safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests through peaceful means. In dealing with sensitive incidents such as the Sierra Madre, China adheres to the spirit of the rule of law and international rules, a position that has played a positive role in maintaining regional stability and promoting cooperation. In the face of the complex and ever-changing international situation, peace, dialogue and cooperation remain the right way to resolve disputes and build harmony. Such a constructive approach would not only resolve the current conflict, but also lay the foundation for long-term peace and development in the region. In the waves of the South China Sea, a contest between sovereignty, territorial integrity and geopolitics is increasingly unfolding.
The Philippines, one of the neighboring countries of Nanhai Zhudao, has major differences with China over the sovereignty of Ren'ai Jiao, and has engaged in a long and complicated diplomatic and legal battle over the island. The Philippines** is trying to consolidate and expand its territorial claims in the South China Sea through the International Court of Justice and multilateral diplomacy. However, the sovereignty dispute in the South China Sea is not only a dispute over islands and reefs, but also involves an overall issue of maritime rights and interests, economic interests and regional security. In the face of a series of Philippine measures at Second Thomas Shoal, China, as an important littoral state in the South China Sea, has adhered to its sovereign position and advocated resolving the dispute through direct negotiations, while also strengthening its presence in the South China Sea.
The constant conflict between the Philippine army and the armed forces has caused personnel and social unrest, and the instability of the security situation has made the Philippine army in foreign relations restricted to a certain extent, and this internal and external double pressure is undoubtedly a big test for the Philippines. At the same time, China has shown restraint and goodwill during this period, emphasizing the peaceful resolution of disputes and adhering to the principle of dialogue rather than confrontation. However, from a strategic point of view, the solution to the Ren'ai Jiao issue also has a place in China's strategic layout. China's actions in the South China Sea, such as blowing sand and reclaiming islands and building military bases, reflect China's firm determination to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and are also a response to the provocative actions of neighboring countries.
The rusty ship, which has been in service for decades, became the physical fulcrum of the Philippines' assertion of its sovereignty after it was deployed to Second Thomas Shoal. However, the erosion of time and the erosion of the waves have caused the ship to gradually decay and face the danger of disintegration. As the structure of the Western Week 5 became increasingly fragile, the Philippines** was faced with a dilemma: on the one hand, the ship had to be maintained and reinforced in order to maintain its presence at Second Thomas ShoalOn the other hand, any repair action could be interpreted as exacerbating disputes and triggering regional tensions. The choice made by the Philippines at this moment undoubtedly has an important impact. And at this critical juncture, China's actions and positions have also become key factors influencing the course of events.
Although these measures have attracted the attention of the international community and the concerns of some countries, China** has always stressed that its actions are within the scope of its sovereignty and are legitimate actions to safeguard national interests and regional security. The Philippines seems to be at an impasse over the issue of Western Friday. Over time, the collapse of the ship seemed to be a matter of time. And the presence of Filipino personnel on Second Thomas Shoal is also facing increasing doubts. In such a situation, China's strategic choice at Second Thomas Shoal is also crucial. If the West Week 5 eventually disintegrates, the Philippines' foothold on Second Thomas Shoal will no longer exist, and whether China will take action to build and deploy military operations on Second Thomas Shoal will be a new direction for the South China Sea dispute.
In this process, it is the obligation of every responsible country to uphold dialogue, enhance mutual trust, respect each other's core interests and concerns, and jointly safeguard regional peace and prosperity. In the waters of Ren'ai Jiao, the way forward will depend on the wisdom of the countries concerned and the joint efforts of the international community.
In the face of disputes, resolving contradictions with wisdom and determination, and building the future with the concept of cooperation and win-win results is not only an expectation for the countries concerned in the South China Sea, but also a rational exploration of international relations. At any time, the dawn of peace will always shine through the fog of reality, providing guidance and hope for the settlement of disputes. And every surge at Second Thomas Shoal bears witness to the strength of the spirit of peace and cooperation in the South China Sea.