In recent years, with the call of the United States, NATO and "Indo-Pacific" allies have joined the anti-China ranks to jointly deal with the so-called "China challenge". The action drew widespread attention and sounded a dangerous alarm in the waters around China. Of these seas, the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and the East China Sea are arguably the most tense at the moment. Dozens of countries have responded to the call of the United States and set up various "small groups" with the United States to focus on these waters.
As one of China's important territorial waters, the South China Sea has always been the focus of international attention. Recently, the United States and its allies have begun to frequently provoke the waters of the South China Sea. Seven countries – the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, the Philippines and India – have launched a series of provocative activities in the South China Sea. For example, the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship USS Giffords illegally intruded into the waters near China's Ren'ai Jiao, triggering a strong incursion from China. The Canadian Navy's "Ottawa" was twice intercepted by Chinese warplanes in the air over the South China Sea, adding to tensions. The Philippines repeatedly ignored China's warnings and committed incursions in the waters around Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Jiao, which were eventually driven away by Chinese coast guard vessels with water cannons. India, for its part, sent a frigate on a goodwill visit to the Philippines and conducted a "maritime partnership exercise" in the South China Sea.
As one of the most sensitive issues in Sino-US relations, the Taiwan Strait is also an important focus of the surrounding situation. In the past few months, the Canadian Navy frigate "Ottawa" has repeatedly followed the United States through the Taiwan Strait, further aggravating the turmoil in the Taiwan Strait. Anti-submarine patrol aircraft of the US Navy also made a crossing of the Taiwan Strait and openly hyped it. In addition, the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and other countries have frequently emphasized their stance of "opposing the use of force to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait," which has once again aggravated the tense atmosphere in the surrounding areas.
The East China Sea region is also an important point of contention in U.S.-China relations. Japan's provocative behavior on the Diaoyu Islands issue has not stopped. The Chinese coast guard took necessary measures to drive away the fishing boat "Tsurumaru" driven by Japanese right-wingers and the Japanese maritime protection vessels accompanying them into the territorial waters of China's Diaoyu Islands to cause trouble. The United States, Japan and other countries also held maritime interception exercises in the East China Sea, which was a clear provocation against China. Australia also made small moves in the East China Sea and was warned to drive away by the Chinese ** ship. In response to the provocations of these countries, China has always maintained a high level of vigilance and resolutely defended its sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
In the face of the eyes of the United States and its allies, China cannot back down, let alone take a step back. China is determined to defend its sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. China** stressed that it has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and their adjacent waters. China respects the rights of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, and resolutely opposes any action that endangers China's sovereignty and security in the name of freedom of navigation and overflight. With regard to the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea issue, China has always maintained a high level of vigilance and taken all necessary measures to protect its territorial integrity.
At present, China-US relations are in an unprecedentedly complex and sensitive period. Western countries, led by the United States, have stepped up their pressure on China, and it is no longer a hidden conspiracy to enlist their allies to collectively "encircle" China. Through the continuous improvement of its own strength, China is striving to meet the challenges of the international environment. In the midst of provocative actions in different waters, China will continue to defend its national interests, firmly fulfill its international responsibilities, and maintain regional peace and stability. China will continue to uphold the principle of openness and cooperation, and work with other countries to build a bright future of lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.