The West Philippine Sea Countries Working Group issued a statement on December 7 accusing ChinaCoast GuardIn waters near Scarborough Shoal, the vessel fired at least eight water cannons at three Philippine government vessels transporting fuel and food to fishing vessels. The Philippine side strongly condemns ChinaCoast Guardand the actions of China's maritime militia, calling them aggressive and illegal, impeding the distribution of humanitarian aid.
According to the PhilippinesCoast GuardReleased live footage of Chinese ships at a distance of 1 from Scarborough Shoal4～1.9 nautical mile location, towards the PhilippinesFisheriesand the Aquatic Resources Bureau's vessels fired powerful jets of water, seriously damaging the navigation and communication facilities of one of the Philippine official vessels, Datutamblot. In addition, the Philippines said that China had laid a barrier near the waters entering Scarborough Shoal and deployed personnel to drive away "civilians" waiting for supplies.
Embassy of the United States of AmericaManilaAmbassador Carlson condemned China's actions on social media platforms, claiming that the PRC's actions had been "violated."Internationallaw", endangering lives and livelihoods. He stressed that he will stand with the Philippines in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
However, the accusations and condemnations of the Philippine side have raised doubts. Why did the Philippines choose to carry out humanitarian relief operations in other areas, but why did it choose to carry out humanitarian relief operations near Scarborough Shoal?The so-called bailout of the PhilippinesFishermenIt seems to be nothing more than a self-directed farce, while they try to mold China into a big country that bullies small countries in order to attractInternationalThe eyes and support of the society.
The Philippine provocations did not stop at the Scarborough Shoal area, where they arrived on December 10Second Thomas ReefRetaliation was launched in the nearby seas. Two Philippine shipsCoast GuardThe ship, an official ship and a supply ship, illegally entered China without the permission of China**Spratly IslandsSecond Thomas ReefNearby seas. ChinaCoast GuardFollowLawsProcedure to take measures against Philippine vessels.
At 6:39 a.m. the following day, the Philippine Yunaza May 1 boat ignored ChinaCoast GuardRepeated solemn warnings, violationsInternationalCircumvent the rules at sea and ram ChinaCoast GuardBoat No. 21556, causing the ships of both sides to scrape. The logic of the behavior of the Philippine side is not difficult to understand, after the failure of their provocation at Scarborough Shoal, they tried to inSecond Thomas ReefNearby to seek face, but the result is to trigger a scraping of ships on both sides.
Logically speaking, ChinaCoast GuardThe boat has a large displacement and has a natural advantage in size. In the face of the collision of Philippine boats, the Chinese side has a clear technological advantage, so the outcome of this collision is likely to be the defeat of the Philippine side. The Philippines is inSecond Thomas ReefOne of the reasons for the provocation in the vicinity was the Philippine sideSecond Thomas ReefIn response to the worrisome living conditions of the illegally stranded landing ship "Sierra Madre," the Philippine side tried to repair the hull with cement to prolong the illegal stay. China has made temporary arrangements for Philippine supply activities, but the Philippine side has not stopped illegal activities and has gradually increased in scale and tried to deal with ChinaCoast Guard"Hard-hitting".
One of the main reasons why the Philippines dared to be so provocative was that they regarded the US pledge as a "gold medal for avoiding death." After every conflict between China and the Philippines, the United States always jumps out to reaffirm its support for the Philippines and the United StatesMilitaryThe importance of alliances is emphasized. This emboldens the Philippines to take a risk, as it seems to believe that China will not take the first shot in the South China Sea.
However, China's restraint does not stem from its attitude toward the United StatesMilitaryFear of strength. In fact, China's restraint is based on China's status as a great power and its pursuit of peace and stability. China has always advocated resolving disputes in the South China Sea through dialogue and negotiation, and working with relevant countries to maintain maritime order, peace and stability. But for those who provoke China's sovereignty, whether it is the Philippines or any other country, China also has a bottom line.
The Philippines should recognize China's bottom line and not rely too much on the support of the United States. If the Philippines continues to provoke China, China may take more resolute measures to protect its rights and interests. The Philippines should settle disputes through dialogue and negotiation on the basis of peace and cooperation, rather than counting on the support of an external force. Only through cooperation and win-win results can regional peace and prosperity be achieved.