Recently, China-Philippines relations have once again attracted attention over the South China Sea dispute. The Chinese side stressed that the Philippines should be cautious in handling the matter and avoid colluding with external forces to cause further trouble. The Philippine side realized the seriousness of the problem and took the initiative to initiate a phone call, hoping to solve the current predicament. **In the press release, Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted the current options and issues facing China-Philippines relations, and expressed China's resolute response. The recent incidents provoked by the Philippines in the South China Sea are completely deliberate provocations by the Philippines and have a certain relationship with the support and connivance of Western countries.
However, is the Philippines aware of the position of its neighboring countries?Within ASEAN, the Philippines can only be supported by Vietnam and Malaysia, while other ASEAN countries are more inclined to resolve disputes in the South China Sea through dialogue and consultation. The Philippines' actions run counter to ASEAN's position and turn the South China Sea issue into a gladiatorial arena for geopolitical conflict. Foreign Minister Wang Yi's statement during the phone call was very clear that if the Philippines continues to collude with external forces, China will resolutely respond.
The Philippines' actions in the South China Sea over the past few years have attracted the attention of the international community. In particular, in disputes with China, Western countries such as the United States, Canada, and the European Union have frequently supported and solidarity with the Philippines, and even threatened China with the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. This phenomenon of manipulation by the United States behind it exposes the collusion between the Philippines and the United States. The Philippines thinks that the "big tree" of the United States can gain the upper hand in the South China Sea, but it forgets the history of the United States repeatedly turning its back.
The Philippines even praised the Philippines for resisting China's "bullying" in the South China Sea shipping lanes, winning widespread support from the international community. However, this so-called "international community" is actually the Western countries led by the United States, and for the broader countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, the Philippines has little support for its actions. The Philippines should realize that they are just a pebble in the slingshot of the United States in the international arena, and the United States will abandon them at any time according to its own interests.
The Philippines believes that it can make an indifference in the South China Sea with U.S. support, but they have forgotten about U.S. renegade and false promises. Especially after the announcement of the results of the South China Sea arbitration in 2016, the United States planned to send a provocation to China, but in the end it left the South China Sea in disgrace because of the unfavorable situation. This scene clearly shows that Philippine politicians are short-sighted and conceited, and too gullible in their dependence and commitment on the United States.
Some people in the Philippines even regard U.S. support as a real promise, as if they have forgotten the time when the U.S. abandoned them seven years ago. This kind of short-term vision and lack of long-term memory will bring more unnecessary trouble to the Philippines. The Philippines needs to recognize the situation and not blindly follow external forces to avoid further difficulties.
It is important for the Philippines to understand the views and positions of its neighbors. Among ASEAN countries, only Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines have a certain degree of consensus on the South China Sea issue, while other countries prefer to resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation. China, Vietnam and Malaysia have repeatedly expressed their willingness to manage maritime differences through dialogue, and continue to promote the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, opposing any action that could escalate disputes.
The Philippines should recognize ASEAN's position and maintain communication and cooperation with other countries, rather than choosing to collude with Western countries to undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea. The Philippines should understand that only by living in harmony with its neighbors and jointly maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea can it achieve true benefit maximization.
China-Philippines relations are at a crossroads, and the Philippines is now faced with an important choice, which must carefully handle the South China Sea issue and avoid colluding with external forces to cause greater trouble. The Philippines should recognize that the support of external forces is only short-lived, and long-term interests can only be guaranteed through peaceful cooperation with neighboring countries. The Philippines should listen to ASEAN's voice, conduct good communication and cooperation with other countries, and actively promote peace and stability in the South China Sea.