In today's world, the geopolitical importance of the South China Sea region cannot be underestimated. The waters are not only rich in natural resources, but also a key sea passage in the world, attracting the attention and desire of many neighboring countries. At the same time, however, the South China Sea dispute has become a major focus of regional security, with the countries involved, driven by their sovereignty, security and development interests, intending to assert their claims. As one of the core participants in the South China Sea dispute, the Philippines' claim to the islands in the South China Sea has always been complex and sensitive. Recently, a series of words and deeds by Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines have revealed the Philippines' great concern about the South China Sea issue.
On the South China Sea issue, the United States' support and connivance with the Philippines has provided Marcos with a certain amount of "endorsement" and made him more assertive on China. In addition, Japan's interaction with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also reveals the intention of regional countries to seek balance and stability in their cooperation. In this context, for China, the South China Sea issue is not only about national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, but also an important part of regional stability. China's position on sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao is unswerving, and both history and legal theory support the legitimacy of its position. China has exercised restraint in its handling of disputes in the South China Sea, but it has also warned that any violation of national territorial integrity will be met with resolute countermeasures.
In the article, the Chinese Embassy in France clearly pointed out that the starting point of the South China Sea dispute can be traced back to 1999, when the Philippines "beached" at Ren'ai Jiao, and did not drag it away as promised, and even refused to recognize the previous "gentlemen's agreement" between the two sides after Xin** took office, and tried to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao, violating China's bottom line. The role of the United States in this process cannot be underestimated. As the former suzerainty and traditional ally of the Philippines, the United States' support for the Philippines is obvious to all. The remarks of the embassy in France were like a direct question to the United States, whether the United States is willing to engage in a conflict with China for the sake of the Philippines?The answer seems to be a foregone conclusion – the United States is seeking more to contain China's influence through its allies in the Asia-Pacific region than to engage in conflict.
Marcos clearly wants to de-escalate the situation and find a more rational way of communicating. On the other hand, the joint statement between Japan and ASEAN reflects the expectation of future cooperation, and refrains from directly naming China and Russia in the statement, revealing the prudence and restraint of both sides in handling sensitive issues. This undoubtedly echoes China's previous statement, which has always maintained that any form of cooperation should be aimed at enhancing mutual trust, peace and stability among countries in the region. In this series of diplomatic interactions, we can see the tug-of-war between China and the Philippines on the South China Sea issue, as well as the influence of external forces on the regional situation. As the positions and strategies of relevant countries continue to change, the South China Sea issue remains an unresolved time bomb in international politics.
In the face of the complex and ever-changing international situation and regional challenges, all countries should work together to maintain peace and prosperity in this sea area with a calm mind and an open vision. We can see that the power of peace and cooperation is an inexhaustible driving force to push history forward, and it is also the common aspiration and responsibility of all countries. In the waves of the South China Sea, may the beacon of calm and wisdom guide the course of the future and open up a calm and calm water.