In an interview in Tokyo, Marcos Marcos of the Philippines provoked a geopolitical storm and bluntly said that China's growing assertiveness poses a substantial challenge to its Asian neighbors. Such rhetoric not only shocked the outside world, but also reheated tensions over the South China Sea issue. Marcos's move is like dropping a shock bomb on the international stage, which is undoubtedly an unprecedented impact on China-Philippines relations.
The rogue behavior is reminiscent of Marcos's provocative tactics. He has acted like an outrageous provocateur in the South China Sea, not only reneging on his promises, but also adding to the already relatively stable South China Sea dispute. By sending ** to intensify its occupation of the disputed area, the Philippines appears to be trying to force China to make concessions through heavy-handed tactics in defiance of international law and agreements.
The strengthening of the alliance between the Philippines and Japan and the trilateral cooperation with the United States are all the more remarkable. Marcos appears to be trying to use his alliance with Japan to force China to compromise on core interests. What is even more astonishing is that the Philippines and Japan have agreed to send troops to each other, ostensibly to send troops to each other, but in fact they are sending an invitation to Japan, hoping that Japan's Self-Defense Forces will participate in dealing with China. This kind of diplomacy is unacceptable, but it also shows that the Philippines** is ready for military means to become the main means.
The complexity of the South China Sea issue is becoming apparent, and Marcos' ambitions are not limited to Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal. He seems to be trying to acquire the islands, reefs and maritime resources of the so-called "West Philippine Sea" through provocation. The Philippine commander-in-chief personally went to Ren'ai Jiao in an attempt to provoke a joint military exercise to deter China. While threatening China with the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, Japanese military force was again introduced to confront China. This dangerous military game has made the South China Sea issue even more confusing, and China has to recognize that military means have risen to become the primary means of resolving the South China Sea issue.
How can China sit idly by?In fact, the Philippines has pushed military means in the main direction. For China, although it is reluctant to use military means as the main means, there is no way back. In the face of military provocations by the Philippines, China needs to respond prudently. To some extent, diplomacy remains essential, but it must be recognized that military means have become one of the main means of dealing with the South China Sea issue. China cannot afford to wait passively, but must respond actively to protect its core interests.
In the tense atmosphere of the South China Sea issue, it is undeniable that diplomacy remains an important way to resolve differences. Despite the aggressive military approach taken by the Philippines, we should not ignore the possibility of resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiation. As the international community calls for the peaceful settlement of disputes grows stronger, China can take this opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining peace in the region. By establishing multilateral mechanisms, promoting dialogue, and finding common interests, it may be possible to defuse the current tensions and create more favorable conditions for the resolution of the South China Sea issue.
In the turbulent modern arms race, the PLA's "Dongfeng Express" has broken the traditional long-range precision strike mode, which has put the US Air Force under deep pressure. This kind of technological progress that transcends the times is like a thunderbolt that has shaken the strategic thinking of the US military. Swift and accurate, the east wind blowing on the battlefield is not only a storm, but also a test of the traditional deployment of the US military.
With the rapid improvement of the PLA's long-range strike capabilities in the air and sea, the number of J-20 fighters has exceeded 200, surpassing the F-22 of the US Air Force. This marks the PLA's air superiority in the Western Pacific. In the face of advanced models such as the J-20, it is like a peak duel in the air, and the plight of the US military's fifth-generation aircraft is becoming more and more prominent.
In the face of the rise of the PLA, the U.S. Air Force proposed the concept of "Agile Operational Deployment" (ACE) in an attempt to maintain strategic balance through change. However, the reality is more complex. The key to the ACE tactics is the rapid deployment of fighters to the first island chain, however, the location of the airfield is under the surveillance of the PLA, and the reduced number of available runways has put the US military's long-range mobility in a bottleneck.
In response to the threat from the PLA, the U.S. Air Force adopted a strategy of retreating fifth-generation aircraft, withdrawing heavy fighters and bombers from the first island chain base and deploying them on a rotational basis. This move makes only more than 100 F-16C D fighters left in the first island chain base, and the remaining four-and-a-half-generation models, although they can show their presence, appear to be "more than enough but not enough" in the face of the PLA's J-20, J-11B and other fighters.
"Dongfeng Express" is the pinnacle of the PLA's science and technology, and its new look makes the traditional tactical layout dwarf. The PLA's technological progress is not only reflected in the number of J-20 fighters, but also in the significant improvement of its long-range strike capability at sea. This has enabled the PLA to maneuver its air power in the Asia-Pacific region with ease, providing considerable support for it to take the initiative in modern warfare.
In addition to the rise of air force, the powerful rise of the PLA Rocket Force has also brought unprecedented changes to the military landscape of the entire Asia-Pacific region. The rocket force's long-range precision strike capability, especially against the threat of the US military's military bases in the first island chain, makes the US military feel that it cannot escape the strategic pressure. In this modern arms race, the rise of the Rocket Force has forced people to re-examine the strength of the PLA in air power, and its impact is far-reaching and long-lasting.