The situation in the South China Sea has changed significantly in recent years. After Marcos took office, the Philippines opened four military bases to the US military, which is equivalent to directly involving the United States in the South China Sea issue. In addition, the Philippines continues to work closely with other countries such as Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom and France in an attempt to expand the South China Sea dispute. At the same time, the Philippines' continued provocation of China's actions at Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal has further exposed its hostility to China.
Against this background, the West has begun to fan the flames of the Sino-Philippine dispute. According to reports, the French mainstream ** Le Figaro published an article distorting and criticizing China's position on the South China Sea issue. The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in France responded directly and revealed the truth.
The spokesman pointed out that China has sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and has never faced any challenge in the past. In the 30s and 40s of the 20th century, France and Japan illegally occupied part of China's Nansha Islands by force. In 1946, under the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, China recovered sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands.
However, some countries have tried to deny China's sovereignty over the Spratly Islands by claiming the right to an exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea on the grounds that the Spratly Islands are 200 nautical miles off their coast.
This statement is contrary to the facts and illegal.
In particular, the spokesman mentioned that Ren'ai Jiao is an important part of China's Nansha Islands and is widely recognized by the international community. However, in 1999, the Philippines sent ** to run aground on the reef. China and the Philippines have reached a "gentlemen's agreement" on the management of the situation at Ren'ai Jiao, whereby the Philippines promised not to reinforce the stranding**, not to build facilities, not to send additional personnel, not to exaggerate, and to notify the Chinese side of relevant actions in advance.
Due to humanitarian considerations, China agreed to a special arrangement to allow the Philippines to deliver supplies to the stranded vessel. However, after Marcos came to power, he not only refused to recognize the agreement, but also regarded Ren'ai Jiao as a provocation to China"Bridgehead", trying to reinforce the stranded ship, which has seriously touched China's bottom line and red line.
Despite this, China has been restrained and tolerant, while the Philippines, with the support of the United States, has become more and more adventurous and constantly provokes China's bottom line. Even if the United States is not willing to engage in a conflict with China over the Philippines, this is a question directly raised by the spokesperson. At present, the Philippines is in the situation in the South China Sea, not only provoking at Ren'ai Jiao, but also taking three other actions.
First of all, there are constant provocations in China's territorial waters at Scarborough Shoal;Second, the construction of an airstrip on Thitu Island in China is in preparation for increasing its strength in the South China SeaThe third is to invite countries outside the region to participate in so-called "joint patrols".
Just last week, Marcos Marcos of the Philippines also publicly stated that the Philippines is considering exploring oil in the South China Sea, because negotiations with China have not been fruitful, and the Philippines must adopt a "new response". After the Philippines approached the United States, the United States became involved in the South China Sea.
From these actions, we can see that the Philippines is obviously prepared for the South China Sea issue, and their actions are layered and planned.
First, they attracted the United States to join by "opening bases";Then use the influence of the United States to attract other Western allies to participate;Then, by provoking China, openly pointing out hostile targets;Then, through joint patrols, they will indicate what actions they are going to take in the South China SeaFinally, they sent a message to the outside world that the Philippines was ready to exploit oil and gas. It can be said that their plans are well thought out.
On the one hand, the Philippines knows that the United States wants to suppress China through the South China Sea issue, and at the same time takes into account the Taiwan Strait issue, so they brought in the United States, and Washington is very satisfied with this, and other allies have joined in, which is equivalent to creating an opportunity for the United States to make overtures.
In carrying out these operations, the Philippines has encountered little resistance.
On the other hand, the Philippines wants to put pressure on China by including the United States and Western countries in the South China Sea issue, which they believe will be costly in the event of a military action, and China will not easily consider military options. In such a situation, the Philippines could start to act and reap benefits from the South China Sea, such as oil and gas extraction.
However, a spokesperson for the embassy in France cautioned that China will not compromise on issues of principle and bottom line. The Philippines may have some calculations, but China will not budge in this regard in order to safeguard its sovereignty and maritime interests. What is the Philippines in front of China?Taking a step back, does the United States dare to go to war with China in the South China Sea for the sake of the Philippines?
We can see from the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine that the United States does not want to get into trouble on its own. Moreover, China, as a military power, is also fighting on its own soil, and the South China Sea issue could lead to a chain reaction, even affecting the Taiwan Strait. In the event of a direct showdown, China may be able to resolve the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait issues together. In any case, the United States did not have the guts to compete with China and return to the Stone Age. To put it bluntly, neither the South China Sea nor the Taiwan Strait has anything to do with the United States itself.