Foreword: Recently, there has been a major escalation in the situation in the South China Sea. The Philippines once again sent ships to resupply China's Ren'ai Jiao, but the Chinese side has already laid a wide net, and the Philippines has been hit head-on and fled again. In this regard, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense said that it will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. This article will discuss the provocative behavior of the Philippines and the course of China's counterattack.
The Philippines has again sent ships to resupply China's Ren'ai Jiao. According to the understanding, there are two types of Philippine ships, one is to carry building materials and materials in an attempt to strengthen the "beach"**, and the other is to carry necessary materials for life, such as fresh water and food. In the case of the former, China resolutely intercepts and fires water cannons to expel it, while in the latter case, it makes temporary special arrangements for humanitarian considerations.
The defeat came as a shock to the Philippines, given that in past conflicts, Chinese vessels have generally not entered the interior of Second Thomas Shoal, and have only operated externally. However, this time, Chinese ships not only entered the area of Second Thomas Shoal, but even 11 ships, which is unprecedented. According to the Philippines**, it may be that the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and others mixed in with the material ships and boarded the "beaching" of Ren'ai Jiao**, which angered China.
Chinese coast guard vessels assembled near Second Thomas Shoal, and Ship Tracking System (AIS) data shows that 27 Chinese vessels are stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, of which 16 are on the outskirts of Second Thomas Shoal, and 11 ships have entered the area directly, posing a threat to the Philippines' Sierra Madre beach**.
The entry of Chinese vessels into the inner area of Second Thomas Shoal plays an important role. It is likely to be conducting hydrographic surveys, including determining locations and understanding the depth of the channel, in preparation for the future forceful towing of the Sierra Madre.
The Philippines was alarmed, and China has generally responded conservatively to Philippine provocations, trying to keep the conflict within a certain boundary. This time, however, the approach has changed significantly, with the Philippines** noting that perhaps China is angry at the Philippines' deception, which has further escalated the situation.
China is a peace-loving country, but it will never tolerate any country's provocative acts. China has responded to the Philippines' unprovoked provocations. The incident completely angered China, which led to a tougher action.
The conflict at Second Thomas Shoal is not only a matter of territorial disputes, but also involves stability and peace in the South China Sea. The assembly and deployment of China Coast Guard ships further demonstrated China's strength and determination to defend its rights, and also played a deterrent role. China will resolutely take measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in response to the Philippines' unreasonable acts.
The Philippines' provocative actions against China's Second Thomas Shoal have led to an escalation in the South China Sea, and China has resolutely interdicted and taken tougher actions. The deployment of China Coast Guard ships quickly demonstrated China's military strength and determination to defend its rights. China has taken it as its duty to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and has countered the unreasonable actions of the Philippines, while maintaining the consideration of humanitarian considerations. For China, it is important to maintain stability and peace in the South China Sea region, which is conducive to the country's development. In the face of provocations and to protect its own interests, China will take necessary measures and resolutely defend its dignity and status through rights protection actions.