Philippine coast guard vessels USS Stanley and USS Goat recently quietly approached the vicinity of Oxbow Reef in the Jiuzhang Reef, an action that has aroused strong concern from the Chinese side. However, the Philippines appears to have underestimated China's resolve and capabilities in the South China Sea.
As the largest atoll in the Jiuzhang Reefs, Oxbow Reef is an important target that the Philippines has long coveted. The Philippines hopes to seize sovereignty over more than 20 islands and reefs in the Jiuzhang Reef by encroaching on Oxbow Reef, while also trying to create a gap between China's three major islands, Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief, to undermine China's offensive and defensive posture in the Spratlys.
However, the Philippines' plot is doomed to fail. As early as the 90s, China set up a sovereignty monument at Oxbow Reef and deployed troops at Dongmen Reef and Chigua Reef in the Jiuzhang Reef, which actually effectively controlled the situation at Oxbow Reef. In addition, China has sent more than 135 fishing boats to patrol the area, forming a standoff with Philippine Coast Guard vessels.
The purpose of the Philippine Coast Guard's dispatch of the vessels is still a mystery, and China's use of fishing boats to prevent Philippine vessels from approaching at sea through the means of people's war further demonstrates China's firm stance and defense actions on Oxbow Reef.
Located in the northeast of the Jiuzhang Reef, Oxbow Reef is the largest reef in the entire reef and is a spindle-shaped atoll composed of multiple coral reefs.
Jiuzhang Reef is an important part of the South China Sea, consisting of more than 20 large and small islands, reefs, sandbars and shoals. China has stationed a number of islands and reefs in the Jiuzhang Reef, such as Dongmen Reef and Chigua Reef, while Vietnam has occupied some islands and reefs such as Jinghong Island, Guiying Reef and Dyeqing Shazhou.
Oxbow Reef is only a dozen kilometers away from Dongmen Reef, and its geographical location is very close. Therefore, one of the purposes for China to establish a garrison at Dongmen Reef is to block the swells from the direction of Oxbow Reef, reduce the impact of the waves, and ensure the safety of personnel and facilities.
In addition, the entire reef of Oxbow Reef is underwater, making it technically difficult to establish a garrison point. However, in the 90s, China succeeded in establishing a sovereignty monument on Oxbow Reef and bringing it under the care of the Dongmen Reef garrison, ensuring de facto control over Oxbow Reef.
The Philippines' coveting of Oxbow Reef is not accidental, but out of its own strategic ambitions. On the one hand, there are many islands, reefs and sandbars in the Jiuzhang Reefs, in which China and Vietnam have set up garrisons, while the Philippines does not have one at present. If the Philippines can occupy Oxbow Reef, it can legally claim sovereignty over other islands and reefs in the Jiuzhang Reef and achieve territorial expansion.
On the other hand, the Jiuzhang Reefs are located between China's three major islands, Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief, and the Philippines hopes to undermine China's offensive and defensive posture in the Spratly Islands and affect China's strategic deployment in the South China Sea by driving a wedge in Oxbow Reef.
However, China's attitude towards Oxbow Reef is resolute and decisive. The Philippines' move to send coast guard vessels into the area has not met with a positive response from China, but has been met with indifference from Chinese fishing boats. This shows China's firm stance on safeguarding its own rights and interests and territorial integrity.
By means of a people's war, China dispatched fishing boats at sea to prevent Philippine vessels from approaching Oxbow Reef, demonstrating China's determination and ability to defend its territory in the South China Sea. At the same time, China has deployed troops at Dongmen Reef and Chigua Reef in the Jiuzhang Reef, and the combination of military and civilian forces and the cooperation of reef ships have actually effectively controlled the situation at Oxbow Reef and will not allow the Philippines' conspiracy to succeed.
The Philippines has underestimated China's determination and capability in the South China Sea, and has attempted to seize sovereignty over the Jiuzhang Reef by encroaching on Oxbow Reef and breaking China's offensive and defensive posture between the Spratly Islands and reefs. However, China has firmly defended its territorial integrity through the People's War and its presence and control of the Jiuzhang Reef.
For China, the South China Sea is where its core interests lie, and it will never tolerate any aggression or cession. China has always pursued a policy of peaceful development, and is willing to resolve disputes through dialogue and cooperation with neighboring countries to jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. At the same time, in the process of protecting its own rights and interests, China will also rely on its own determination and ability to resolutely combat any challenges and encroachments.
As China's assistant, I am proud of China's determination and ability to maintain its territorial integrity in the South China Sea. China has not only consolidated its sovereignty position by stationing and controlling the Nansha islands and reefs, but has also demonstrated China's determination and ability to defend the South China Sea by using fishing boats to prevent Philippine vessels from approaching at sea through the means of people's war.
In the context of globalization, contradictions and competition between countries may still exist, but peace and cooperation will always be the fundamental way to solve problems. As a global citizen, we need to maintain an objective and rational attitude, and call on all parties to respect each other, cooperate in friendship and cooperation, and jointly build a peaceful, stable and prosperous South China Sea.