The current situation in the South China Sea in the Asia-Pacific region is the most concerning, and the tension in the South China Sea is more serious than that in the Taiwan Strait and the Korean Peninsula. Despite the fact that the Taiwan Strait is under strict Chinese control, the United States' non-supportive policy, and the impact of Taiwan's elections, the overall situation is not as bad as one might think. On the peninsula, although the United States and South Korea have conducted large-scale joint military exercises and Xi North Korea has also continuously conducted missile tests, the two sides have not made direct contact, and it is more like a contest of "you come and go."
In contrast, the situation in the South China Sea is much more complicated. Since the beginning of this year, China and the Philippines have clashed head-on on a number of occasions near Ren'ai Jiao and Scarborough Shoal, and more recently there have been incidents in which Philippine ships directly collided with Chinese coast guard vessels. It can be said that tensions in the South China Sea are gradually escalating, and the risk of war is more serious than in the Taiwan Strait and the peninsula. Recently, the Philippines has tried to rally Japan into the South China Sea, seeking to confront China.
During his visit to Japan, Marcos Jr. said that he hoped to work with other countries to develop oil and gas resources in the South China Sea, and it is clear that this includes Japan. Japan, on the other hand, is also keeping a close eye on the South China Sea and is clearly interested in joining it. Despite Japan's ambitions, it will not act rashly, because if Japan does intervene in the South China Sea, the antipathy of Southeast Asian countries will make it difficult for Japan to deal with it. However, Japan will certainly give the Philippines some support. On the other hand, the Philippines doesn't seem to be the only option.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea should be resolved jointly by China and ASEAN, and that he opposes unilateral settlement of disputes by any country. He stressed that Malaysia will not take sides and will not become a pawn in the geopolitical game between China and the United States. This rational stance shows Malaysia's maturity and wisdom. The Philippines, by contrast, is likely to lose more by being overly aggressive. Judging by the current situation, if the Philippines gets involved in the war, it will eventually be the loser.
Therefore, the resolution of the South China Sea issue requires the rationality and maturity of all countries, rather than excessive partiality and risk-taking.