In the recent South China Sea dispute, the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard in the waters near Scarborough Shoal have drawn international attention. On the morning of December 9, according to a release from the China Coast Guard, China took control of three Philippine fishing boats and government vessels that attempted to intrude into the waters near Scarborough Shoal. This incident not only reflects the tensions between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea issue, but also highlights the complexity of the regional security situation.
Later in the day, the Philippine side released several paragraphs** showing the "offensive and defensive battles" of Chinese and Philippine ships near Scarborough Shoal. * Two coast guard vessels, including the China Haijing 3305, can be seen firing water cannons at two Philippine vessels that attempted to break into the waters off Scarborough Shoal. ** Shows the crew of the Filipino ship taking refuge in the cabin under the fire of water cannons.
In addition to this, other boats at the scene, including some fishing boats and dinghies, were also shown, and it was unclear whether they were watching or helping. Some foreign netizens shared screenshots of the maritime vessel signaling system on social **, saying that shortly after the Philippine Fisheries Bureau vessel entered the waters south of Scarborough Shoal, the Chinese Qiongsansha 00103 ship directly cut over, and the distance between the two ships was only less than 30 meters at the closest. Subsequently, the Qiongsansha 00005 boat also followed, chasing the Philippine Fisheries Authority's vessel at a distance of 30 meters, while the China Coast Guard 3302 was in charge of the sweep nearby.
Since November, the Philippines has frequently intensified its provocative actions in the South China Sea. Not only did they try to forcibly break into Ren'ai Jiao to deliver building materials and supplies, but they also sent ** provocations near Scarborough Shoal and set up radar stations on illegally occupied Thitu Island. In addition, the Philippines conducts joint patrols with the United States and Australia in the South China Sea, and provocations occur almost daily.
On the same day, the Philippines** also reported that the Philippines organized a "Christmas" fleet of 40 "civilian boats" and 100 fishermen to deliver supplies to Second Thomas Shoal. It is reported that the purpose of this fleet is not only to transport supplies, but also to openly challenge China's claims to islands in the South China Sea. This behavior appears to be an attempt by the Philippines, with the support of the United States, to aggravate the situation in the South China Sea and become the "vanguard" of the United States in containing China in Asia.
I am afraid that such a situation will not ease in the short term, and the struggle between China and the Philippines, and even China and the United States in the South China Sea, will become more intense. One of the reasons behind this may be related to the political situation in Marcos, the Philippines. According to reports, a U.S. District Court ruled in 1995 that Marcos should use the estate of his father, the late former Filipino** Marcos, to compensate more than 9,500 Filipinos who were victimized during his father's rule, totaling nearly $2 billion. Marcos was convicted of "contempt of court" by a U.S. court in 2012 because of his refusal to carry out his sentence, and has not visited the U.S. since.
Last year, the U.S. began wooing Marcos, with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman saying that Marcos enjoys diplomatic immunity and can enter the U.S. as a **. This means that if Marcos complies with the United States, his safety and property will be safeguarded, and if not, he will face the threat of the United States. The change in attitude shortly after Marcos came to power may have something to do with it.
However, relying on the United States is extremely dangerous for Marcos. While the United States has promised to invoke the mutual defense treaty with the Philippines in the event of a conflict between China and the Philippines, the United States could backtrack itself in a real crisis. This strategy of relying on the United States poses a serious threat not only to Marcos personally, but also to the future security of the Philippines.
Overall, tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea are not only a bilateral issue, but also reflect a broader geopolitical struggle. The Philippine actions are not only a challenge to China's sovereignty, but also part of a regional security policy under the influence of the United States. The development of this situation will have an important impact on the security pattern of the entire Asia-Pacific region.
Against the backdrop of tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, the Philippines' provocative actions show a shift in its regional security policy on multiple levels. This shift is not only related to the internal politics of the Philippines and Marcos**'s personal position, but also closely related to the strategic layout of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region. The Philippines' actions suggest that the country, with the support of the United States, is trying to strengthen its claims to islands in the South China Sea and test China's response through provocative actions.
These actions by the Philippines have exacerbated tensions between China and the Philippines in several ways. First, the Philippines has sought to consolidate its presence and influence in the South China Sea through frequent provocative acts, such as attempts to break into Second Thomas Shoal to deliver building materials and supplies. Second, the Philippines has further strengthened its military presence in the illegally occupied Thitu Island by establishing a radar station and conducting joint patrols with the United States and Australia. These actions not only challenge China's claims to islands in the South China Sea, but could also escalate military tensions in the region.
In addition, the political situation in Marcos, the Philippines, has also played a key role in this process. Because of his personal and family history's complex relationship with the United States, Marcos may have been influenced by the United States in his handling of the South China Sea. The U.S. District Court's legal decision against the Marcos family and subsequent political co-optation may have prompted Marcos to rely more heavily on U.S. support in the South China Sea. However, this dependence could pose a risk to the Philippines, as U.S. strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region may not be fully aligned with those of the Philippines.
Against this backdrop, the China Coast Guard's control of Philippine fishing and government vessels, and the subsequent water cannon attacks, can be seen as China's direct response to the Philippines' provocations. The incident not only demonstrates China's determination to assert its claims in the South China Sea, but also demonstrates China's willingness to take action to protect its maritime security.
However, the continuation of such tensions could have long-term implications for the security and stability of the entire Asia-Pacific region. As an important international waterway, the security and stability of the South China Sea are of paramount importance to regional and global economic development. Tensions between China and the Philippines could lead to increased militarization of the region, increasing the risk of military conflict in the region.
Taken together, the tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea are not only a bilateral issue between the two countries, but also part of a changing geopolitical landscape in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Against this backdrop, the Philippines' actions affect not only its relations with China, but also the security and stability of the entire region. This development of the situation will continue to be closely watched by the international community and may become an important consideration in future policy and strategic decision-making in the Asia-Pacific region.