Title: South China Sea Explosion Pot!Fumio Kishida is a ghost, Japan is meddling, what should we do?
The situation in the South China Sea is heating up again, and the latest news broke that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida seems to be secretly colluding with Marcos of the Philippines to paint a picture of wanting to change the status quo in the South China Sea. As a military international relations blogger, I can't help but dig deeper to see what the truth of the matter really is.
First of all, the tacit understanding between Fumio Kishida and Marcos aroused my great interest. At the recent Japan-ASEAN summit, Marcos made no secret of the Philippines' ambitions to Fumio Kishida. This makes me wonder how these two leaders worked together to try to stir up trouble in the South China Sea
It appears that the Philippines' ambitions are not limited to Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal. Over the years, the Philippines has repeatedly tried to occupy Ren'ai Jiao and provoke Scarborough Shoal, and now it is even more focused on the rich oil and gas resources in the South China Sea. The article mentions that the Philippines is eager to carry out exploration and development in this area to reduce its dependence on traditional energy sources and achieve an energy transition. This makes me wonder if it is because the Philippines does not want to be regarded as a model when the world advocates the development of green energy, so it makes a big fuss about the South China Sea issue
At the same time, Japan's role in this South China Sea drama is also very eye-catching. Fumio Kishida seems to see the Philippines as a bargaining chip to address his country's energy needs, and the South China Sea has become a key area for Japan to find new energy sources. The article refers to the South China Sea as the "second Persian Gulf", a statement that reminds me of Japan's urgent need for resources. Due to the dispute over the four northern islands, Japan fears being "stuck" by Russia, and the South China Sea has become an ideal option to find a second Persian Gulf.
In order to realize this vision, Japan has not only worked closely with the Philippines in the field of energy, but has also provided large-scale assistance, including support for agriculture, renewable energy, and infrastructure. It reminds me of the series of cooperation agreements reached by Fumio Kishida when he met with Marcos in February this year, including a huge loan for the Manila commuter subway project, which can be described as a lot of effort on the part of the Japanese side.
The article also revealed Japan's plans in the military field, planning to supply the Philippines with military equipment such as surveillance radars. This has led me to wonder if Japan really regards the Philippines as a powerful pawn in the South China Sea issue and is trying to extend its hand to the South China Sea through the hand of the Philippines
The Chinese side made a clear response to this, with spokesman Wang Wenbin stressing that the South China Sea issue is a matter between China and the Philippines and that no external forces should be introduced. The Chinese side expressed its willingness to resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation, but expressed strong opposition to the provocative actions of the Philippines. This makes me wonder what kind of role the Philippines is that dares to be so eager to try
Finally, the article concludes with the views of Cui Tiankai, former Chinese ambassador to the United States and former ambassador to Japan. He stressed that the correct development of Sino-Japanese relations will have a constructive impact on the Asia-Pacific region and the world, but if Japan tries to replace partnership with confrontation, it will certainly have a devastating and serious impact on relations. This makes me think more deeply that the South China Sea issue is not only a regional security issue, but may also involve the entire system of international relations.
On the whole, this breaking news undoubtedly reveals some sensitive trends in the situation in the South China Sea and has aroused my deep thinking. At this moment full of military and international relations, we must not take our caution lightly, and we need to pay close attention to the development of the situation, take a rational view of the positions of all sides, and make wise judgments. The South China Sea is not only a matter of geographical location, but also a test of international relations, and it is believed that with the passage of time, this competition over the South China Sea will become more and more intense.