The Philippines' recent moves have made it look extraordinarily comical on the international stage. After conducting joint air and sea patrols in the South China Sea with the United States and Australia, the Philippines has tried to create a buzz for itself, claiming that Chinese warships tracked and orbited its planes during its bilateral cruises with Australia. However, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Brawner stressed that the Chinese side only conducted surveillance operations against Philippine aircraft and did not target Australian aircraft. This behavior was seen as an attempt by the Philippines to exert pressure on China by co-opting external forces and using international **, but it was quickly countered by China.
According to the "China ** Network", at the recent regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defense, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, director of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense and spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, gave a direct response to the behavior of the Philippines and Australia in holding a joint sea and air patrol in the South China Sea. Senior Colonel Wu Qian said that the joint patrols of the Philippines and Australia have undoubtedly exacerbated tensions in the South China Sea, and pointed out that China has always stressed that defense cooperation between relevant countries must not be aimed at any third party, nor should it harm the interests of any third party, let alone undermine regional peace and stability. Regarding the Philippines' complaint that China has "targeted" it, Senior Colonel Wu Qian believes that this is untrue and purely malicious hype. This is tantamount to a direct refutation of the Philippine claims. In addition, Senior Colonel Wu Qian also stressed that China firmly opposes any act of instigating confrontation and aggravating regional tensions in the South China Sea, and will always maintain a high degree of vigilance, resolutely defend national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
From this information, it can be seen that China has long seen through the small moves of the Philippines. Faced with the obvious intent of the Philippines to provoke trouble in the South China Sea, even if China has always been friendly and tolerant, it has reached the point where it can no longer bear it. Therefore, this time, the Ministry of National Defense personally stepped in to forcefully respond to the Philippine hype, warning the Philippines to abide by the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and stop all violations. Such rhetoric, which comes from the Department of Defense, obviously carries more weight, at least in my opinion, and it means that China will no longer tolerate continued provocations by the Philippines. After all, on the issue of defending national territorial sovereignty, China's position has always been that of not giving up an inch of territory. If the Philippines tries to co-opt foreign forces to provoke disputes in the South China Sea, it will be a death test on China's red lines. Once China decides to act, the PLA will not relent. At that time, neither the Philippines, nor the United States, nor Australia will be able to escape, and the PLA will prove with practical actions that going against China will only bring about its own destruction.