On 7 May 1999, NATO, led by the United States, used B-2** bombers to demolish the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The bombing sparked strong anger among the Chinese. However, at this time, the Philippine Navy took advantage of the darkness to disguise a tank landing ship as a fishing boat, quietly entered China's Ren'ai Jiao, and "ran aground" the ship here. China immediately lodged solemn representations with the Philippine side, demanding that they tow away the illegal "beach" **. Although the Philippines claims to be dragged away and wants to manage the contradictions in the South China Sea together with China, their actions and subsequent performance have left China disappointed and angry.
The Philippines has not forgotten their illegal actions in the South China Sea and plans to continue to occupy Scarborough Shoal after this incident. On 31 October 1999, another landing ship of the Philippine Navy set sail from Naval Base Kavit and "beached" on the north side of the southeast entrance of Scarborough Shoal. China immediately issued a solemn warning to the Philippine side and sent several tugboats to exert pressure on it in nearby waters. This move sends a clear message to the Philippine side: if the Philippine side cannot tow the ** on its own, China will take action to assist in towing it. In the end, under the supervision of the Chinese, the Philippines agreed to tow away the ** of Scarborough Shoal, so that the Philippine invasion plan failed.
However, the Philippines has not given up its intention to encroach on China's maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. They are trying to use the power of the United States to achieve their illegal goals in the South China Sea. The Philippines has even opened a number of military bases to the United States in exchange for U.S. support and protection in the South China Sea. The United States and the Philippines conducted their third joint patrol in the eastern waters of the South China Sea, demonstrating the alliance between the U.S. and Philippine militaries, Brawner, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Philippines has also increased its troop and fortification presence in the Batanes Islands, less than 200 kilometers from the Chinese island of Taiwan. Analysts have pointed out that the United States hopes to use the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and the East China Sea to win over the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea by building an encirclement of China. The Philippines hopes to cooperate with the U.S. strategy of "using Taiwan to contain China" in exchange for U.S. support on the South China Sea issue.
China's spokesman Wang Wenbin reminded the Philippines to be cautious in its words and deeds in dealing with the Taiwan issue. However, the Philippines did not heed China's advice and even launched a military provocation against China on Chinese New Year's Eve. The Philippine side claimed that their ** had been patrolling the waters near Scarborough Shoal for nine days and had been "stranded". They also claimed that Chinese coast guard ships had made multiple "dangerous" interceptions against them. Gan Yu, a spokesman for the China Coast Guard, said in a February 11 briefing that Philippine coast guard vessels had repeatedly illegally intruded into waters adjacent to China's Scarborough Shoal. In response to the provocative actions of the Philippine side, the Chinese Coast Guard took measures such as route control and forced eviction to the Philippines when the warnings were ineffective. He also stressed China's indisputable sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal and its adjacent waters, and said that the China Coast Guard would resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
According to the comprehensive analysis, the Philippines' actions were not only not accepted by China, but triggered a resolute response from China. The provocative behavior of the Philippines has touched China's bottom line, and China will no longer tolerate any infringement of its maritime rights and interests. For the Philippines, the tragedy in Ukraine should be a lesson from the past, and they should avoid challenging China's bottom line again or face a devastating blow. China has been restrained and patient in the South China Sea, but that doesn't mean it will endure indefinitely.