Grey war is a form of conflict between peace and war, which is neither to the level of conventional war nor to the normal sphere of competition. Grey warfare is characterized by being based on the military power of the country, involving concerted action in several areas and sectors, aimed at causing significant impact on the adversary country without provoking a strong reaction from the international community.
Ren'ai Jiao is an important island in the South China Sea, part of China's Nansha Islands, and is under the jurisdiction of Sansha City, Hainan Province. Second Thomas Reef is a 15-kilometer-long reef with a width of 5The 6-kilometer atoll is rich in natural resources and ecological environment, and also has great strategic value. China's sovereignty over Ren'ai Jiao and Nansha Islands has a sufficient historical and legal basis, which can be proven by documentary records.
However, the Ren'ai Jiao issue has plagued China and the Philippines for more than 20 years, and the United States has fueled it. In May 1999, NATO bombed the Chinese Embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the next day, the Philippine Navy illegally ran aground the landing ship "Sierra Madre" at Ren'ai Jiao under the pretext of "technical malfunction" and dispatched soldiers to garrison it, intending to occupy Ren'ai Jiao. China immediately proposed to ask the Philippines to withdraw, but the Philippines delayed under various pretexts and even delivered building materials for repairs many times in an attempt to change the status quo of Ren'ai Jiao.
In August 2023, the Philippines sent two more supply vessels and a coast guard vessel to Second Thomas Shoal, which were legally dissuaded by Chinese coast guard vessels. The Philippines took a bite back and accused China of violating Philippine sovereignty. The United States also took the opportunity to intervene and issued a statement supporting the Philippine side's position and questioning China's claim to Ren'ai Jiao.
The Ren'ai Jiao issue has become a focal point of disputes in the South China Sea and a pretext for the United States to interfere in the situation in the South China Sea. We must seize this opportunity to completely resolve the Ren'ai Jiao issue in the form of a gray war, safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and at the same time demonstrate China's determination and ability to defy US provocations and interference.
The plan of the gray war is, first of all, we will use coast guard ships to implement a complete blockade of Ren'ai Jiao, and prevent any Philippine ships from approaching Ren'ai Jiao, let alone allow them to deliver supplies to the stranded **. We need to use water cannons or ram ships to stop all ships that try to enter Second Thomas Shoal. We need to cut off water and food on Ren'ai Jiao and force Filipino personnel to leave Ren'ai Jiao as soon as possible.
Second, if the Philippine side still refuses to evacuate the personnel and personnel, we will take coercive measures, and in order to ensure the safety of the people on Ren'ai Jiao, we will forcibly expel them and return them to the Philippines safely. At the same time, we will tow away or blow up the Sierra Madre** and eliminate all illegal facilities on Second Thomas Shoal.
Finally, we need to erect China's symbols and facilities on Ren'ai Jiao, strengthen the management and protection of Ren'ai Jiao, and prevent the Philippines from encroaching on China's territory again. We would like to declare to the international community that Ren'ai Jiao is China's inherent territory, that China has the right to lawfully enforce and defend it, and that any challenge to China's sovereignty will be resolutely countered by China.
Such a plan would not only effectively resolve the issue of Ren'ai Jiao, but also avoid triggering a conventional war or a strong reaction from the international community. It's the least costly and most effective way to deal with it, and it's a way to show China's wisdom and strength. We believe that through the gray war, we can safeguard China's territorial integrity, maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, and safeguard China's national interests and international image.