According to a release from the China Coast Guard, the Chinese Coast Guard has taken control measures against three Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau vessels in accordance with the law for invading the waters adjacent to Scarborough Shoal.
China's sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal is unquestionable, and the Philippines needs to understand that. Since the beginning of this year, the situation in the South China Sea has been tense, and the Philippines has frequently created various friction incidents in an attempt to infringe on China's territory and sovereignty by sending ships to forcibly break in.
Both the China Coast Guard and China have resolutely responded and warned against such violations, demonstrating China's restraint and firm position. For example, on November 10, a number of Philippine ships forcibly entered Ren'ai Jiao, and China*** said that the Chinese coast guard had taken necessary law enforcement measures in accordance with the law and had lodged solemn representations with the Philippine Embassy in China.
China resolutely upholds its territorial and sovereign integrity, and any attempt to infringe upon it will be subject to due sanctions.
China demands that the Philippines immediately stop its maritime provocations and tow away the illegal beaching as soon as possible, and we will continue to take necessary measures in accordance with the law to resolutely safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. ”
Now, the Philippines has caused friction at Scarborough Shoal, and China has taken more direct measures to control and attack Philippine vessels. Such a move is necessary in the face of constant provocations by the Philippines and reflects the importance of Scarborough Shoal.
Scarborough Shoal is the only outcropping and easternmost of the more than 30 underwater atolls in the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea, about 160 nautical miles from Zhongsha Atoll, 550 nautical miles from Hainan Island and 126 nautical miles from Subic Bay in the Philippines.
From aerial photography**, Scarborough Shoal is a large isosceles triangle atoll with a total area of about 150 square kilometers (including the lagoon) and is connected to the open sea by a channel about 400 meters wide at the southeast end.
In 1279 AD, Guo Shoujing, a famous astronomer of the Yuan Dynasty, carried out a large-scale astronomical survey across the country as a member of the Tongzhi Taishi Academy.
Kublai Khan followed Guo Shoujing's suggestion and appointed 14 eunuchs to observe the four seas from the east to Goryeo, west to Dianchi, south to Zhuya, and north to Tiele, and set up a total of 27 observation stations.
When Guo Shoujing was taking a boat in the South China Sea, he came to Huangyan Island. From any point of view, the strategic significance of Scarborough Shoal is very significant. The waters around Scarborough Shoal are all main waterways, and to the northeast are the Bass Strait and the Balintang Strait, where large ships can enter and exit freely.
If you pay attention to the tracks of US aircraft carriers in the South China Sea, you will find that they often enter and exit these two straits. Looking at the map, we will see that Scarborough Shoal is like a choke point to the eastern gate of the South China Sea.
Military experts say the key to Scarborough Shoal is its unique atoll. Within a few hundred nautical miles of the periphery, it is the only place that can serve as a hub for ship staging and transit bases.
The Philippines illegally occupied Scarborough Shoal for 15 years until 2012, when it became under Chinese control, and the Chinese coast guard has been patrolling the area ever since. Although the Philippines has repeatedly advocated retaking Scarborough Shoal, these attempts have been completely frustrated under the strong surveillance of the Chinese coast guard.
This time, China made it clear that "the Philippines has intruded into the waters adjacent to Scarborough Shoal", which means that Philippine ships have violated China's territorial waters, implying that the Scarborough Shoal issue is about to come to an end and the reclamation project may be launched.
This is the fifth time this year that the Philippines has caused an incident at Scarborough Shoal. On September 22, the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (AFA) trespassed into the waters near Scarborough Shoal without Chinese permission, and the Chinese Coast Guard stopped and dispersed it; On September 25, the Philippine Coast Guard tried to sabotage the barrage equipment set up by the Chinese Coast Guard at Scarborough Shoal. On October 10, a Philippine Navy gunboat intruded into the waters of Scarborough Shoal without authorization and was intercepted by the Chinese Coast Guard in accordance with the law. On October 30, the Philippine frigate No. 39 entered the waters near Scarborough Shoal, and the Chinese side followed the whole process and stopped it in accordance with the law.
In the face of the Philippines' frequent incidents at Scarborough Shoal, some people have questioned why China does not choose to directly reclaim land from the sea. In this regard, as early as 2017, China's spokesperson made it clear that what China does and does not do at Scarborough Shoal is a matter within China's sovereignty, and relevant issues will be properly handled.
Now that the Philippines' actions have seriously affected peace and stability in the South China Sea, it is necessary to consider land reclamation at Scarborough Shoal to strengthen our military defense and strategic position.
1.Scarborough Shoal reclamation, expansion this year, and stationing troops next year, China's infrastructure capacity is enough to achieve. The Philippines should understand the implications of this move. 2.The words of the ancient Chinese sages: "The country has little power and is not humble, rude and insults the neighbors, and those who are greedy and clumsy can die." ”
Hopefully, the Philippines will think carefully. 3.Finally, I would like to advise the Philippines to stop hyping up the South China Sea issue and maritime violations and provocations. China loves peace, but the Chinese people do not cause trouble and are not afraid of it.