China has long occupied Scarborough Shoal, the Philippines has no hope of blockading, and our strategy is to encircle first and then defend it
During the Chinese New Year, China adopted a series of ingenious tactics in the face of the Philippines' unjustified provocation against Scarborough Shoal. First, with the implementation of strategic encirclement, the Chinese coast guard has set up key buoys around Scarborough Shoal, as if laying a defensive line at the entrance to the lagoon, and controlling the lagoon means effectively controlling the fortress of Scarborough Shoal.
Subsequently, China stepped up its vigilance and response, and quickly responded to any developments in the Philippines through continuous monitoring by coast guard vessels. On February 22, it was observed that the Chinese Coast Guard strictly enforced the law and successfully drove away the Philippine fishing fleet No. 3002, which illegally encroached on the waters around Scarborough Shoal.
These measures are China's strong response to the Philippines' successive provocations at Scarborough Shoal and even Ren'ai Jiao. Since Marcos Jr. took office, the Philippines has roped in the United States while challenging China's territorial sovereignty, which cannot be ignored.
Guardian of the South China Sea] During the Spring Festival, the Philippines tried to take advantage of China's holiday to send small planes to challenge Ren'ai Jiao, hoping to secretly send supplies to the beach**.
The top brass of the Philippine military even came in disguise to hold activities for the left-behind personnel. Philippine coast guard vessels also tried in vain to intrude into the area around Scarborough Shoal. Step by step, they are testing China's bottom line.
In the face of these provocations, the Chinese coast guard took decisive measures"Prevent before you respond"'s strategy to counterattack at Scarborough Shoal. At the same time, China** has clearly drawn three red lines that cannot be crossed: no Philippine vessel should enter the Scarborough Shoal lagoon, beaching will no longer be tolerated, and a repeat of the 2012 Scarborough Shoal incident will be prevented.
That year, in the face of the Philippine seizure of Chinese fishermen, Chinese maritime surveillance vessels stepped forward to protect the fishermen's rights and maintain regional stability. Since then, the Scarborough Shoal issue has become a key issue affecting China-Philippines relations.
Showing China's Position: Buoys in the South China Sea Witness Determination] In the face of repeated provocations by the Philippines and attempts to illegally encroach on China's rights and interests in the South China Sea, China's patience has bottomed out. We have made it clear that no unilateral action can change the status quo in the South China Sea, and China's position is unwavering.
The sovereignty of Scarborough Shoal is clear and unquestionable. The Philippines' claim that Scarborough Shoal is in its exclusive economic zone and claims under the South China Sea Arbitration is in defiance of historical facts.
The Philippines was a colony until independence in 1946, and Scarborough Shoal has never been recognized as its territory in historical documents or official Philippine documents. The South China Sea Arbitration is in essence a farce with no legal effect.
Since the Song Dynasty, Chinese documents have documented the island, where Chinese fishermen have worked for generations, testifying to China's sovereignty and jurisdiction over the island and its surrounding waters. The voice of China is clear and powerful, and the rights and interests in the South China Sea are inviolable.
Marcos Jr. in the Philippines, Scarborough Shoal affects the overall situation] This dispute profoundly reveals the subtlety and severity of territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China has always adhered to the peaceful way of resolving differences with the Philippines, based on respect and reciprocity, and is willing to make concessions in the course of common prosperity.
However, the Philippine side does not seem to be satisfied with the status quo and is trying to take tough measures step by step. China is not out of options, but has chosen to respond cautiously. Now that the strategic facilities around Scarborough Shoal are a fact and we will not easily remove them, we will take this opportunity to further tap the potential of Scarborough Shoal and perhaps become a natural haven for the future.
With the successful development of Mischief Island and other islands, the use value of Scarborough Shoal has become increasingly prominent, and the Philippines' actions have undoubtedly accelerated China's strategic layout in the region.
China's position on Ren'ai Jiao is unwavering, and we seek peace and stability in the South China Sea, not escalation. The United States and the Philippines have tried to use this to put pressure on China's rights and interests in the South China Sea, but China is determined to defend its own rights and interests.
The interaction between the Philippines and our coast guard has fully demonstrated that the Chinese coast guard has the strength to defend its sovereignty in the South China Sea and to resist any provocation with reason. The wheels of history roll forward, and China will be recognized as the natural master of the South China Sea, both in the past and in the future, and no attempt at blasphemy can shake this fact.