Recently, the Philippines has been in trouble with us many times on the issue of islands and reefs in the South China Sea, from the confrontation at Ren'ai Jiao, to the hype of more than 100 Chinese fishing boats on Oxbow Reef, and then to the issue of Scarborough Shoal. What is the purpose of the Philippines that seems to be bent on provoking us on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea?
The issue of islands and reefs in the South China Sea has a long history, and although we have declared our sovereignty since the founding of the People's Republic of China, we have never been able to exercise jurisdiction over them. The countries surrounding the South China Sea have seized the opportunity to seize islands and reefs. Especially after the discovery of oil and gas reserves in the South China Sea.
Of the 53 islands and reefs in the South China Sea, Vietnam occupies 28, the Philippines occupies 7, Malaysia occupies 3, and Taiwan Province of China accounts for 2 of the remaining 9 islands and reefs under our control.
In the past, our navy was too weak to compete for those occupied islands and reefs, so we could only put forward a policy of "shelving disputes and joint development." In fact, it is a tacit acquiescence to the occupation of other countries, as long as they recognize the sovereignty disputes of the islands, and they acquiesce in the exploitation of resources.
But with the strength of our navy, we can have the ability to develop the South China Sea. However, due to the international situation, we do not want other countries to feel our threat, so we have only carried out some reclamation projects in the South China Sea to develop the surrounding resources and strengthen regional control. As for the islands and reefs that other countries have already occupied, there is no direct claim. Although other countries occupy some islands, the degree of development is also limited, and we are not in a hurry, as long as they do not make trouble, they will be fine.
Countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia are smarter and have long ceased to make trouble. There is too much difference with our strength, they have taken advantage of it, and it is wise to deal with it in a low-key manner. Over the years, Vietnam's economic cooperation with us has become deeper and deeper, and we have also tasted the sweetness of development, and we have transferred a lot of low-end manufacturing industries, and Vietnam is very happy to eat, so it is unwilling to have friction on the issue of islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
Only the Philippines is ignorant of current affairs, relying on the mutual defense treaty between it and the United States, and constantly provoking in the South China Sea.
In 2016, the Philippines provoked us on the Scarborough Shoal issue. Under the auspices of the United States, we have engaged in an arbitration in the South China Sea in an attempt to occupy our Scarborough Shoal. As everyone knows about what happened next, the United States mobilized two aircraft carrier strike groups to support the Philippines, and our navy used all its main forces, and the four major admirals sat in the South China Sea, and the two sides were tense. At the last moment, the U.S. troops retreated.
Since then, the Philippines has become much more honest and no longer blindly serves as a servant of the United States.
But then the Philippines was replaced, and Marcos Jr. came to Beijing and was rejected after his big mouth, he turned to the United States again. It has become a pawn of the United States in East Asia and frequently provokes the South China Sea.
It's not that we can't clean up the Philippines, now our navy is not what it used to be, even if the United States really intervenes, we are not afraid. The reason why he didn't clean him up was because it wasn't cost-effective to consider the overall situation. The Philippines is a member of ASEAN, and ASEAN has become our largest partner.
Moreover, the United States is now agitating the Philippines with the aim of pulling us into the water. Let's get into a war of ** people and become a situation like Russia, with all kinds of sanctions on the one hand, and on the other hand support ** people to consume us.
So we won't make a quick move, digging a trap to make us jump. It's a bit beautiful, but we're not fooled.
We just need to keep the coast guard in confrontation with the Philippines, and our coast guard is stronger than the Philippine Navy, and it is not a level player at all. The more the Philippines dances, the more opportunities we have to take back some of the usurped benefits. In the end, whether it is Scarborough Shoal or Ren'ai Jiao, we have taken it back, and the rest of ASEAN countries will not say anything, they will think that the Philippines has suffered on its own and is looking for a fight, let alone giving the United States a chance to intervene.
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