Recently, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Romualdez bluntly said that friction in the South China Sea has become the focus of tension between China and the Philippines, and the Philippines has long felt China"Presence"。Therefore, the Philippines actively seeks to deepen cooperation with partners such as the United States and Australia to jointly respond to possible situations"Stress"to defend rights and interests in the South China Sea.
However, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines responded that China has always advocated resolving the island dispute through dialogue, while firmly safeguarding its maritime power. In fact, China is not only the largest partner of the Philippines, but also a key investment supporter, and the Philippines has gained a lot from economic exchanges with China"Economic oppression"It's a misunderstanding.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Romualdez's remarks are like a pantomime of self-questioning, and the spokesman of the Chinese embassy pointed out sharply: Who is making waves in the South China Sea? Who instigated the faction antagonism?
Who was the first to use the tactics of economic oppression? What is the role of the Philippines itself? And who has repeatedly stirred up the topic of the China threat theory? The answer is obvious: the Philippines is playing an inglorious role, acting as a puppet and tool for the expansion of US interests in the South China Sea.
Facts show that the Philippines is only adding fuel to the fire in the South China Sea, trying to seduce forces from other countries, complicate simple territorial disputes, globalize regional disputes, and escalate tensions in the South China Sea.
In the face of China's legitimate criticism, the Philippine side has not only failed to reflect on it, but has intensified its exaggeration, such as Foreign Minister Manalo's brazen demand that China stop the so-called "harassment", and his words and deeds have made people question his sincerity.
At the recent ASEAN-Australia summit, Philippine Foreign Minister Manalo made false remarks to AFP, unjustifiably accusing China of so-called "harassment" of the Philippines and using news as an excuse to try to discredit the legitimate law enforcement actions of Chinese coast guard vessels.
He turned the issue of Scarborough Shoal upside down, claiming that China poses a "threat", but in fact Scarborough Shoal and its surrounding waters have been part of China's territory since ancient times. Manalo's demands are absurd, reversing black and white, accusing the violated party of stopping "harassment".
As our spokesperson Mao Ning clearly pointed out, China's actions are entirely aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests, and there is no so-called "harassment". In the face of the controversy, Manalo said that he hoped to resolve the dispute through diplomacy and negotiation, but he must adhere to the bottom line of the Philippines' national interests.
However, such a demand, which is based on the non-recognition of historical facts, is obviously untenable. China has always insisted on resolving differences through peaceful means, but we will never accept any infringement of China's sovereignty.
Philippine Chief Manalo's remarks show a delicate balancing act, seemingly pursuing a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines, but in fact it is burdened"Double-sided strategy"。
They are trying to use international power to strengthen their illegal territorial claims in the South China Sea by co-opting foreign powers such as the United States, Australia, and Japan, while at the same time showing the world that they are peace-loving.
However, the truth is that the Philippines has called for dialogue on the one hand, and on the other hand, it has secretly strengthened cooperation with its allies, sending coast guard ships to conduct long-term patrols and monitor Chinese research vessels, which is clearly a-for-tat tough measure in actual action.
Filipino"Desire for peace", more like an acting act on the diplomatic stage, but the actual action reveals its uncompromising determination.
The Philippines relies heavily on U.S. allies, but the stability of this alliance is challenged. While the two sides have overlapping interests in the South China Sea and the United States is trying to contain China, the Philippines is struggling to ensure U.S. policy coherence, especially in the context of the U.S. in 2020, where Trump's return could be uncertain.
Trump advocated"America First"The investment in the South China Sea strategy has been huge, but the results do not seem to be significant. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether this high-cost and low-return strategy during Trump's tenure will continue.
Manalo's concerns are not unreasonable, and the Philippines is uncertain about the future of continued U.S. support in the South China Sea. In the delicate balance between China and the United States, the Philippines is treading on thin ice, trying to assert its position by simultaneously striving for cooperation and sovereignty claims.
However, the Philippines has placed important expectations on economic development in its relations with China. But the reality is that the Philippines has always been in a supporting role in U.S. diplomatic strategy, and Marcos Jr.'s dream of mobilizing more countries to participate in order to share rights and interests in the South China Sea with the U.S. is undoubtedly an unrealistic fantasy.