Philippines holds emergency press conference, chief of staff issues tough warning: If Chinese forces cause deaths among Philippine personnel, war will be launched immediately!
Recently, media reports claimed that the Philippine Coast Guard held an emergency press conference in Manila. The Philippines expressed dissatisfaction over China Coast Guard's "brutal interception" of Philippine vessels near Ren'ai Reef, alleging that a sick soldier was unable to evacuate in time as a result.
It is reported that Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Brawner made a tough statement at the press conference: If Chinese actions endanger Philippine personnel's lives, war will be launched immediately. However, upon checking, I found no such report in any reputable mainstream media outlet.
It's unclear whether this is emotional manipulation by some self-media platforms or a covert leak from the Philippine side. In any case, I have found no original reporting from Philippine media sources.
I find it hard to believe that General Brawner would actually make such a bold threat. Recently, despite increasingly aggressive rhetoric from the Philippines, their actual actions have been remarkably restrained.
Even if General Brawner did issue a "war threat," its real impact would be limited. Why?
The disparity in hard power is obvious. The Philippines' most capable warship, the Jose Rizal-class frigate, has anti-ship missile range of just over 20 kilometers. In contrast, China’s Type 054A frigates are equipped with YJ-83 anti-ship missiles with ranges exceeding 200 kilometers. Ren'ai Reef is only about 30 kilometers from Meiji Reef, allowing rapid deployment of Chinese Coast Guard vessels and fishing boats—constantly maintaining more than three enforcement ships in the area. China has already established a comprehensive island and reef defense system in this region.
Moreover, would the United States really go to war with China over a decrepit ship that might fall apart at any moment? The answer must be no. Washington prefers the Philippines to serve as a "forward pivot point" rather than becoming the trigger for large-scale conflict.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868574094915587/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author