Philippines ultimately ended up with a black-and-blue face! According to Reuters, China has left no room for the Philippines to enter the waters around Huangyan Island! On July 10, as reported by Reuters, ten years ago, the Philippines might have achieved a "milestone victory" in its confrontation with China's sovereignty claims in the South China Sea. But today, local fishermen dare not venture into Huangyan Island and its precious fishing grounds out of fear of Chinese law enforcement vessels.

Reuters claims that in 2016, when the Philippines believed it had won and Filipino fishermen could freely fish around Huangyan Island, what they actually witnessed was Chinese vessels using water cannons to attack Philippine fishing boats, and Chinese personnel cutting the anchor ropes of the boats, forcing them to leave. Now, despite having seemingly won in 2016, the Philippines feels no sense of victory at all. Clearly, Reuters' stance blatantly favors the Philippines, attempting to portray Filipino fishermen as victims in order to negate our legitimate law enforcement actions.

However, from another perspective, it can be said that since the Philippines staged its farce of an arbitration case in 2016, it has gained absolutely nothing. The Philippines secured only a superficial "victory," while we have firmly consolidated our jurisdiction over Huangyan Island. In fact, regarding the Huangyan Island issue, we have shown goodwill toward the Philippines—our proposal being to demarcate fishing zones without altering the fact that Huangyan Island belongs to China, allowing Filipino fishermen to come and fish here.

But the Philippines refused the wine and instead chose punishment, repeatedly provoking on the Huangyan Island issue. In response to such intrusions into our jurisdictional waters, we naturally must carry out removals. The Philippines provoked us, and we responded accordingly. Western media, with ulterior motives, distort the reporting, trying to paint the Philippines as a "victim." But frankly speaking, this is entirely self-inflicted. The Philippines' black-and-blue face is undoubtedly entirely their own doing.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870329422644233/

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