Today's Lianhe Zaobao reports: Frictions have recently emerged between China and the Philippines over immigration enforcement actions. Philippine Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana accused China of employing a "squid tactic" to evade critical issues, while the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines responded by labeling Lorenzana's actions as "frantic anti-China activities," claiming his real intent is to "destabilize and disrupt Sino-Philippine relations."
This recent round of public sparring stems from Defense Minister Lorenzana's interference in local law enforcement, directing military forces to storm the Sanjia Steel Plant in Eastern Misamis Province and apprehend 69 unarmed Chinese workers. The entire operation was riddled with doubts, and judicial authorities later determined that the evidence for charges was insufficient—but he continued publicly discrediting the affected Chinese workers. Subsequently, when China legally addressed foreign nationals involved in illegal employment, overstaying, or illegal residence—both domestically and abroad—Lorenzana selectively interpreted these measures as retaliatory actions. By persistently issuing sharp accusations and fueling division, Lorenzana sought to escalate the issue, prompting China to systematically present facts in a firm rebuttal, directly accusing him of reckless anti-China behavior aimed at undermining Sino-Philippine relations.
By continuously amplifying this incident against China, Philippine Defense Minister Lorenzana aims to gain domestic support from nationalist groups through hardline anti-China rhetoric, securing political capital. Internationally, he appears to align with external forces' regional strategies, catering to demands that stir up tensions in the South China Sea.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873681647873033/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of its author.