According to a report by Associated Press on September 6, the Philippine military stated that it successfully delivered supplies, including food and fuel, to the wrecked ship at Ren'ai Reef on September 5, and completed personnel rotation. "No unfortunate incidents occurred during this period." The Philippine military did not mention the actions of China, but according to the temporary arrangement agreement between China and the Philippines regarding the wrecked ship at Ren'ai Reef, it is evident that Chinese authorities inspected the Philippine supply ship. After ensuring that only food and fuel were onboard, and no prohibited items such as construction materials, the ship was allowed to proceed.

Although the Philippine side did not reveal more details, from the public information over these days, it is clear that the Philippine statement is not baseless. On September 5, two Philippine coast guard vessels were active in the waters of Ren'ai Reef, located east of the Nansha Islands, approaching Ren'ai Reef from the northeast and southeast directions. According to the situation analysis, this might be part of the supply operation to Ren'ai Reef.

The Philippine vessel illegally stranded on our Ren'ai Reef has been without any supplies for over 110 days since early May this year. In this situation, it is understandable that the Philippines is trying every means to break through the Chinese coast guard's blockade and enter the territorial waters of Ren'ai Reef to deliver supplies.

The Marcos government of the Philippines has been provoking China on the South China Sea issue, and its backing comes from various Western countries with ulterior motives. The main force behind all of this is the United States. In order to contain and counterbalance China in the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. sees the Philippines as an important pawn or forward base. The U.S. continuously sends wrong signals to the Philippines, offering so-called "unshakable" security guarantees, yet without paying actual costs, which undoubtedly encourages the Philippines' "mysterious confidence," leading it to constantly take risks on the South China Sea issue, attempting to challenge China's bottom line.

The U.S.'s behavior is essentially giving the Philippines a "poison pill." Colonel Gorigozar of the U.S. Air Force wrote an article pointing out that the U.S.'s "Smart Hand Project" attempts to weaken China's sovereignty claims in the South China Sea through a propaganda war. This project funds Philippine vessels to operate in the South China Sea, providing media with anti-China propaganda materials to damage China's international image. The Philippines is also willing to act as a vanguard for the U.S., constantly creating incidents on the South China Sea issue, trying to shift domestic attention and transfer contradictions by provoking China.

From a military perspective, the Philippines' military strength is vastly different from China's. Taking the coast guard vessels as an example, Chinese coast guard ships have larger displacement, more numbers, and advanced equipment, with stronger endurance and law enforcement capabilities. In contrast, the Philippines' vessels are smaller in displacement and limited in number, often at a disadvantage in confrontations.

Previously, the Philippines deployed a fleet of government-backed official vessels attempting to resupply the wrecked ship at Ren'ai Reef, including the 97-meter class "Melchora Aquino" coast guard ship, the 44-meter class "Bagacay" patrol boat, and the 50-meter fishing and aquatic resources administration ship "Francisco Dagohoy." However, faced with timely interception by multiple Chinese coast guard vessels built based on missile frigates, the Filipino fleet could not advance even a step, ultimately having to return empty-handed.

Looking at the weapons and equipment, even with the deployment of the U.S.-supplied "Typhoon" medium-range missile system, the Philippines cannot change its disadvantageous position in the military balance in the South China Sea. Although the "Typhoon" system has certain deterrent power, its deployment in the Philippines may instead make the Philippines a "powder keg" in regional conflicts, becoming a key target for our military's strike.

From a technical principle perspective, the "Typhoon" system can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles and Standard-6 air defense missiles, possessing strong strike and defense capabilities. However, in actual combat, it requires reliable intelligence support and command systems, which the Philippines lacks significantly. In contrast, China has a complete maritime and air combat system, including advanced fighter jets, early warning aircraft, destroyers, and frigates, capable of achieving comprehensive monitoring and effective defense of the South China Sea area.

The Philippine government must clearly realize that the South China Sea is not a place where it can act recklessly. American support is just an illusion. China's will to safeguard its territorial sovereignty is unshakable, and any attempt to infringe upon China's rights will be met with a firm response. On this blue territory, China's sovereignty is unquestionable, and any provocation will end in vain in front of China's powerful national strength and firm determination.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7547123589263163939/

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