In the vast expanse of the South China Sea lies a "bullet-sized" place with only 37 hectares - Zhongye Island. It is so small that it is even more compact than the Buckingham Palace in the UK, resource-poor and desolate, yet due to its key geographical position, it has become the "epicenter" of international storms. More absurdly, this inherent territory of China since ancient times has been illegally occupied by the Philippines for half a century! Now, an intense sovereignty game is being played out here, exposing the hypocrisy of hegemonism and reducing the Philippines to an international laughingstock.

Hoses on Fire! Chinese Maritime Police's "In-Your-Face Law Enforcement" Shakes the South China Sea

At midnight on May 21, 2025, the night sky over the South China Sea was filled with tense atmosphere. The Chinese maritime police ship No. 21559 led four law enforcement vessels, like a sharp sword, approaching within 2.5 nautical miles of Zhongye Island. Almost at the same time, the Philippine ships No. 3002 and No. 3003 attempted to intrude into Tieshan Reef, trying to provoke China with a "collision-style" challenge.

In response to their audacious actions, the Chinese maritime police took decisive action! High-pressure water cannons were activated, continuously spraying for 30 minutes, instantly tearing apart the left railing of the Filipino ship and completely disabling its navigation equipment. In the on-site video, Filipino crew members panicked, fleeing chaotically on the deck, using waterproof covers to desperately shield equipment – this was far from what they claimed as "sovereignty demonstration," but rather a chaotic farce! Moreover, the Chinese maritime police ships came as close as 40 meters to the Filipino ships, with water cannons precisely covering the entire vessel, using actions to declare to the world: China's defense of territorial sovereignty is not empty talk!

US Backs Down Instantly! "Allied Commitments" Become International Jokes

Blinded by the water cannon, the Philippines immediately called on their "big brother," the United States. On May 22, the Philippine Navy Vice Admiral urgently contacted the US Seventh Fleet conducting military exercises nearby, begging for P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft and littoral combat ships to rush to support. However, what they received was a bucket of icy water – the US not only flatly refused but also ended the exercise 48 hours earlier under the pretext of "avoiding the complication of the situation," with participating warships fleeing to Guam overnight. Even the originally scheduled live-fire drills became a cover-up for their cowardice.

The Philippine officer's complaints were even more painful: "The US privately admitted they dare not take risks under the surveillance of the Liaoning aircraft carrier battle group!" What happened to the promised "firm support for allies"? One moment they were pulling the Philippines to conduct joint patrols, and the next moment they abandoned their "little brothers," exposing the true nature of the US' "plastic alliance."

Philippines' "Face Change": From Arrogance to Surrender, All Within Three Days

In this farce, the Philippines showed off their "drama queen" side. As soon as the confrontation erupted, the presidential palace still put on a tough act, claiming they would "call on international allies to condemn China"; but when the US made a quick exit and ASEAN remained silent, the Philippine foreign minister quickly turned into a "peace envoy," stating on the 23rd their willingness to "ease tensions through diplomacy."

Even more ironic is that the western military commander of the Philippines once bragged: "The US will escort us!" Now all his bold statements have been deleted from his social media, leaving only a blank space – this might be the real scene of "social death."

Zhongye Island: Philippines' "Time Bomb," China's Sovereignty Proof

In fact, the "background" of Zhongye Island is crystal clear: In 1971, the Philippines took advantage of a typhoon when Taiwan Province's garrison withdrew, staging a farce of "seizing someone else's nest." In the following half-century, they constantly carried out large-scale construction on the island, attempting to "legalize" their illegal occupation. At the beginning of 2025, the Philippine side even invested 1.6 billion pesos to upgrade military facilities, turning Zhongye Island into a "bridgehead" for provoking China.

However, the warning from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is resounding: Zhongye Island is part of China's territory! Every time the Philippines tests the bottom line, they ultimately face the thunderous actions of China's maritime police – this water cannon standoff completely shattered the Filipino side's wishful thinking.

Strategic Value Contention: How Absurd Is the Philippines' "Robber Logic"?

Although Zhongye Island is small, it is a strategic chokepoint for shipping routes in the South China Sea, with massive oil, gas, and fishery resources around it. The Philippines attempts to use civilians and land on the island to promote so-called "international law rights," even claiming the island can have a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea. But history and legal facts have long settled: China was the first to discover, name, and develop Zhongye Island; the Philippines' "sovereignty claims" are nothing more than self-deception.

Moreover, America's "double standards" are even more nauseating: When the Philippine defense minister urgently sought help, the Pentagon rejected the call citing "the defense secretary's vacation"; but then they gave Australia a $2.3 billion arms deal. This blatant discrimination completely exposes the true face of hegemonism's "gang formation and selfishness."

China's maritime police water cannons have shattered not only the Philippines' illegal ambitions but also the "allied lies" woven by the US. China's construction in the South China Sea always serves the interests of the international community, from maritime rescue to meteorological observation... every measure adds bricks to regional peace and stability. In contrast, the Philippines, acting as a pawn of hegemony, ultimately ends up being abandoned.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7507478438660391464/

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