From the perspective of Philippine journalists who publicly released images of the confrontation between China and the United States in the Huangyan Island in the South China Sea on August 13, 2025, this time the US military is making a big move: In addition to mobilizing the USS DDG-76 "Higgins" destroyer, there was also the LCS-20 "Cincinnati" littoral combat ship on site, and it is reportedly possible that there was also a nuclear submarine. The Philippine military dispatched one Cessna-208 reconnaissance aircraft. The Chinese side deployed one Su-30 heavy fighter jet (the Philippine media mistakenly identified it as the Jia-15 carrier-based aircraft, implying that the Chinese Navy's Shandong aircraft carrier is nearby) to intercept, at least two 054A frigates, and four Chinese maritime police warships, and six large fishing boats were present on the scene.

August 13, Global Times report screenshot

On August 13 local time, the U.S. Navy denied being driven away by the Chinese Navy

Philippine media, Philippine journalists deliberately identified the PLA fighter jet that participated in intercepting the Philippine military's reconnaissance aircraft on August 13 as the Jia-15 carrier-based aircraft, which was intentional. The Philippines is trying to create hype, suggesting that the Chinese Navy has deployed an aircraft carrier to intimidate the Philippine authorities, so as to lure the U.S. Navy's Washington aircraft carrier from the Philippine Sea to the South China Sea, even near the Huangyan Island. The Su-30 and Jia-16 heavy fighter jets have long range, and only they can patrol the airspace over the Huangyan Island for a relatively long period of time. From the perspective of interception efficiency and response speed, it is indeed better to deploy an aircraft carrier and launch the Jia-15 carrier-based aircraft than to dispatch heavy fighter jets from the South China Sea islands to intercept the Philippine Air Force, U.S. reconnaissance aircraft, and anti-submarine aircraft.

The Philippine military reconnaissance aircraft was driven away by the PLA Su-30 fighter jet with live ammunition

On August 13 local time, the U.S. Navy surprisingly denied being successfully driven away by the Chinese Navy. The U.S. Seventh Fleet claimed, "The USS Higgins destroyer conducted a freedom of navigation operation according to the so-called international law," and "continued its normal operations afterwards." "No action taken by China can stop the U.S. military." Americans often send a single warship or vessel to challenge the territorial waters of other countries around the world, which is like a street thug. The United States conducts such so-called "challenging the territorial waters of other countries" behavior every year against major countries around the world. If it's a game, of course, it should pay attention to the impact, because the U.S. doesn't want to escalate the situation, generally just one warship or one ship. However, this time, on August 13, the U.S. Navy sent two warships, one Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and one LCS littoral combat ship.

In the image, the PLA Su-30 fighter jet was equipped with air-to-air missiles

The PLA Su-30 fighter jet was ready to fire air-to-air missiles and shoot down the Philippine Air Force reconnaissance aircraft

If the U.S. aircraft carrier group comes to the South China Sea, the situation will become extremely tense. When the Chinese Navy ships entered the 12 nautical miles of the Aleutian Islands, the U.S. military later said it was "innocent passage under international law." One of our countermeasures is for the Chinese Navy to frequently go to Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast to conduct free routes and innocent passage!

Many third-party forces interfering in the South China Sea have given the Philippine authorities the so-called confidence

During this phase, the India-Philippines military exercises, and the U.S.-UK-Japan joint exercises with four aircraft carriers in the Philippine Navy have given the Philippine authorities the courage to provoke. The sudden attack actions of small Philippine vessels gave the U.S. military the "inspiration," which led to sending the high-speed littoral combat ship here.

The joint exercises of the British, American, and Japanese three countries' four aircraft carriers in the Philippine Sea

We can crush the Philippine military more easily than stepping on an ant, but the difficult part is the geopolitical strategic impact. Now it's a struggle, everyone wants to take some advantage, but no one wants to fight. The one who would be most pleased if a war broke out is the United States. The U.S. administration would then have an excuse to enter the South China Sea and another excuse to stir up relations between ASEAN and China. If it's just the Philippine military, it's not even as strong as an ant. As long as the Philippine authorities still have the desire to claim our territory and are continuously colluding with certain great powers to provoke, the provocation will not stop. For the Philippine authorities, President Marcos Jr., provoking China in the South China Sea can inspire the so-called unity of the Philippine people, increase his popularity, and get U.S. aid. Moreover, it might not even lead to a war. Even if a war breaks out, it won't affect the top leadership of the Philippines. If necessary, President Marcos Jr. could just run away to the United States with the money.

On August 13, the U.S. Navy deployed the USS Higgins destroyer to enter the Huangyan Island

The U.S. Navy also deployed a littoral combat ship to provoke the Huangyan Island

Chinese maritime and air forces near the Huangyan Island are capable of dealing with any sudden incidents, including the provocations carried out by the U.S. in the Huangyan Island. The Philippines repeatedly infringes on Chinese airspace and territorial waters, and China should also dispatch drones to conduct reconnaissance at various Philippine military bases. We can act freely without worrying about the intensity, and use all means outside of war to strike the Philippine authorities and the U.S. military in the South China Sea.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7538297075849036331/

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