On the local time of August 13, Filipino media journalists boarded a Philippine Air Force Cessna reconnaissance aircraft to go to the Scarborough Shoal to film the confrontation between the Chinese and U.S. navies. The footage captured the deployment of a large number of Chinese warships and fighter jets near the Scarborough Shoal, as well as the action taken by Chinese fighter jets (the Filipino media mistakenly identified the Su-30 fighter jet as the J-15 carrier-based fighter jet) to drive away the Philippine Air Force reconnaissance aircraft. A female Filipino journalist on the Philippine Air Force Cessna reconnaissance aircraft captured the scene where the waters near the Scarborough Shoal were filled with Chinese warships, and there were Chinese Su-30 fighter jets intercepting in the air. Obviously, at this moment, if the Philippine authorities and the U.S. Navy provoke, it would be "a ram against an egg".

The Scarborough Shoal is indeed very close to the Philippine coast, and the Philippine air force, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy can all launch from the Philippine bases, the U.S. military bases, and ports. However, with the strength of China being so strong, it is still difficult to say which side the balance of power in the South China Sea will be on. Why did the U.S. Navy dare to send two warships, the USS Higgins destroyer and the LCS Cincinnati littoral combat ship, on August 13 to support the Philippines? Simply put, it's because it's convenient to project power. After provoking, they can immediately return to the Philippine port and base for logistical support and maintenance.

Facing the powerful strength of the Chinese navy, the U.S. navy is indeed unable to confront or oppose the Chinese navy based on strength. Our current restraint in the face of the U.S. navy is actually a manifestation of our confidence, because we know that our navy will eventually enter the U.S. ambiguous area, while the U.S. navy will find it difficult to enter the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait. We are not firing the first shot now for our own benefit.

In response to the provocation by the Philippine navy using propeller reconnaissance aircraft, we also need to vigorously develop vertical takeoff and landing fixed-wing drones on board, allowing Chinese maritime police vessels to have their own air forces to counter the opposing side. For aerial interception, we can use long-endurance surveillance and strike integrated drones such as the CH-2, WZ-10 (armed type), and the Twin Tail Scorpion armed drones. These drones can be equipped with air-to-air missiles or laser-guided rocket launchers, flash bomb dispensers, and laser dazzlers. They can operate continuously for 24 hours with rotating shifts and networked real-time monitoring to timely drive away the intruders. Alternatively, we can use domestic propeller planes deployed on islands and reefs. Propeller planes are suitable for this kind of low, slow, small verification work. They are double-engine four-seat, safe, and have low maintenance costs for gasoline turbocharged engines. They can be equipped with gun pod attachments and Tianyan air-to-air missiles, which are sufficient.

The Philippine military has learned our method of "using a small force to move a big one", requiring only a small cost to provoke, and we need a large cost to defend. It's like ants attacking, so we can consider taking the initiative to attack. Send some ships into the Philippine territorial waters, such as Zhongye Island, to make the Philippine authorities too busy defending themselves. Sovereignty issues cannot be measured by cost. The Scarborough Shoal has been firmly controlled by China, and the Philippines will inevitably come to cause trouble. The Philippine authorities certainly will not give up easily.

Original text: www.toutiao.com/article/1840400923094023/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.