The Fiery Cross Reef, an unremarkable sandbank in the South China Sea, has recently become the focus of contention between China and the Philippines. On April 27, Liu Dejun, spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, stated that six Filipino personnel illegally landed on Fiery Cross Reef. The China Coast Guard legally took action to assert China's indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, including Fiery Cross Reef. This incident occurred amidst the large-scale joint military exercises between the U.S. and the Philippines, known as "Shoulder to Shoulder," which quickly escalated tensions over the reef, raising intriguing questions about the underlying reasons.
Fiery Cross Reef is located in the Spratly Islands, just 1.5 nautical miles from Itu Aba Island, a key Philippine military outpost occupied by the Philippines. Itu Aba Island houses military facilities and serves as a strategic pivot for the Philippines in the South China Sea. Although Fiery Cross Reef is a small sandbank, its proximity to Itu Aba Island allows it to monitor activities on the island. Moreover, it lies on a crucial shipping route through the Spratly Islands, giving it potential value in regional control. The China Coast Guard's deployment to the reef in mid-April, including flag-raising and maritime control measures, was seen as a direct response to the Philippines' military presence there.
The sovereignty disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea have been longstanding, with Fiery Cross Reef becoming a hotspot of friction in recent years. In January this year, the China Coast Guard accused Philippine vessels of illegally intruding into the waters around Fiery Cross Reef without permission, attempting to collect sand samples. The Philippines claimed that its fishing bureau ships were harassed by Chinese coast guard vessels. On April 27, six Filipinos once again landed on the reef, only to be legally dealt with by the China Coast Guard. Both sides accused each other of "illegal activities." According to reports by China Central Television, the China Coast Guard not only conducted patrols but also gathered evidence of the Philippines' "illegal activities" at Fiery Cross Reef, demonstrating effective control over the disputed area.
According to Financial Times sources, the China Coast Guard left after raising the flag and did not permanently station or construct facilities on Fiery Cross Reef. However, the incident itself has already raised concerns over the situation in the South China Sea. Chinese experts stated that this move reflects China's lawful management of its inherent territory and protection of the marine environment.
The incident occurred while the Philippines and the United States were conducting the "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercises in the South China Sea, which is the largest joint exercise in history between the two countries, involving 14,000 soldiers. The exercises included simulations of full-scale combat, integrated air defense, and missile defense drills. For the first time, mobile shore-based anti-ship missile systems were used, successfully launching a new short-range air defense system to shoot down drones. The deployment of anti-ship missiles aims to enhance maritime denial capabilities and is considered a deterrent against potential enemy navies.
The U.S. military also deployed the "Titan" medium-range missile system during the exercises, marking the second consecutive deployment of a new missile system on Philippine soil, which has drawn strong dissatisfaction from China. The Philippine Navy stated on the 27th that Chinese naval vessels were discovered supervising the exercise areas but did not interfere with the exercises.
Fueled by its geopolitical and strategic significance, Fiery Cross Reef suddenly became a focal point in the contest between China and the Philippines:
Controlling Fiery Cross Reef can effectively constrain the Philippines' military activities and provide a pivot for China's patrols and control in the Spratly Islands. The unprecedented scale of the U.S.-Philippine military exercises, combined with the deployment of new missile systems, has heightened China's vigilance against "external forces" intervening. The Fiery Cross Reef incident has become a pawn for China to demonstrate its resolve and counterbalance the pressure from the U.S. and the Philippines. The actions of both the China Coast Guard and the Filipino personnel in landing on the reef have reinforced their respective claims to sovereignty, making Fiery Cross Reef a litmus test for territorial disputes.
Despite its small size, Fiery Cross Reef has become a microcosm of the contest between China and the Philippines. Behind it lies the complex interweaving of sovereignty, military affairs, and geopolitics in the South China Sea. Against the backdrop of U.S.-Philippine joint military exercises, any slight movement at Fiery Cross Reef could potentially affect the nerves of regional peace.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7499001264701702691/
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