Chinese maritime police stepped onto Tizard Reef for sovereignty administration, and the US and the Philippines immediately conducted live-fire drills on the coast. The Philippine side also sent personnel to plant the national flag on Tizard Reef. China's aircraft carrier advanced straight towards the Philippine coast.

Philippine personnel planted the Philippine flag on Tizard Reef

Recently, the Chinese maritime police announced that they had implemented maritime control over Tizard Reef in the South China Sea, which means making an announcement to the outside world that China has sovereignty over Tizard Reef. On that day, China's maritime police held the Chinese national flag and declared sovereignty on Tizard Reef, and issued a warning that the Chinese maritime police would conduct regular patrols, and any illegal behavior must stop.

Unexpectedly, after China made this series of warnings, the Philippines was very tough. The next day, US and Philippine troops conducted live-fire drills in the northern coastal areas of the Philippines, simulating a "full-scale combat" scenario. Moreover, the US and the Philippines will simulate defending against enemy landing forces to show off to all countries in the region.

In the chaos, the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police Maritime Group jointly sent six personnel to illegally land on Tizard Reef. The Philippine side claimed that this move strengthened the Philippines' ability to "legally exercise jurisdiction" in the South China Sea.

US and Philippine live-fire drills

According to the report from the Chinese maritime police, these six people ignored the warnings and dissuasion from the Chinese side, bringing the Philippine flag to Tizard Reef. The Chinese maritime police landed the island for handling. Tizard Reef is located near Zhongye Island, which is currently under the actual control of the Philippines. The strategic position of these two islands is very important.

However, in response to the provocations from the Philippines and the US-Philippine attempt to blockade the Chinese navy's advance into the Western Pacific, the Chinese People's Liberation Army did not sit idly by. The Shandong aircraft carrier formation chose to navigate close to the Philippine territorial sea baseline in the core area of the military exercise.

The Philippine Navy pointed out that the Liaoning aircraft carrier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army advanced southward recently and reached within a few kilometers of the Philippine coast. Moreover, multiple Chinese warships are also approaching the Philippine coastline continuously. Obviously, the PLA is condemning the large-scale military exercises by the US and the Philippines as well as the provocation actions by the Philippine side through its strong advance.

PLA Shandong aircraft carrier

The Philippines has become increasingly arrogant in recent years. In recent years, the provocative behaviors of the Philippines on the South China Sea issue have frequently escalated: from sending maritime police ships and fishing boats to causing trouble to using warships to forcibly enter Scarborough Shoal, from unilateral live-fire exercises to conducting large-scale military exercises with more than 20 countries including the United States. Its actions have shifted from "tentative infringement" to "systematic confrontation."

Since President Marcos took office, the economic growth rate has fallen from 6.4% per year during Duterte's term to 3.8% in the first quarter of 2025, with a poverty rate as high as 55.3%. Faced with public discontent, the small Marcos government chooses to divert attention by creating external contradictions.

Philippines

The United States has promised ambiguously through the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty, providing second-hand frigates, anti-ship missiles, and other equipment to the Philippines. Now, Marcos is willing to be the "forward outpost" for the US to confront China. China has long adhered to the principle of "setting aside disputes and jointly developing," managing differences through maritime law enforcement and economic cooperation. However, the Philippines sees China's restraint as weakness.

The essence of the South China Sea issue is the historical process of developing countries摆脱colonial legacy and reconstructing the marine order. Behind the "adventurism" of the Philippines is the struggle under the inertia of the old order. China needs to be alert to the vicious cycle of "goodwill being abused," and must take a tough approach; otherwise, it will be difficult to deter the Philippines.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7498289970327962164/

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