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The Chinese and Philippine coast guards have once again confronted each other near the Huangyan Island, with a Japanese-made patrol boat operated by the Philippine coast guard standing out particularly glaringly during the confrontation.

Ten years ago, the Philippine coast guard was barely a department, but under Japan's strong support, it has now become a major troublemaker in the South China Sea.

[Philippine Coast Guard's Lighthouse-class Patrol Vessel]

On August 11 Beijing Time, the Chinese Coast Guard held a press conference, stating that the Philippines organized multiple coast guard ships and government vessels, using the pretext of supplying fishing boats, ignoring the repeated warnings and warnings from China, and insisting on entering the waters near the Huangyan Island.

The Chinese Coast Guard took necessary measures such as following, pressing, and blocking to drive away the Philippine ships according to law.

The confrontation between the Chinese and Philippine coast guards in the waters near the Huangyan Island has become part of the daily routine in the South China Sea. However, ten years ago, this was an unimaginable scene.

Because ten years ago, the Philippine coast guard was still a department that was barely useful, with only four Saint Juan-class rescue ships and four North Ilocos-class patrol vessels designed and manufactured by Australia. At that time, Manila dared to cause trouble in the South China Sea, relying on the Philippine Navy.

So the question is, how did the Philippine coast guard grow into a troublemaker that can stir up the South China Sea in just ten years?

[Philippine Coast Guard's Saint Juan-class Rescue Ship]

The answer is simple, it's Japan.

Open-source intelligence shows that in this Huangyan Island confrontation, the main ship of the Philippine coast guard is the Japanese-made "Lighthouse" class multi-purpose response vessel No. 6, the 4406 Sulu An number patrol vessel.

The 4406 ship is very new, built in 2016 and delivered in 2017, and has been in service for less than 10 years. The 4406 ship was able to be completed and put into service within one year because its displacement is only 320 tons, belonging to a standard small patrol vessel.

However, although the displacement is small, the Lighthouse class has a certain long-range capability. Because the prototype of this class, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's Sword class patrol vessel, has a displacement of only 220 tons.

The increase of 100 tons in displacement is due to Japan making targeted modifications and upgrades to the entire hull after listening to the Philippine side's demand for long-distance navigation.

[The predecessor of the Lighthouse class is the Japanese Sword class patrol vessel]

Such modifications have both advantages and disadvantages. The Philippine Coast Guard indeed obtained a small displacement but capable of long-distance navigation patrol vessel. However, due to changes in the hull size and increased displacement, the maximum speed of the Lighthouse class patrol vessel was reduced from 40 knots of the Sword class to 29 knots.

29 knots is still considered a "super car" in the context of government enforcement ships. Whether compared to the large Philippine coast guard ships or the large Chinese coast guard ships, the Lighthouse class has obvious advantages in speed and maneuverability.

The Lighthouse class became the main force of the Philippine coast guard to harass the South China Sea, not only due to its speed advantage, but also because of the large number of its equipment. The Japanese built a total of 10 Lighthouse class patrol vessels for the Philippines at a price of 130 million dollars.

This is enough for the Philippine coast guard to deploy patrol fleets separately on Luzon and Balabac islands to deal with the situation around the Huangyan Island, the Ren'ai Reef, and the Scarborough Shoal.

[The Philippine coast guard's 4411 ship often causes trouble near the Scarborough Shoal]

For example, the 4406 ship that entered the Huangyan Island this time operates from Luzon. While near the Scarborough Shoal, our coast guard often deals with three Lighthouse class patrol vessels, the 4409, 4410, and 4411 of the Philippine coast guard.

All signs indicate that the Lighthouse class has become the main force of the Philippine coast guard in harassing the waters around the Huangyan Island.

In addition to the Lighthouse class, another Japanese-made patrol ship purchased by the Philippines is also a mainstay of the Philippine coast guard. That is the current largest surface vessel of the Philippine coast guard, the Teresa Magbanua-class patrol ship.

This is a patrol ship with a full load displacement of more than 2200 tons, which is already a large vessel among government enforcement ships, and even has a tonnage advantage over some Chinese coast guard ships.

This gave the Philippine coast guard considerable confidence, so even though there are only two Teresa Magbanua-class patrol ships, they have become a familiar face in causing trouble in the South China Sea, forcing the coast guard to mobilize larger-tonnage ships to respond.

[Philippine coast guard's Teresa Magbanua-class patrol ship]

In addition to Japanese-made coast guard ships, the Philippine coast guard also widely uses patrol ships and rescue ships designed and produced by Australia. And with the assistance of Australia, it has built two domestically produced patrol vessels called the Dattabago class.

The experience of this class is quite interesting, because it was not ordered by the Philippine coast guard or its leadership, the Philippine Department of Transportation. It was instead transferred by the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau.

The fisheries and aquatic resources bureau originally intended to use these two ships to patrol the South China Sea and deal with illegal fishing issues. But with the worsening situation in the South China Sea, the fisheries and aquatic resources bureau had no space to play, so it transferred one of them to the coast guard to make use of it.

It is worth mentioning that although the Philippines and the United States have always had good relations, the Philippine coast guard has not equipped with American-made coast guard ships.

This is not to say that American coast guard ships have any problems, but simply that these American goods have excessive performance.

Because the Hamilton-class patrol ships given by the United States to the Philippines have a full load displacement of 3250 tons and are equipped with 76mm naval guns, Phalanx close-in weapon systems, and other weapons.

[Philippine Navy's Hamilton-class patrol ship]

It can be said that the Hamilton-class is almost indistinguishable from a 3000-ton frigate, except for the lack of missiles. Such a ship is definitely prioritized for use by the Philippine Navy, and would never be used by the Philippine coast guard.

It can be said that the Philippine coast guard's strength has experienced a rapid growth in the past ten years, becoming an important force that stirs up the South China Sea, and Japan is an indispensable external factor.

This also shows that the South China Sea issue is not only a problem between China, the Philippines, and the United States, but also includes elements of Sino-Japanese rivalry.

Therefore, to better handle the South China Sea issue, China not only needs to treat the "symptom" of the Philippines, but also needs to find ways to treat the "root" behind the scenes, such as the United States and Japan.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7537611533976453632/

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