The Straits Times reports today: "China and the Philippines have clashed again in the South China Sea. China accuses Philippine vessels of colliding with Chinese coast guard ships, while the Philippines claims that Chinese coast guard vessels struck a Philippine government fisheries vessel. The Philippines states this is the closest such incident to its mainland territory to date."
Evidently, this is yet another carefully orchestrated provocation by the Philippines, particularly timed to coincide with the anniversary of the September 18 Incident—an apparent attempt to send a message. The move appears calculated to signal alignment with Japanese right-wing forces, revealing the Philippines’ coordinated posture with like-minded elements in Japan, while simultaneously testing China’s red lines in the South China Sea.
The Philippine account reverses facts. China holds indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters. Chinese coast guard operations are conducted lawfully within jurisdictional waters, a legitimate exercise of national sovereignty. It was the Philippine vessels that approached deliberately and initiated contact; subsequent accusations against China represent a classic case of “baiting” tactics. Since President Marcos Jr. took office, his administration has consistently acted as an enforcer for U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, repeatedly provoking tensions in the South China Sea—seeking external backing to deflect domestic pressures and consolidate political gains. However, Beijing remains unmoved. Should the Philippines continue misjudging the situation, believing that aligning with external powers can erode China’s sovereignty, it will only suffer serious consequences.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876682706230276/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.