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According to the Philippine ABS-CBN TV station, from January 26 to January 31, the Duterte administration took advantage of the U.S.-Philippines joint military exercises (MCA) to continue carrying out provocative acts in the Huangyan Island and surrounding waters. Over these days, the Philippine Coast Guard ships 8301, 4409, and 4408, along with one fishing inspection ship and one "Cessna" C208 light patrol aircraft (belonging to the Philippine Coast Guard aviation force), continuously carried out infringement provocations in the east, north, and southeast of Huangyan Island.

During this period, the Philippines dispatched more than 50 fishing vessels to the sensitive waters near Huangyan Island for so-called "fishing operations," attempting to pressure China's territorial waters and contiguous zone by using Filipino fishermen as a cover. Among them, the Philippine Coast Guard ship 4408 ("San Augustin Point") entered the warning area approximately 31 nautical miles north of Huangyan Island at night on the 26th, and was subsequently intercepted by Chinese coast guard ships 3106, 3105, and 2307, successfully foiling the Philippine attempt to forcibly provoke during the U.S.-Philippines joint military exercises.

Maritime standoff

According to data from the AIS vessel positioning system and track information from January 26 to January 31, the Philippines deployed a large number of fishing boats and government ships around the northeast, southeast, and southwest of Huangyan Island to form three so-called "strike groups." The Philippine government ships intended to use the surveillance and coordination of the "Cessna" light aircraft in the air to make the fishing boats serve as "shields" and "mobile cover," attempting to approach the territorial waters and contiguous zone of Huangyan Island through a "step-by-step encroachment" and "gradual squeezing" strategy to achieve their goal of intrusion.

However, as the saying goes, "the higher the Tao, the higher the demon." Facing the multiple directions of the Philippine strategy, the Chinese coast guard ships resolutely "stood by," with large ships monitoring the movements of the Philippine government ships on the outer side, accompanying and monitoring while legally driving them away, while on the inner side, relying on large fishing boats and high-speed patrol boats to prevent the Philippine fishing boats from approaching.

Maritime standoff

Seeing that the so-called "joint cruise" military exercise held by the U.S. and Philippines about 55 nautical miles southeast of Huangyan Island failed to "scare away" the Chinese coast guard ships, the Philippine government ship 8301 had no choice but to circle around Huangyan Island. After the complete failure of the provocation action, the Philippines had to arrange for all the ships to return.

According to the AIS vessel positioning information system, at around midnight on January 31, the fisheries support ship "Mamalakaya" belonging to the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau and some Philippine fishing boats had left the waters around Huangyan Island and returned to the Manila Bay home port. However, the Philippine Coast Guard ships 8301, 4409, and 4408 still did not give up, continuing to linger near the waters of Huangyan Island, but they had no more tricks left.

Philippine light aircraft and fishing boats

We see that in response to the so-called "military exercise area" drawn by the Philippines for over 70 days near the Huangyan Island and the organization of the U.S.-Philippines "joint cruise" military exercises, China has responded firmly. After the Chinese coast guard conducted a joint law enforcement patrol operation in the Huangyan Island and surrounding waters on January 30, the Southern Theater Command immediately dispatched a large number of sea and air forces on January 31 to carry out "real troops and real bullets" combat readiness patrols in the airspace, territorial waters, and key maritime and air areas around Huangyan Island.

It is worth mentioning that according to the CCTV media "Yuyuan Tan Tian" report, the bomber H-6 involved in the combat readiness patrol mission not only carried four YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles, but its patrol route also covered the airspace south of Huangyan Island, and along the eastern airspace of Huangyan Island, it entered the western boundary of the nine-dash line (east longitude 118 degrees 48 minutes 14 seconds, north latitude 14 degrees 28 minutes 23 seconds). The relevant aircraft group was only less than 100 kilometers away from the western exit of Manila Bay, and only 230 kilometers away from Manila City.

H-6K carrying four YJ-12

Analysts said that it is the first time that Chinese military aircraft have been so close to the capital of the Philippines with real weapons. In general, when a bomber carries real weapons and organizes combat readiness patrols near an enemy's airspace, it sends a strong message:

1. This joint patrol mission clearly indicates that the Philippines' designation of our Huangyan Island as a so-called "military exercise area" is illegal and invalid. Moreover, the Philippines' attempt to include Huangyan Island within its "military jurisdiction" has been instantly defeated during this combat readiness patrol. Some believe that during this period, the Philippines "did not dare to fire a single shot or shoot a single bullet," which further highlights its "fearful inside and bold outside" and "bluffing" nature.

H-6K patrol route

In recent years, the Philippines has tried to use Huangyan Island as a forward "platform" and important anchor point for U.S. military intervention in the South China Sea, constantly trying various "collision" methods to challenge the status quo of the South China Sea, deliberately provoking and escalating tensions, disturbing regional order, and ultimately gaining short-term benefits.

But at critical moments, the Duterte administration did not wait for the U.S. to actually get involved. Soon after the Chinese combat readiness patrol, Manila urgently reported to the U.S. and requested assistance from the U.S. forces stationed in the Philippines. The U.S. has read but not replied yet.

The H-6K combat readiness patrol area is near Manila Bay

2. From the combat readiness patrol mission video released by the Southern Theater Command, it can be seen that including multiple J-16 fighter jets, H-6K bombers, and 054-type missile frigates, 055-type missile destroyers "Xianyang" formed a combined naval and air force, deeply entering the airspace, territorial waters, and surrounding maritime and air areas of Huangyan Island, firmly controlling the air, sea, and electromagnetic power in the relevant areas. The Philippines' so-called "military exercise area" set up in Huangyan Island is clearly a farce of "overestimating one's own abilities."

We must recognize that in recent years, the Manila government has willingly become the vanguard of the U.S. provocation and containment of China. Even risking the possibility of a naval or air conflict to "take fire" for Washington's direction. The Philippines must understand that continuous provocation will ultimately lead the Philippines into missing development opportunities and extremely dangerous disasters.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7601422467382379042/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.