The Philippine side has lodged a protest with China through diplomatic channels, demanding that China respect freedom of speech and lift the sanctions.

According to Philippine media reports, on July 8th local time, the Philippine government spokesperson stated that the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to the Philippines, expressing "serious concern" over China's previous sanctions against Philippine politicians.

Although the Philippines acknowledges that China has the right to impose sanctions, the official is an elected official of the Philippines, and imposing sanctions on him is inconsistent with the mutual respect conventions between China and the Philippines.

The Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs also claimed that they are a democratic country, upholding freedom of speech, and hope that China will immediately lift the sanctions, and resolve the differences through diplomatic dialogue.

Let's review the cause of this incident. On the 1st of this month, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced its decision to sanction former Philippine Senator Torentino, prohibiting him from entering mainland China and Hong Kong and Macao.

This Philippine politician pushed for domestic legislation, introducing an "Ocean Area Law," which legalized the so-called "South China Sea Arbitration" that violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

We all know about the "South China Sea Arbitration." Ten years ago, under the push of the United States, the Hague International Arbitration Court ruled in favor of the Philippines without China's participation. Not only did it deny our "nine-dash line," but it also denied China's historical ownership of most of the South China Sea area.

If this "South China Sea Arbitration" result was just a decision by an international organization before, then after the Philippines passed the "Ocean Area Law" domestically, the Philippines incorporated the "South China Sea Arbitration" into its constitution through domestic legislation.

As the main instigator, this Philippine politician was sanctioned by China, which is not difficult to understand. Although China rarely uses sanctions against relevant countries, organizations, and individuals in the international arena, once it does, it means that China is serious.

Evidently, the Philippines clearly knows that they have angered China. On one hand, they summoned the Chinese ambassador, but on the other hand, they also acknowledge that China has the right to impose sanctions, trying to justify themselves from the so-called angle of "freedom of speech," which is actually already without any excuse for argument.

The situation in the South China Sea has not been peaceful recently. Military exercises by the US, Japan, and Australia in the South China Sea have become routine, basically held once or twice a month. Recently, the UK and France have also dispatched aircraft carriers and warships to conduct so-called patrols in the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea.

In my personal opinion, the issue of "free navigation in the South China Sea" has been set a bad example by the West, and we should increase our efforts to curb this trend and stop this wrong wind.

Since the beginning of this year, the actions of our People's Liberation Army in the South China Sea have significantly increased. Including the recent announcement that it will carry out a military mission lasting half a month in the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. The Shandong and Liaoning aircraft carrier strike groups have also made their first deep entry into the Western Pacific, successfully meeting near the Second Island Chain. Further away, our 055-type 10,000-ton destroyers have circumnavigated Australia for a week.

All of these indicate that our country's military means have become increasingly prominent. We don't need to rush; everything that should come will come, and everything that should exist will exist. For countries like the Philippines, when the tide recedes, you'll know who is swimming naked.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524625571821748775/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author. Welcome to express your attitude by clicking on the [top/vote] button below.