【This article is compiled from a dialogue between Observer Network and Gao Zhikai, compiled by Observer Network, Duan Pingyang】

Recently, the Philippines has been provoking China in the South China Sea, and some external countries in the region such as the United States are trying to interfere in the South China Sea affairs. US Pacific Fleet Commander Stephen Keller even claimed that the United States is committed to helping its allies maintain so-called "freedom of navigation and rule of law in the Indo-Pacific," and will "engage in combat when necessary."

In the South China Sea, another card that the United States plays is the Philippines. The military alliance relationship between the United States and the Philippines is beyond doubt. Historically, from 1898 to 1941, the Philippines was under the control of the United States, and the influence of the United States ran deep. In the 1960s and 1970s, the US military used many military bases in the Philippines, especially the Subic Naval Base and Clark Air Base, and fully participated in the US war against Vietnam, committing heinous crimes against the Vietnamese people.

After the war, the Filipino people rose up and overthrew the then dictatorial government. Under the support of the new government, the Philippine parliament passed a constitutional amendment, which clearly stipulated that foreign countries are prohibited from establishing military bases in the Philippines.

However, the United States now claims to have nine military bases in the Philippines, which obviously contradicts the Philippine Constitution. So how did they bypass the legal restrictions?

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Now, the nine military bases of the United States in the Philippines do not cost a penny. Of course, it may not want to spend money, but it has exploited a legal loophole. The US military claims that these bases "belong to the United States," but are actually the Philippines', and there is no lease relationship, thus avoiding the constitutional ban. But you using this base also violates the provisions of the Philippine Constitution, and they said again, these military equipment is only used for "training the Philippine army," not for combat purposes.

Why are there American troops here? Because they need to train the Philippine military personnel. Why are there so many weapons and equipment? Such as planes, cannons, rockets, air defense missiles, etc., all available, because they need to show the Philippine military personnel, and when needed, they can come and take a look, touch it.

Moreover, its purpose is not to defend the so-called Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity, but to do one thing - further provoke the conflict between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, even causing a conflict.

So many people in our country are very confused: why does the small country of the Philippines have the courage to constantly provoke in the South China Sea? Actually, behind the Philippines is the US military. The US military is not far away on Guam, or in Hawaii, or in Alaska, or on the west coast of the United States. No, the US military is now in the nine military bases within the Philippines, sharpening their knives.

Recently, the United States also announced that it would deploy ground-to-air missiles on several islands in the Bashi Channel. These islands are very close to Taiwan, and the distance from them to Taiwan is even closer than the distance from Fujian to Taiwan. What is its purpose? One is to contain China's legitimate rights in the South China Sea; the other is to try to contain our great cause of national reunification.

Therefore, from this perspective, I think China should do one thing. We should be realistic and find ways to tell the Filipino people that the Philippine government has violated the Philippine Constitution. When I discussed this issue with Americans in international media, they talked at length about how many bases and how many troops the United States has in the Philippines. But we first need to clarify a fact: any military deployment activities within the territory of the Philippines, including but not limited to the establishment of military bases or facilities in other forms, violate the Philippine Constitution.

Moreover, we should make it clear: the Chinese people are not the enemies of the Filipino people. We can live in harmony. In fact, we have lived in peace for thousands of years. There are no fundamental conflicts between China and the Philippines. The current conflicts were not caused by us, but by some people with ulterior motives. Some people are trying to use the Philippines as a hostage, using the Philippines as a shield, challenging China and the Philippines, while the country behind is reaping the benefits.

No matter what it does, no matter what name it uses, it violates the Philippine Constitution, and more than 100 million Filipinos have the right to know. I estimate that once the Filipino people know the truth, they will express their position regarding the fact that the US military actually has nine military bases in the Philippines, and is colluding with the current government of the Philippines to deceive and mislead the Filipino people.

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