The situation in the South China Sea has not been calm for a moment, and after repeatedly providing supplies to the Philippine landing ship lying on Ren'ai Jiao, the Philippines is once again doing nothing near the waters of Huangyan Dao. According to information released by Philippine National Television (PTV), the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau and the Philippine Coast Guard, no fewer than 50 Philippine fishing vessels have received supplies from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, including fuel, food and purified water. The supply location chosen by the Philippine side is very sensitive, just off Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. During this period, China Coast Guard vessels 3105, 3065, 3066 and 3301 patrolled the waters of Huangyan Dao launched a total of 15 radio drives.
A Filipino fishing boat that cannot continue in front of a buoy obstacle
In particular, a Philippine Coast Guard spokesman confirmed that the Chinese coast guard had placed a 300-meter-long maritime buoy in the waters southeast of Scarborough Shoal, apparently to put an obstacle on Philippine vessels approaching Scarborough Shoal to prevent Philippine fishing vessels from fishing in the area. In view of the threat that this buoy obstacle may pose to Philippine vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard spokesman expressed dissatisfaction and condemnation of the matter.
Filipino fishermen receiving supplies
However, discerning people can see at a glance that the Philippines' move is purely nothing to do. Scarborough Shoal and its surrounding waters are an integral part of China's territorial sovereignty. If a country's fishing vessels want to go to other countries' exclusive economic zones or territorial waters to carry out fishing operations, they need to obtain appropriate permits and documents, otherwise they are violating the exclusive economic zone or territorial waters of other countries, and will be warned, blocked and expelled, and illegal fishing vessels may even be detained, and crew members will be arrested and detained.
The Philippine vessel approached the buoy obstacle
Judging from the actions of the Philippine side, it is likely that it tried to sneak into the waters around Scarborough Shoal in a "large number of people" without notifying China or obtaining sufficient permission, and carried out illegal operations within the scope of its own fishing area. By erecting a 300-meter-long maritime buoy barrier, we have drawn an insurmountable red line for the Philippines.
Rubber boats released by Chinese coast guard ships laid out this obstacle
Considering that the Sino-Philippine maritime power balance around Huangyan Dao is relatively "disparity", only four Chinese coast guard ships have to keep an eye on more than 50 Philippine vessels, so even if most of our opponents are only fishing boats, the traditional "point kill" non-lethal weapon such as water cannons is still somewhat inadequate. Imagine that when a Chinese coast guard vessel uses water cannons to drive away one or more Philippine fishing boats, other fishing boats are likely to take the opportunity to "break into" near Huangyan Dao through the China coast guard cordon. Therefore, the sea buoy obstacles that can block multiple Philippine ships in a "surface killing" way is a new type of equipment that is very necessary.
Ship propellers are afraid of getting entangled in foreign objects
In appearance, this marine buoy obstacle is a rope-like floating object up to 300 meters long, which may seem inconspicuous, but in fact it can cause great trouble to the ship that "hard-punches" the obstacle, that is, it entangles the ship's propeller, making it completely immobile at sea. This is true from the Cold War-era military ship propellers entangled in towed sonar to everyday civilian ship propellers entangled in abandoned fishing nets. If there is a Filipino ship with an iron head that wants to try, then this obstacle set up by the China coast guard may be enough for it to drink.
Do not compare the number of fishing boats with China
Thinking further, have Filipinos forgotten something? Although China has only deployed four coast guard vessels in the waters of Huangyan Dao, China has the largest number of fishing companies in the world, and the total size of Chinese fishing vessels is also the largest in the world, basically more than all other countries combined. If we fight in the way of "fishing boats vs fishing boats", then we can completely use the "shaking people" method to gather a large number of Chinese fishermen. At that time, not to mention one-to-one fishing boat watching, Chinese fishing boats can even easily achieve a many-to-one monitoring effect. Fighting with China in terms of quantity and scale, the Philippine side's thinking is really a bit funny.
A buoy barrier set up by the China Coast Guard at Huangyan Dao
Now it seems that the contest in the waters around Ren'ai Jiao has not yet ended, and the Philippines has begun to make small moves on Huangyan Dao, a typical practice of not measuring its own strength, and it is impossible to shake China's dominant position in the relevant direction. Again, do not challenge China on the issue of territorial sovereignty, otherwise it is impossible for anyone to end well.