introduction
In January 2024, a shocking news spread around the world that the Philippine Air Force conducted an ultra-low-altitude airdrop over Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea, successfully resupplying the landing ship of the Philippine Navy. This is the first time that the Philippines has launched an airdrop over Second Thomas Shoal since 2012, and it is also a blatant provocation and violation by the Philippines against China's sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea.
What kind of motives and objectives are behind this airdrop? How thrilling and tortuous are the process and results of this airdrop? How far-reaching and serious will the impact and consequences of this airdrop be? These questions have become the focus of people's attention. This article will analyze and interpret the Philippine Ren'ai Shoal airdrop from various aspects, add data comparisons and personal views, and try to provide readers with a clear and comprehensive answer.
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The motivation for the airdrop in the Philippines
The Philippine airdrop on Ren'ai Jiao was a premeditated and planned action by the Philippines on the South China Sea issue, rather than an impulsive and unconscious move.
The motivation for the Philippine airdrop is mainly as follows:
The Philippines' airdrop was to maintain and consolidate its presence and control over Second Thomas Shoal. Second Thomas Shoal is the largest coral reef in the South China Sea and the only reef occupied by the Philippines in the South China Sea. The Philippines has stationed a small force of the Navy and Coast Guard, as well as an aging and dilapidated landing ship, on Second Thomas Shoal as an outpost and symbol of the Philippines in the South China Sea.
The Philippines believes that Ren'ai Jiao is its core interest and bottom line in the South China Sea, and will not hesitate to conflict and confront China to maintain its occupation and sovereignty. The Philippines' airdrop is aimed at demonstrating to China and the international community that the Philippines will not give up on Ren'ai Jiao and that the Philippines has the ability and determination to maintain the security and stability of Ren'ai Jiao.
The Philippine airdrop is intended to neutralize and challenge China's superiority and influence in the South China Sea. China is the largest maritime party in the South China Sea and the most powerful military force in the South China Sea. China's possession of a number of reefs and artificial islands in the South China Sea, as well as its powerful navy, air force, and coast guard forces, form an effective control and deterrence over the South China Sea. China has also actively promoted a series of cooperation and initiatives in the South China Sea, such as the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, the South China Sea Peace Initiative, and the South China Sea Cooperation Initiative, which have won the understanding and support of neighboring countries in the South China Sea.
The Philippines is dissatisfied and jealous of China's status and role in the South China Sea, and tries to break and undermine China's superiority and influence in the South China Sea through some provocative and risky actions. The Philippines' airdrop is aimed at demonstrating its military capabilities and political will to China, and to demonstrate its leadership and influence to the countries surrounding the South China Sea.
The Philippine airdrop was made to take advantage of and leverage the support and intervention of the United States. The United States is a traditional ally and security guarantor of the Philippines, as well as a key intervener and saboteur in the South China Sea. On the one hand, the United States claims not to intervene in the South China Sea disputes, not to take sides, and only to uphold freedom of navigation and international law.
On the other hand, it has continuously exerted military and diplomatic pressure and sanctions on China, provided military and political support and assistance to the Philippines and other countries, and constantly interfered with and undermined the situation and order in the South China Sea. The Philippines is pleased with and dependent on the attitude and behavior of the United States, and tries to attract and exploit the support and intervention of the United States through some provocative and risky actions. The Philippines' airdrop is aimed at showing goodwill and seeking help from the United States, and in order to prove its loyalty and value to the United States.
To sum up, the Philippines' airdrop is motivated by multiple considerations of safeguarding its own interests, neutralizing China's advantages, and taking advantage of US support, which is a selfish and stupid strategic choice, and a military action that is both dangerous and ineffective.
The airdrop process in the Philippines
The Philippine airdrop on Ren'ai Jiao was an extremely thrilling and tortuous military operation, as well as an extremely difficult and complicated military mission. The airdrop process in the Philippines has mainly gone through the following stages:
Airdrop preparation in the Philippines. The Philippine airdrop was planned and prepared for in early January 2024 and was jointly executed by the Philippine Air Force and Navy. The Philippine airdrop target is to provide at least two months' worth of supplies to the landing ships on Second Thomas Shoal, including food, water, fuel, medicine, ammunition, etc.
The Philippine airdrop plan is to use a C-130 transport plane, carrying about 10 tons of supplies, to take off from the Philippine island of Palawan, fly along the edge of the South China Sea, avoid Chinese radars and warplanes, reach the sky over Second Thomas Shoal, carry out an ultra-low airdrop, and then quickly return to Palawan. The airdrop time in the Philippines is chosen on a night in mid-January 2024, taking advantage of the cover of weather and light to increase the concealment and success rate of the airdrop.
Airdrop execution in the Philippines. The Philippine airdrop began at around 10 p.m. on January 15, 2024, with an experienced Air Force colonel flying a C-130 transport plane carrying 10 elite Air Force and Navy soldiers, as well as 10 tons of supplies, taking off from Puerto Princesa Airport in Palawan and flying in the direction of the South China Sea. The Philippine airdrop flight lasted about two hours, passing through the airspace of the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and other countries, and finally reached the airspace over Second Thomas Shoal.
The Philippine airdrop lowered the altitude over Ren'ai Jiao, reaching an ultra-low altitude of only about 100 meters, and at the same time opened the cargo hatch and dropped 10 parachutes loaded with supplies and floated down towards the landing ship on Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippine airdrop, having completed the airdrop mission, immediately increased its altitude, accelerated its speed and flew back in the direction of Palawan.
Airdrop results in the Philippines. Although the Philippine airdrop successfully completed the airdrop mission, it also encountered some surprises and difficulties. In the process of airdropping, the Philippine airdrop also encountered some technical and meteorological problems, such as the failure of the plane's engine, some of the airdropped parachutes did not open, some of the airdropped supplies deviated from the target, and the wind speed and direction of the airdrop were somewhat unfavorable.
To sum up, the airdrop process in the Philippines is a military operation full of risks and challenges, as well as a military mission full of luck and accidents. The Philippine airdrop, although it appeared to be successful on the surface, was actually a failed adventure because it did not achieve the intended purpose of the Philippines and instead brought more trouble and crisis to the Philippines.
epilogue
The Philippine airdrop on Ren'ai Jiao is a stupid and dangerous military action by the Philippines on the South China Sea issue, as well as a selfish and unreasonable political act by the Philippines in international relations. The Philippine airdrop not only did not bring any benefits and honor to the Philippines, but brought greater losses and risks to the Philippines.
The Philippine airdrop not only did not change China's sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea, but intensified the confrontation and conflict between China and the Philippines. The Philippine airdrop, instead of receiving support and help from the United States, exposed the weakness and incompetence of the United States. The Philippine airdrop not only failed to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, but undermined order and rules in the South China Sea.
The airdrop in the Philippines was an extremely wrong and failed decision, an extremely stupid and dangerous act, and an extremely selfish and unreasonable move. The Philippines should immediately stop its provocations and aggression against China, immediately withdraw from Ren'ai Jiao, resume dialogue and cooperation, abide by and implement international law and rules, recognize and respect China's sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea, change and correct its own erroneous and failed policies and behaviors, and make its own contributions and efforts for peace and stability in the South China Sea and friendship and cooperation between China and the Philippines.