On April 7, the United States, Australia, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint military exercises in the Philippine exclusive economic zone in the so-called South China Sea. The U.S., Australia, Japan, and the Philippines are positioned as the first "maritime cooperation activities" among the four countries. At such a delicate juncture, the US-Australia-Japan-Philippine military exercises are seen by the outside world as a sword against China. The joint exercise, which includes anti-submarine warfare training, is in preparation for U.S. military intervention in the South China Sea.
Five warships from the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines participated in the exercise, including two Philippine warships, the USS Del Bilal and the USS Ekaraz, the USS Mobile, the Japanese destroyer USS Akebono, and the Australian frigate USS Valamonka. Among the four countries, the Philippine warship has the weakest performance, but the Japanese destroyer has the strongest overall performance.
According to the Philippines' unilateral claim to the so-called exclusive economic zone, which directly includes China's Scarborough Shoal and most of the Spratly Islands, the US-Japan-Australia-Philippines military exercise is located in the waters west of Palawan Island in the southern Philippines, which is the distribution area of China's Ren'ai Jiao and its nearby islands and reefs. Obviously, the military exercises of the United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines are by no means simple military exercises, coupled with anti-submarine warfare training, the goal is very clear, that is, the intention is to deter China!
In response to the military exercises of the United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines, the Southern Theater officially announced that the Southern Theater organized joint naval and air combat patrols in the South China Sea. In the official announcement, the most conspicuous thing is the word "battle patrol", which is also the first time that the southern theater has used the word "war patrol", highlighting that the southern theater of the People's Liberation Army is ready to fight at any time, and the battle will be won!
More importantly, it highlights the tensions in the South China Sea. The defense ministers of the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines jointly issued a statement in which they explicitly threatened China, saying that the 2016 South China Sea arbitration resolution is the final and legally binding resolution on the dispute over islands and reefs in the South China Sea! It can be seen that the United States, Japan, and Australia are supporting the Philippines, and in response to the arrogant moves of the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines in the South China Sea, the PLA has directly drawn up combat readiness in the South China Sea, and the word "war patrol" reflects the determination and will of the PLA.
Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, has said that on the South China Sea issue, China firmly defends its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and will not allow the Philippines to come to the fore. The Philippine side should realize that provocation and provoking trouble will not outweigh the losses, and relying on outsiders will not be reliable at all.
The Southern Theater organized joint naval and air combat patrols in the South China Sea to warn the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines that they will never allow the territorial waters of the South China Sea to spread wild, and that in addition to dispatching the air force, the navy will also prepare for war in the South China Sea. On the surface, the military exercises of the United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines are huge, but under closer examination, they are more symbolic, and there are mostly "acting" elements. From the perspective of warship performance, Philippine warships are; The two decommissioned second-hand goods could not be integrated into the formation operation at all, and since they did not have any actual combat effect, they could only be used for coastal patrols.
The USS "Mobile" littoral combat ship is an Independence-class combat ship, and this kind of light boat is also in frequent situations. As for the Japanese destroyer "Akebosake", it is one of the Murayu-class destroyers, and the tonnage and number of vertical hair are comparable to China's 054A missile frigates, and the 32 vertical hair units include 16 units of supporting Sea Sparrow MK48 short-range air defense system, while the Australian "Valamonga" frigate is weaker, and the 3600-ton warship is only equipped with 8 vertical hair units.
At present, the naval aviation units of the Southern Theater are organizing training across the day and night, such as maritime patrol and vigilance, antisubmarine flights, and other courses, in order to cope with the current situation in the South China Sea and conduct confrontation drills, which will enhance the troops' ability to dispatch quickly. The United States has formed a faction to conduct military exercises in the South China Sea, and this is just a game. The Philippine media hyped that this move was to counter China, and expressed its stance on the PLA, and advised the Philippine side not to live up to China's goodwill, to rein in the precipice as soon as possible, and to know that it was lost.
Just as Jun Zhengping pointed out, China's restraint in the Philippines does not mean that it will be infinitely indulgent. On the issue of defending its territorial sovereignty, China has strong political will and military strength, and is not afraid of any challenges and threats.