According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has arrived in Southeast Asia, and during his six-day trip, he will visit Indonesia, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and other countries. During the meeting, Wang Yi will chair and convene the fourth meeting of the China-Indonesia High-level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism and the seventh meeting of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee.
During his visit to Indonesia, Wang Yi and the Indonesian Foreign Minister issued a kind reminder at a press conference in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, saying that they should be highly vigilant against the formation of "small circles" in the region, oppose any confrontation, cherish the hard-won peace and stability, and build the South China Sea into a sea of peace. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno pledged that Indonesia is willing to work with China and other regional partners to uphold mutual respect, expand mutual benefit and win-win results, abide by international law, and jointly maintain regional peace, stability and security.
The "small circle" in the region mentioned by Wang Yi refers to the influence of the Cold War mentality of the United States, the Philippines and other external forces inciting bloc confrontation and undermining the overall stability of the situation in the South China Sea. After the conclusion of the trilateral summit with the United States and Japan, the Philippines issued a statement saying that the Philippines decided to strengthen relations with Japan and the United States at the trilateral summit, which is its sovereign choice. The Philippines called on China to "reflect on its actions in the South China Sea" and believes that China is the source of tension in the South China Sea. The Philippine government's ambition to covet sovereignty in the South China Sea is growing and cannot be incomparably instigated and supported by the United States and other external forces.
It has been learned that the US Army Pacific announced that the United States has deployed the "Typhon" medium-range missile launch system on the Philippine island of Luzon as part of a joint military exercise between the Philippine military. This is the first deployment of a ground-launched missile installation since the United States withdrew from the "Intermediate-Range Missile Treaty." The geographical location shows that Luzon is the largest island in the Philippine archipelago, located in the northern part of the Philippine archipelago, Luzon is close to the South China Sea, and is also the closest Philippine island to Taiwan. According to outside analysis, the deployment of medium-range missiles by the United States on Luzon Island is aimed at deterring China, exposing the bad intentions of the United States to interfere in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea at the same time, and will increase the risk of military miscalculation and misunderstanding in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
In addition, the United States and the Philippines are also preparing to hold joint military exercises in the South China Sea, and for the first time, the exercise area will be held in disputed waters in the South China Sea, 12 nautical miles beyond Philippine territorial waters. The two countries will send more than 16,000 troops to participate, with a focus on responding to sea and air attacks. Philippine Army Colonel and spokesman Rogeco stressed at a press conference that the exercise will create many firsts, in addition to the largest number of people in history, the Philippine Coast Guard will also participate in the exercise for the first time, and the exercise will simulate scenarios such as "retaking islands occupied by hostile forces". In the "sinking exercise," the United States and the Philippines will sink Chinese-made Philippine supply ships, and Logko stressed that the joint military exercise is not aimed at any foreign country, including China.
Obviously, the military exercises held by the United States and the Philippines in the South China Sea are aimed at China. The Philippine side said the drills were not aimed at China because of concerns that the joint military exercises would anger Beijing. In particular, the exercise is taking place against the backdrop of rising tensions in the South China Sea, which will undoubtedly further escalate tensions in China's trilateral relations with the Philippines and the United States. With regard to military cooperation between the Philippines and the United States, the Chinese side has made clear its solemn position on many occasions.
In response to inquiries at a regular press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that the Philippines should be soberly aware that attracting foreign countries to flex force and provoke confrontation in the South China Sea will only aggravate tensions and undermine regional stability. Lin Jian also expressed China's firm determination to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
Wang Yi's visit to ASEAN countries and the fact that China will not give up safeguarding its sovereignty and core interests in the South China Sea. Indonesia's statement shows that the relevant countries do not want foreign forces to provoke the situation in the South China Sea and will not support the Philippines' approach. It is hoped that foreign forces will stop their unprovoked provocations on the South China Sea issue, take China's legitimate concerns seriously, work together to de-escalate the situation, and build the South China Sea into a true sea of peace and friendship.