After returning from his visit to the United States, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos not only had a direct "showdown" with China, but also became more bold in action. Recently, the Chinese side has confirmed that some of the consensus reached between the two countries has been repeatedly torn up by the Philippine side. According to the Observer, on April 18, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines disclosed that during Duterte's administration in the Philippines, China and the Philippines did reach a "gentlemen's agreement" on Ren'ai Jiao, but after Marcos took office, it was torn up after only seven months of implementation.
Subsequently, the internal understanding reached between China and the Philippine President's Special Envoy for Special Affairs to China on Ren'ai Jiao, and the "new model" of Ren'ai Jiao transportation and replenishment reached with the Philippine military were unilaterally abandoned by the Philippines after only one implementation. China urges the Philippine side to keep its promises, stop provocations and return to the right track of dialogue and consultation as soon as possible.
So, why did the South China Sea stage "bullying the big with the small"? Let's briefly interpret it through three topics.
First, the Philippine approach shows that the Marcos administration is no longer a good person to talk to.
After returning from the United States, Marcos told the truth directly. First, the opening of military bases to the US military last year was aimed at "dealing with China"; second, the reason why the Philippines pulled US troops into the country was to protect the Philippines and provide security guarantees for the Philippine side's next actions. Previously, Marcos did not say so, he once vowed that "the Philippines will not allow any country to use Philippine territory to attack China", and reiterated his insistence on one China on the Taiwan issue and hopes to solve the problem through consultation in the South China Sea.
In addition, Marcos also followed the matter of "deploying US medium-range missiles" that even Japan, South Korea, and Australia did not dare to take, and the site was located on Luzon Island in northern the Philippines, with a range of 1,700 kilometers, covering the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, which was tantamount to a direct "showdown" with China.
Recently, the Philippines and the United States will also hold joint military exercises for the first time in "disputed waters" to rehearse seizing two islands and reefs in the west and north and deploying military installations on the islands and reefs.
Since the beginning of this year, the Philippine side has not only carried out "airdrop resupply" for the first time in Ren'ai Jiao, but also deliberately "touched porcelain" with Chinese law enforcement vessels in the waters of Ren'ai Jiao on many occasions, brought Western reporters to shoot on the spot, and maliciously intercepted relevant footage to smear China. There are all kinds of indications that Marcos has gone further and further on the road of provoking China, and it is unlikely that he will turn back, because China has already given him a chance, but the Philippine side does not appreciate it.
Second, the reason why the Philippine side is so bold is because it has the support of external forces.
At the end of last year, the Philippines conducted two "joint patrols" with the United States and Australia, and threatened to invite more countries to conduct joint patrols this year. Since the beginning of this year, the Philippines has held joint military exercises with the United States and Japan in the South China Sea for the first time, rising from the coast guard to the military level, and is preparing to hold a joint exercise with the United States with a scale of 16,000 troops in the near future.
Just last week, Marcos also visited the United States to issue a trilateral statement on the South China Sea with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and reached relevant security agreements.
It can be said that the reason why the Philippines dares to launch provocations against China in the South China Sea and continues to increase its intensity is precisely because the United States and Japan stand up for it. Biden and U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Aquilino explicitly promised the Philippine side that the U.S.-Philippines Defense Treaty could be invoked in the event of Philippine military casualties in the South China Sea.
In this regard, Marcos also responded recently, saying that if the Philippine military is attacked by other countries in the South China Sea, it is the time to invite the US military to intervene. Objectively speaking, first, the Philippine side is preparing to escalate its actions again, and second, it is clearly threatening China.
Third, there is a situation in the South China Sea where the small bully the big, and China will probably not allow the Philippine government to continue to do nonsense.
First, China has always advocated "being kind to its neighbors and being a partner with its neighbors," but not every country can get along amicably, and the new Philippine government has proved that it is not credible to tear up the agreement after implementing the "gentlemen's agreement" for seven months, and it is obviously wishful thinking to reach an "agreement" with it again.
Second, it is impossible to achieve a so-called "gentlemen's agreement" with the help of a so-called "gentleman's agreement" to safeguard territorial sovereignty, even if it has been effective in one of the other government's governments.
Third, since the Nansha Islands and related islands and reefs are China's inherent territory, "I am the master of my territory." On this point, "bargaining" is not allowed, and the Philippine side will not move the beach ship for 25 years and let it "replenish." Of course, it will gain an inch.
China is in a period of rapid economic development and does not want conflicts with other countries, but China is also the "five permanent members" of the United Nations and a military power. Otherwise, the Philippines will kick its nose in the face.