It's really painful. Relations between China and the Philippines, which were once very good, have recently deteriorated to this point.
Friction friction, the fierce friction between China and the Philippines at sea, it feels like it can turn into a spark at any time.
It is particularly noteworthy that the Philippines is still hyping up the so-called "secret agreement" and accusing former President Rodrigo Duterte of "betraying the country". President Ferdinand Marcos even claimed that he had never seen the so-called agreement, and that he was "appalled" by the possibility of the Philippines' sovereignty being jeopardized.
Is that really the case?
I saw that on April 18, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines disclosed the ins and outs of the "gentlemen's agreement."
It is disclosed in the form of a question and answer.
The question is as follows: According to reports, President Marcos has said on many occasions in recent days that he still has a few questions about the "gentlemen's agreement" on the Ren'ai Jiao issue, what exactly does the agreement contain? Why did the previous Philippine government reach a "secret agreement" with the Chinese side on this issue? What is the embassy spokesperson's comment?
The embassy spokesman's answer is quite long, and I will briefly summarize it.
1. During President Duterte's administration, China and the Philippines did reach a "gentlemen's agreement" on the control of Ren'ai Jiao.
2. The purpose of the "gentlemen's agreement" is to control the situation, maintain peace, and prevent conflicts. (Among other things, according to former Philippine government officials, the Philippines has pledged not to repair the stranded ship.) ）
3. Don't hype up some people, the "gentlemen's agreement" has nothing to do with their respective sovereign positions.
4. The "gentlemen's agreement" is not a secret agreement. As an example, until early February 2023, seven months after the Marcos administration took office, the relevant departments and agencies of both sides have complied with this agreement, effectively ensuring peace and stability at Second Thomas Shoal.
5. Since the Marcos administration came to power, the Chinese side has actually informed and negotiated on many occasions on matters related to the "gentlemen's agreement".
6. In fact, China and the Philippines have also reached a "new model" of Ren'ai Jiao transportation and replenishment through various channels.
7, but it is a pity that these understandings and new models were unilaterally abandoned by the Philippines after the arrangement was implemented once.
This time, the explanation is very detailed and very targeted.
This also explains why we generally allow the Philippines to transport daily necessities, but resolutely block the delivery of cement and other materials, which is a clear violation of the "gentlemen's agreement"!
This also explains why the Philippines has to make trouble again every once in a while, the Philippines has no credit, and even if an agreement is reached, it will be abandoned once in a while.
The president of the Philippines shirked and said he didn't know, but how could he not know?
This has been confirmed by the previous official and repeatedly reported by the Chinese side. Taking 10,000 steps back, why did the South China Sea have been calm and the Sino-Philippine relations have gradually improved? Why have the South China Sea now reached a dead end when the South China Sea is turbulent and the waters are high?
No matter how stupid people are, they know what the problem is.
What's more, President Marcos, is certainly not stupid.
The Philippines, the Philippines, if you don't believe it, you don't know what it can do?
What is even more alarming is that in the recent Philippines, there are at least two small moves.
In the first small move, the Philippines agreed to the deployment of medium-range missiles by the United States.
According to US military media reports, the "Typhon" system is the first time that the US military has deployed medium-range missiles in the "first island chain", which is of "milestone significance."
This is also the first deployment of ground-launched missile installations since the United States withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Missile Treaty.
According to reports, the "Typhon" system, designed by Lockheed Martin, is mainly used to launch "Tomahawk" cruise missiles or "Standard-6" missiles, with a maximum range of 1,800 kilometers, "which can reach China's southeast coast and many PLA bases in the South China Sea."
It has to be said that this is a trend that deserves great attention.
Don't forget, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States accused the Soviet Union of deploying nuclear-capable intermediate-range missiles in Cuba.
In this regard, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made it clear on April 18:
1. China is gravely concerned about the relevant developments and firmly opposes such a deployment by the United States at China's doorstep.
2. The US move exacerbates regional tensions and increases the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation.
3. The Philippines should be soberly aware of the serious consequences, not to take the blame for the fire, and not to go further and further down the wrong path.
The second small action is that the US-Philippine joint military exercise will sink the "Chinese-made" ship.
This US-Philippine joint military exercise has gained tremendous momentum.
A total of 16,700 soldiers from both sides will be deployed, and some Australian troops will also participate. The number of people is the highest in history.
Judging by the contents, this exercise will simulate scenarios such as "retaking back islands occupied by enemy troops"; this exercise will also sink a "Chinese-made" warship; and the northernmost point of the exercise is only about 140 kilometers away from Taiwan.
I saw that many foreign media "paid attention": the sunken Philippine Navy supply ship "Lake Carilaya", which was originally a civilian oil tanker made in China and used by Philippine enterprises, and was the only "Chinese-made naval asset" in the Philippines.
Who are the "hostile armies" against whom the exercises are directed?
Why was the only "Chinese-made" warship in the Philippines sunk?
Why are the exercises so close to Taiwan?
Ironically, the Philippine military also clarified that the sinking of the warship was "not intentional" and did not represent a signal to a specific country, and that the joint military exercise was not aimed at any foreign country, including China.
The Philippines, is this coaxing children?
Don't forget China's stern warning: The Philippines should be soberly aware that enlisting foreign countries to flex force and provoke confrontation in the South China Sea will only exacerbate tensions and undermine regional stability. Trying to bring in external forces to maintain the so-called security of oneself will only lead to greater insecurity and even become a pawn of others.
In this world, it is still permissible to do evil in heaven, and it is impossible to live if it is evil in itself!
The Philippines, the Philippines, the fate of the chess pieces is often the result of making their country a chessboard and finally cannon fodder!