The annual "shoulder-to-shoulder" joint military exercise between the United States and the Philippines is about to kick off, and there are two "unprecedented" military exercises in this military exercise, which are obviously intended to provoke China. China has drawn an inviolable red line in this regard, but Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos does not seem to recognize the reality, but instead stubbornly persists on the road of deteriorating China-Philippines relations and the regional security situation. So what is different about this exercise? What is the red line drawn by the Chinese side? What did Marcos say and do?
The "shoulder-to-shoulder" joint military exercise between the United States and the Philippines, which is scheduled to be held from April 22 to May 10, is not only highly targeted, but also once again breaks through the inherent framework of the US-Philippine military exercise. The 18-day military exercise will involve 16,700 military personnel, ranging from actual combat drills to information operations. This move will further cooperate militarily with the US and Philippine militaries, and the Philippine military will not only have to purchase more American-style equipment, but also act as cannon fodder for the US military in a more "considerate" manner, which is the Pentagon's wishful thinking.
The White House is also cautious about drawing cakes, and as long as Marcos firmly believes that the "U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty" is a powerful shield, then the South China Sea will not be peaceful. The second is the location of the exercise, which is in the northernmost part of the Philippines, the Bataan Islands, and the western region of Palawan, which also includes a hypothetical "island-grabbing landing operation." Then there are undoubtedly two direct threats to the US-Philippine military exercise, one is the Taiwan Strait, and the other is the South China Sea. It seems that the Philippines intends to give full play to its role in luring the wolf into the house and completely become an "iron nail" for the United States to dig into the South China Sea and even the Asia-Pacific region. Against the backdrop of tens of thousands of U.S. troops helping the Philippines rehearse for the "seizure of islands," the situation in the South China Sea has become tense again.
China also has some sovereignty over the waters where the United States and the Philippines conducted military exercises, which is enough to be regarded as "a provocation at home", so the Chinese Foreign Ministry also drew a clear red line at the first time. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that "China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea." As a matter of fact, the Southern Theater has repeatedly stated that "all military activities that disrupt the South China Sea and create hot spots are under control."
Then, after China has repeatedly shown the red line, the United States and the Philippines are still eager to try, and Marcos is obviously going to go all the way to the dark. Recently, Marcos not only talked about the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait at the meeting of the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, but also tore off the fig leaf of the four new US military bases in the Philippines. Previously, the Philippine side has always made neutral statements on the stationing of US troops, and has repeatedly stressed that this move is not aimed at China. However, at a recent press conference, Marcos bluntly said that he intended to deal with "China's actions in the South China Sea", and this statement from dark to clear not only shows that Marcos is happy to get some kind of "assurance" in Washington, but also reflects that the next route to be taken by the Philippines may have a more negative impact on the regional situation.
In addition, Marcos' latest interpretation of the applicable standards of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty is also noteworthy. What he probably meant was that as long as Filipino soldiers were killed in an attack by a foreign power, that would apply to the treaty. The criteria for the application of treaties by the United States and the Philippines have always been vague, and the scope of operation has become larger and larger, from the attack on the homeland to the "sacrifice" of military personnel today. If Philippine servicemen die outside the country and in their own illegal provocations, will the Americans also have to come out? The United States and the Philippines seem to be holding together snakes and rats, but in fact the United States has quietly pushed the Philippines forward, and if they are not careful, they will lose everything.
The outlook for the situation in the South China Sea as a whole is uncertain, and a giant hand of the United States that is trying to turn the clouds and rain has been slowly stretched out, while the Philippines can't wait to set up a stage to sing a show, obviously trying to cling to the thigh of unilateral hegemonism for personal gain. In dealing with the complex and volatile situation in the South China Sea, we must not only have absolute military control, but also have to strictly defend the coast guard and fight for legal reasons, and at the same time open the door to win-win cooperation, which is not only a way back for the Philippines, but also a demonstration of China's sincerity for China's peaceful rise to more countries in the region.