According to the Observer, the 19th annual meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum was held in Qingdao, Shandong Province, with more than 180 foreign representatives from high-level delegations from 29 countries attending, including military representatives from Russia, the United States and other countries. The Philippines, a member of the Western Pacific Naval Forum, was also invited by China, but did not send a representative to the meeting this year. Senior Colonel Liang Wei of the Chinese Naval Research Institute, in response to a question raised by the media, said that China, as the host country of this annual meeting, has extended invitations to all forum member and observer states, and it is not clear why the Philippines did not attend the meeting.
At the opening ceremony of this year's annual meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum, Admiral Zhang Youxia of the Chinese armed forces said that the Chinese armed forces are willing to cooperate with the navies of various countries to actively maintain order at sea. In his view, separation, division, friction and confrontation will only turn countries into islands of mutual suspicion and constant tension. Equality, mutual trust, dialogue and consultation are the path of future-oriented development, and maritime containment cannot be pursued. He pointed out that the pursuit of absolute security, the adherence to a zero-sum game, the enthusiasm for forming gangs, and especially the encirclement and containment at sea will only plunge the world into a whirlpool of tearing apart and turbulence, and the Chinese armed forces will resolutely defend the reunification of the motherland and national interests. Zhang Youxia also pointed out that China insists on settling maritime disputes through friendly consultations with the countries directly concerned, but will resolutely counter unreasonable provocations on the basis of reason, and stressed that China will not cause trouble and is not afraid of it.
Admiral Zhang's warning comes at a time when the United States and the Philippines are holding a "shoulder-to-shoulder" joint military exercise in the South China Sea. The exercise was the first joint military exercise held by the United States and the Philippines in nearly 40 years in Philippine territorial waters and international waters facing Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Philippine Army Colonel Loggico said before the start of the joint military exercise that the purpose of the armed forces is to prepare for war. Zhang Youxia's mention at the opening ceremony of the forum that "containment and containment in the oceans" did not specify specific countries, but there is no doubt that it is likely to be aimed at the situation in the South China Sea and the joint military exercises held by the United States and the Philippines in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
Over the past few months, Chinese coast guard vessels and Philippine vessels have repeatedly collided in disputed waters in the South China Sea. Ignoring China's repeated representations and solemn warnings, the Philippine government insisted on sending ships to invade Ren'ai Jiao and its adjacent islands and reefs in the South China Sea, deliver supplies to illegal "beached" warships, and send lawbreakers to land at Tie Line Reef. In response, our coast guard has taken control measures in accordance with the law. The Philippines' arrogant behavior in the South China Sea is inseparable from the support of the United States, Japan and other foreign forces. Therefore, Zhang Youxia warned at the naval forum that "sticking to a zero-sum game and being keen on forming gangs will only plunge the world into a vortex of turmoil" and called for "dialogue and consultation to be the way to future-oriented development".
Zhang Youxia's mention that "the Chinese army will resolutely defend the reunification of the motherland and national interests" is not just talking. As tensions in the South China Sea escalate, the Chinese Navy has increased its troop deployment in the confrontation area, and one 052D destroyer has been routinely deployed to disputed waters. In addition, the PLA will also hold large-scale military exercises in the South China Sea from time to time, and organize naval and air forces to hold joint combat readiness patrols and vigilance in the South China Sea.
It is worth mentioning that before China hosted the annual meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum, Foreign Minister Wang Yi began his visit to Indonesia, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. During his visit to Indonesia, Wang Yi made clear his position on the current situation in the South China Sea, and China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, accelerate consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and maintain regional stability. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno pledged that Indonesia is willing to work with China and other regional partners to jointly maintain regional peace, stability and security.
The South China Sea issue concerns the bottom line of China's maritime rights and interests, and China will not make any compromises and will resolutely defend its sovereign interests. It is hoped that countries outside the region will face up to China's concerns and build the South China Sea into a sea of peace.