From April 21 to 22, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the PLA Navy hosted the 19th Forum in the Western Pacific. The U.S. military finally found an opportunity to communicate with the PLA, and for a rare opportunity, the U.S. military sent a rather luxurious lineup, and the commander of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet, Steve Koehler, personally led the team. It stands to reason that the U.S. Navy attaches so much importance to this military and diplomatic activity that its client states should actively join in the ceremony to wave their flags and shout. However, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Philippine Navy were both absent. The Sea of Japan found a reason for the "helicopter crash", but the Philippine Navy said nothing.
The current situation in the Asia-Pacific region is most realistic with the maritime differences and conflicts between Japan, the Philippines, and China. Japan is still unwilling to give up the waters of the Diaoyu Islands, and not only regularly sends coast guard ships to fight with China, but also builds new ships with larger tonnage and higher performance to prepare to continue the fight with the Chinese coast guard. Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force's shipbuilding plan is also clearly aimed at China as the primary imaginary enemy. The Philippines' maritime conflict with China is more realistic. With the repeated failures of the provocation at Second Thomas Shoal, Philippine public opinion has increasingly advocated sending the navy into battle. Since there is a risk of war, these two families should send someone to communicate. Wouldn't it be beneficial to board the 052D destroyer and inspect the PLA Navy's military appearance, discipline, equipment maintenance, and the technological level of China's shipbuilding industry?
We believe that with the U.S. ability to manipulate and control their allies, it is clear that these two countries will not be making their own claims. After all, the forum is an occasion for communication, not a stage for quarrels. And on China's home turf, the United States called a few servants to quarrel, which was also a bit of a loss of face. And did the two servants appear to be silent? The United States does not seem to have any face. Therefore, there is really no need for the representatives of these two countries to be present. Moreover, this Western Pacific Forum is an exchange opportunity that the US Navy has been waiting for for a long time, and it will not be easily turned into an occasion for quarrels. I believe that there will be more normal questions and answers on both sides, and less gunpowder arguments. To achieve such a goal, it is enough for the US Navy to send a delegation of its own, and there is no need for Japan and the Philippines to send people to help quarrel. In addition, wouldn't it be even more embarrassing if these two companies failed to keep their words wrong and exposed some information that needed to be kept secret by the US camp?
In fact, Japan and the Philippines also have their own embarrassments. Japan has not yet amended its pacifist constitution, has no real navy, and the Maritime Self-Defense Force has the sole responsibility of protecting Japan's legitimate territorial waters. However, whether it is the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands or the escalation of the US-Japan military alliance, especially Japan's recent dispatch of destroyers to participate in the South China Sea patrols by the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, all of them have exceeded the scope of exclusive defense. Japan's development of maritime anti-missile capabilities to help the United States monitor and intercept North Korea's missile flight activities also goes beyond the provisions of the pacifist constitution. Against this backdrop, it would be difficult for the Japanese representative to answer questions at the forum whether Japan still wants a pacifist constitution and whether it intends to overthrow the UN Charter.
The Philippines does not have the question of the responsibility of the defeated countries, but they can come to this forum and discuss the topic better. During Duterte's administration, the two sides can also discuss topics such as counterterrorism, anti-piracy, and humanitarian aid. But today, maritime relations between the two countries are already very tense. It's not that the Philippines doesn't want to use its navy to support the coast guard, but it's well aware of the consequences of escalation. If a representative of the Philippine Navy arrives at the forum and is asked, "When will you be dispatched, we have been waiting for a long time," the scene would probably be quite embarrassing. Of course, as far as the Chinese Navy is concerned, there is no loss or concern whether the representatives of these two countries come or not, and it does not matter whether the US delegation is present or not, whether Japan and the Philippines come or not will not affect the exchange of heartfelt words between the PLA Navy and the US Navy.