The Philippines refused to go down the steps given by the Chinese side, revealing its true intentions. More and more Chinese ships rushed to the South China Sea, sending an unusual signal. What kind of intentions does the Philippines' refusal to step down reveal and what does it mean? What does it mean that more and more Chinese ships are rushing to the South China Sea?
On April 22, an international event was held in Qingdao. Multinational military delegations gathered here for the opening ceremony of the 19th Annual Meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum. This is the first time in 10 years that China has hosted the annual meeting, which was attended by more than 180 foreign representatives from 29 countries. The theme of the annual meeting of the forum revolves around the hot keyword "ocean". However, to the surprise of the outside world, the Philippines, as a member of the Western Pacific Forum, was absent from this event.
On the same day, Senior Colonel Liang Wei of the Chinese Naval Research Institute responded to this. He said that China has sent invitations to all member and observer countries of the forum, including the Philippines, but he is not clear about the specific reasons why the Philippines did not come to China to participate in the meeting. In other words, China has earnestly fulfilled its obligations as the host country of this annual meeting, but the Philippines refuses to attend without reason, which is not only disrespectful to China as the host country, but also a contempt for the Western Pacific Forum.
Recently, the Philippines has been creating incidents and engaging in constant confrontations with China in the South China Sea. However, despite the rapid deterioration of relations between the two countries over the South China Sea issue, China still sent an invitation to the Philippines despite its previous grievances, indicating that China still adheres to the position that only peaceful dialogue can properly resolve differences. This is an olive branch handed by China to the Philippines, and it is also a step forward for the Philippines.
As long as the Philippines can receive China's goodwill and truly understand China's intentions, it should go down the stairs and start consultations and negotiations with China. This is because only a peaceful and stable South China Sea is more in line with the interests of both China and the Philippines. In the end, however, the Philippines did not accept China's good intentions. At the same time, the Philippines has further stepped up its provocations against China. On the day of the Philippines' absence from the annual meeting of the Western Pacific Forum, the "Shoulder to Shoulder" joint military exercise jointly organized by the Philippines and the United States officially opened.
It is reported that the number of participants in the US-Philippine joint military exercise is as high as 16,000 and will continue until May 10. The drills included a simulated "island-grabbing" exercise and the sinking of a Chinese-made Philippine supply ship. In addition, the location of the exercise has been extended to the South China Sea, and the provocation is already very obvious.
It is widely believed that the Philippines is absent from the annual meeting of the Western Pacific Forum hosted by China while holding joint military exercises with the United States, and this move may not be a coincidence. The Philippines may want to further image itself as a "victim" by not being able to host a Chinese event, and to draw international attention and seek more support for its illegal claims in the South China Sea.
In addition, holding joint military exercises with the United States is to use the hands of the United States to enhance the international influence of the Philippines, so that the outside world can see that the United States attaches importance to the Philippines and enhance its influence in the Asian region. In recent years, at the instigation of the United States, the Philippines has continued to provoke disturbances against Ren'ai Jiao, Scarborough Shoal and other islands and reefs in the South China Sea, infringing on China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
At a critical juncture when the United States and the Philippines are holding joint military exercises in the South China Sea, more and more Chinese ships are rushing to the South China Sea to send unusual signals. Philippine Navy Commodore Trinidad confirmed that starting on the 22nd, Chinese ships of various types began to gather in the South China Sea, and the number reached 124. These include 3 ships of the Chinese Navy, as well as 11 Chinese coast guard vessels.
In the past two months, the average number of Chinese ships in the South China Sea has been only 60 per week. The surge in the number of Chinese vessels shows that China is ready to defend its interests in the South China Sea. At the same time, it is also a warning to the Philippine side not to act rashly and recklessly, not to fish in troubled waters and infringe on China's interests.
The Philippines has been constantly provoking China in the South China Sea, posing a serious threat to regional peace. China has repeatedly stressed its sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and warned the Philippines that if the Philippines insists on attracting foreign forces to intervene in the South China Sea issue and stir up regional confrontation, the situation will inevitably escalate. China will take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty, rights and interests, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.