How did the South China Sea, once a peaceful place, become a place of tension and conflict? The port, once a symbol of peace and tranquility, is now overshadowed by military might. A small island dispute has sparked rounds of diplomatic disputes and military confrontations. The reason behind this is shocking and unsettling for many.
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We used to believe that as long as there was no unresolved contradiction through dialogue and consultation. But the reality is far more complicated than we think. The way in which some countries have handled the South China Sea issue is very worrying. Not only have they failed to keep their previous promises, but they have repeatedly escalated tensions in the region.
The Philippines, for example, promised years ago to remove the ship that ran aground at Second Thomas Shoal, but that ship is still there today. To make matters worse, the Philippines is also trying to reinforce the ship in order to permanently occupy the disputed reef. Such an act is a clear violation of the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
What is even more distressing is that the Philippines has unilaterally torn up the "gentlemen's agreement" reached with China. This agreement, which was supposed to prevent the situation from deteriorating and maintain peace, has now become a dead letter. Instead, the Philippines has deliberately provoked China with the help of the United States and other countries. Frequent joint military exercises and simulated landing operations have all demonstrated the determination to confront.
One of the most unacceptable is that the Philippines simulated sinking a cargo ship of a Sino-Philippine joint venture during a military exercise. The ship was originally intended for normal commercial transportation and was later converted into a warship by the Philippine military. But until then, China had acquiesced to the Philippines' storage of supplies on the ship out of humanitarian considerations. However, the United States and the Philippines took this as a provocation and led the crowd to "destroy" it.
Regrettably, some countries only care about their own interests and ignore the overall situation of regional peace and development. Their aim may be to contain China's rise, or to profit from it, but in short, their motives are not pure. Faced with this situation, China has no choice but to face up to reality and adhere to the principle of territorial integrity.
After all, territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests are related to the core interests of a country. We will not back down unprincipledly, but we will also not take the initiative to provoke disputes. We stand for peace and hope that differences can be resolved through dialogue. But if provoked, we will respond resolutely. Once the crisis escalates, those countries under the banner of the United States will soon find that the so-called "mutual defense treaty" does not have much effect.
The fact that major powers will not go to war easily is not in the interests of the United States, nor is it in line with China's concept of peaceful development, nor is it in line with the development trend of the international community today. Therefore, in the event of an escalation, all the consequences will be borne by the provocateurs themselves. At that point, they may regret their decision now.
We do not aspire to confrontation, nor do we want to resolve differences by force. But if others insist on posing a real threat to us and insist on unreasonable demands, we will not back down. Although China is peace-loving, it is not a docile sheep. We have a firm will and sufficient strength to defend the core interests of the country.
Therefore, we call on the countries concerned to return to rationality, reject prejudice and misunderstanding, and cherish regional peace. Although there are temporary storms in the South China Sea, as long as mutual respect and mutual benefit are achieved, we will be able to restore the tranquility of the past. Only in this way can the interests of all parties be protected to the greatest extent.
Let us look forward to it and work together to not allow the selfishness and ambition of individual people to undermine our precious peace. It is hoped that order will be restored to the South China Sea, and that it will no longer be a training ground for the armed forces, but will return to what it should be – a tranquil and beautiful bay. It should be filled with the whistles of merchant ships, not the roar of warplanes, and it should be a place for sightseeing and fishing and hunting, not for military exercises.
The desire for peace is stronger than ever. We sincerely hope that the South China Sea will not be staged again as a contest of powers, but will return to its former tranquility and tranquility, and become a paradise for mankind to coexist peacefully.