According to Philippine media reports, a large number of ships have set sail from many ports and have begun to go straight to the waters near Scarborough Shoal. The Philippines began hyping up today's operation on May 14, with so-called "non-governmental organizations" in the Philippines organizing hundreds of ships to try to force their way into Scarborough Shoal through "crowd tactics." Judging from the provocation of the Philippines, it was after the United States and Taiwan announced the joint naval exercises, so the Philippines has more confidence to dare to carry out large-scale provocative activities for this reason. There is a lot of military collusion between the United States and Taiwan, but now it is openly acknowledging joint military exercises in the Pacific, so it is very rare, and this has directly stimulated the Philippine authorities.
The Philippines and the United States have signed the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, so the Philippines dares to openly launch provocations. After the unsuccessful provocation by using official ships, the Philippines changed its tactics and is now trying to change the situation at Scarborough Shoal through civilian forces. Scarborough Shoal is close to Luzon Island, so it has important strategic value, and it is also because of the important position of Scarborough Shoal that the Philippines has not given up and tried to control Scarborough Shoal.
The Chinese Coast Guard has long taken control of Scarborough Shoal and the surrounding waters, and in the face of absolute power, the Philippines' provocations with official ships have ended in failure. The Philippines also underscored its malicious intent by sending divers to attempt sabotage by severing the ropes blocking the entrance to the Scarborough Shoal Lagoon. Judging from the information released by the Philippines, as with previous provocations, the Philippines also brought many media reporters with it to try to record a "historic moment". Philippine "civil society" has prepared many banners and slogans in an attempt to assert sovereignty through forcible activities, during which the Philippine Coast Guard has used patrol ships to provide support.
According to satellite photos, the Chinese coast guard has 11 patrol vessels on standby on May 14, thus forming a strong deterrent, while more than 10 fishing boats are staying in the waters near Scarborough Shoal, in addition to a number of PLA 056 missile frigates are also carrying out alert missions nearby. Previously, the China Coast Guard had released a video of the large-scale search and rescue operation, and the relevant exercises were carried out at Scarborough Shoal, thus sending a clear signal that the China Coast Guard had taken law enforcement action in response to the Philippine provocation, so it was ready to search and rescue people who had fallen into the water.
Before the Philippines took action, China had already publicized the actions of Philippine ships destroying the ecology and polluting the environment near Scarborough Shoal and other islands and reefs, and the Philippines had repeatedly slandered China for destroying the Spratlys. The Philippines is well aware that relying solely on official ships will not change the status quo at Scarborough Shoal, and has tried to launch a provocation by "10,000 ships at once". The Philippines has prepared a large amount of fuel and other supplies to support the collective action of Philippine ships, which is obviously not a purely "civilian activity".