The Philippine fleet was menacing, but in the end it had to retreat in disgrace. This seemingly huge "sailing race" turned into a farce under the "escort" of the Chinese coast guard. Is it because 8 years ago, the H-6K fighter cruined over Scarborough Shoal and made an indelible contribution?
No, the Philippines is tossing and turning there again. This time, under the guise of a "sailing race," they organized more than 100 small crab boats to march toward Scarborough Shoal. Hey, this formation is going to be a big event!
The result? Before they could get close to Scarborough Shoal, they were stopped by our coast guard ship "3502". This 5,000-ton big guy, with a group of younger brothers, guarded the mouth of the lagoon steadily, and the momentum and majesty scared the Philippine ship into a daze, and they didn't dare to approach at all.
What's even funnier is that as soon as these Filipino fishermen get the supplies sent by the organizers, they are like birds and beasts, and they have no fighting spirit at all. The remaining larger ships were also powerless in front of our coast guard ships, and had to retreat in disgrace. Speaking of which, it is not an overnight thing for us to be as stable as Mount Tai on Scarborough Shoal. Don't look at the current situation, in the early years in this sea area, there was no less hardship.
Since 1997, the Philippines has been making small moves on Scarborough Shoal. Not only did they blow up our sovereign monument, but they also planted their own flag. There were even two Philippine lawmakers who landed on the island, almost triggering a military clashes. What is even more excessive is that the Philippines has repeatedly intercepted our fishing boats in the waters off Scarborough Shoal and detained the fishermen. In 1999, they even rammed and sank two Chinese fishing boats, forcing us to ask for some compensation in the form of non-governmental means.
In 2000, tragedy was repeated. A Chinese fishing boat was shot at by a Philippine warship, the captain was killed on the spot, seven fishermen were detained, and the Philippines refused to pay compensation. In the past 10 years, we have detained 32 fishing boats and more than 400 of our compatriots.
It wasn't until 2012 that we finally got enough of it and settled down at the mouth of the lagoon on Scarborough Shoal, which turned the situation around. Now it seems that the H-6K cruise at that time can be said to be a landmark event.
The appearance of the H-6K has greatly enhanced our air power in the South China Sea. Coupled with the help of other long-range fighters, the Philippines' small calculations in the South China Sea have been completely broken. Over the years, no matter how much trouble the surrounding countries have made in the South China Sea, they have been firmly controlled by us.
Therefore, the H-6K's cruise in July 2016 was really a turning point of the era. It not only demonstrates our determination to defend our sovereignty, but also contributes significantly to the stability of the situation in the South China Sea.
The so-called "sailing race" organized by the Philippines this time is, in the final analysis, to make some benefits on Scarborough Shoal. But they underestimated our determination and strength. In the face of powerful equipment, any provocation is futile. I hope that the Philippines will see the situation clearly and stop doing those futile things.