After the confrontation at Scarborough Shoal, the Filipino fishing boats fled back to their base camp, and "storming Scarborough Shoal" became a joke. In less than 24 hours, the Ministry of National Defense said three sentences to demonstrate China's determination. What does the escape of Filipino fishing boats back to base camp mean? What are the 3 sentences used by the Ministry of Defense to show its determination?
On May 15, local time, a so-called non-governmental organization in the Philippines called "This is Our" formed a fleet of nearly 100 fishing boats to go to the South China Sea in a high-profile attempt to "storm Scarborough Shoal", which attracted the attention of the international community. The group claimed that the purpose of the operation was to deliver food, fuel and other supplies to Philippine fishing boats in the waters near Scarborough Shoal, and also to assert the Philippines' so-called "sovereignty" over Scarborough Shoal.
It has been learned that after the fleet sailed 60 nautical miles from the eastern waters of Scarborough Shoal, it began a series of political shows. Not only did they wave the Philippine flag and chant slogans, but they also started taking pictures and videos. Although the operation claimed to be a "civilian" organization, in fact, the Philippine coast guard also sent ships to escort it. In addition, the organization has also received long-term funding from the United States.
According to the original plan, this operation under the banner of "transporting supplies" will last for three days. However, just one day after departure, the group fled back to its base camp. On the morning of May 16, local time, the group's spokesman Ayman claimed that the operation had been "successfully completed" after distributing supplies and providing other assistance to Philippine fishing boats. Subsequently, the Philippine fleet began to turn around and retreat in the direction of the Philippine mainland.
Although the Philippine side keeps saying that the operation has been "successfully completed", is this really the case? According to people familiar with the matter, although the Philippine vessel seemed to be heading in the direction of Scarborough Shoal, it began to shrink back when it saw the Chinese coast guard vessel. In response to the high-profile disturbances on the Philippine side, the Chinese coast guard has already made arrangements in advance, not only strengthening patrols in the waters adjacent to Scarborough Shoal, but also setting up multiple lines of defense. Such readiness is enough to convey to the outside world China's determination to resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
The Philippine side began to retreat after seeing the Chinese coast guard and fled back to its base camp, which shows that the Philippine operation is clearly a farce directed and acted by itself. Such a loud thunder and a small raindrop also made this farce a joke. The Marcos administration's vain attempt to seek illegal claims in the South China Sea by creating incidents and fabricating facts to maliciously exaggerate the facts has exposed the Philippines' ambitions in the South China Sea.
It is worth noting that the Philippines not only provoked trouble at Scarborough Shoal, but also issued a military deterrent to China during joint military exercises with the United States, further escalating the situation in the South China Sea. On May 17, it was reported that when the United States and the Philippines held a "shoulder-to-shoulder" joint exercise in the South China Sea, a model of an aircraft carrier very similar to the Liaoning appeared on the sand table, in addition to the United States and the Philippines also organized a drill to sink Chinese-made ships. All kinds of actions are very targeted.
To this, the Ministry of Defense responded within 24 hours. At a regular press conference on May 17, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said that the relevant words and deeds of the Philippine side are contradictory and self-defeating. The international community will see exactly who is muddying the waters of the South China Sea. As for the US-Philippine military exercise, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang also directly said that this is a typical "Ah Q spiritual victory method".
In addition, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang also made three remarks to show China's determination. First of all, he said that the Chinese army does not cause trouble, but it is not afraid of it either. Whoever tries to exert pressure and coercion on China by forming cliques is doomed to failure. Second, he urged the Philippines not to act rashly and to stop all acts of infringement and provocation against China. This undoubtedly points the way out for the Philippines.
Finally, Zhang Xiaogang warned that China will continue to take resolute and resolute measures to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. In other words, if anyone or any force dares to infringe on China's interests on the South China Sea issue, it will inevitably be strongly countered by the Chinese People's Liberation Army.