According to Philippine media reports on June 5, from June 2 to 3, the 20,000-ton ship of the mainland's 071 dock landing ship "Wuzhishan" suddenly appeared in the South China Sea to carry out actual combat exercises. The drill took place near Xianbin Reef, and it was clearly a serious warning to the Philippine vessels that were illegally staying at Xianbin Reef.
Although Xianbin Jiao does not have the conditions for deploying troops and weapons and equipment for the time being, it is still no problem to conduct an actual combat exercise. This time, the PLA directly dispatched all 2 air-cushion landing craft, and it is very likely that there are some weapons and equipment that we do not know.
If nothing else, in terms of the firepower of 071 itself, the 76mm automatic naval guns and 30mm close-in defense guns were enough to turn the Philippine ships illegally stranded at Sembin Reef into a hornet's nest.
According to the Pentagon, during the 071 exercise near Sembin Reef, the United States, Japan, France, Australia and Canada gathered heavy troops to the Philippines and launched the "Brave Shield 2024" exercise in the surrounding area. Although the US side said that this was just an ordinary exercise, everyone knew very well who the exercise was trying to threaten, and it was not too obvious.
Although these five countries have worked hard to "flex their muscles" in the South China Sea, to be honest, the equipment they dispatched is really not enough at China's doorstep. The United States wants to take this opportunity to threaten China and make the PLA rein in, but it is purely "thinking too much".
The five countries dispatched the "big guys", 071 or carried heavy equipment to appear domineering
Compared with the previous exercises with the Philippines in the South China Sea, the warship battle dispatched by the United States, Japan, France, Australia, and Canada this time is much more serious. The United States dispatched the "Roosevelt" aircraft carrier, three Burke-class guided missile destroyers, one dock landing ship, and the command ship USS Blue Ridge.
Japan dispatched one "Big Whale" class submarine, several warplanes, the Haguro missile destroyer and the Izumo light aircraft carrier. As for France, Canada, and Australia, although they did not dispatch any large warships, France and Canada also dispatched frigates to accompany them.
In addition, in the past, the "Brave Shield" was an internal exercise of the US military, but this time not only other countries were invited to participate, but even the location of the exercise was different. In the past, the "Brave Shield" exercise site would never be close to China, but this time it went directly to the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, and combined with the recent situation in the South China Sea, it is clear that it is coming at China.
Of course, there is also a main purpose, which is to cheer up the Philippines and the "Taiwan independence" elements and tell them: Your big brother has come to support you, don't be afraid, just continue to make trouble, just keep doing it.
If the signals sent by the United States are ignored, the Philippines will not turn the sky upside down? Therefore, the People's Liberation Army chose to send 071 in order to suppress the arrogance of the Philippines and let them not lose their way because the United States came to the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea to support it.
It should be noted that this is the first time that SCP-071 has gone on a mission to the nearby seas. Although the official did not announce what kind of weapons and equipment 071 carried, some analysts believe that this time the 071 dock is likely to be filled with amphibious combat vehicles and hovercraft, and is ready to fight at any time to drive Philippine ships and personnel out of Xianbin Reef at any time.
Although the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada have sent quite a few warships this time and have a certain combat effectiveness, they absolutely cannot set off storms in the South China Sea, and at most they are sending a wrong signal to the Philippines and "Taiwan independence" elements.
Italy has entered the Indo-Pacific, and many European countries have been dishonest one after another
Although there is a high probability that the United States will not escalate the exercise into actual combat this time, according to the position of the US aircraft carrier, it has already included 071 at Xianbin Reef into the scope of the strike.
It should be noted that following the five countries, Italy also came to join in the excitement and dispatched an aircraft carrier battle group to enter the Indo-Pacific for military deployment. This time the sortie was Italy's newest aircraft carrier "Cavour", carrying 10 F-35B carrier-based aircraft. In addition to its deployment in the Indo-Pacific region, Italy intends to conduct joint exercises with Japan this time.
You must know that Italy is one of the most loyal little brothers of the United States, and this time it dispatched its own aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific region, most likely in order to comply with the orders of its big brother and come to the Indo-Pacific region to support Japan, the Philippines and even "Taiwan independence" elements. Italy's move is undoubtedly very dangerous, and China will not sit idly by.
During this period, many European countries were not very honest and repeatedly crossed the Taiwan Strait without the consent of the Chinese side, which seriously violated China's relevant treaties and rules.
At the instigation of the United States, European countries have never given up interfering in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, although they are not as arrogant as before. Whether it is a reluctant move or an intentional act, it is seriously inconsistent with China's one-China principle and relevant treaties.
China warns these countries with bad intentions that if they continue to do things that undermine China's sovereignty and dignity, they will definitely retaliate. In addition, the United States is trying to threaten and warn China in the form of such joint military exercises, which absolutely does not work, and squatting on China's doorstep can really turn the sky upside down?