By Li Zhe and Zhou Tong
李喆、周彤
Not long ago, during the visit of the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to the Philippines, the media disclosed a US military task force named after the Philippine name of China's Ren'ai Jiao. It is said that the US military is supporting the Philippines' operations in the South China Sea through this task force. During the third US-Philippines Maritime Dialogue held earlier, the US agreed to provide financial assistance to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for projects including infrastructure development, personnel training, and equipment upgrades. The frequent efforts of the US to strengthen maritime military ties with the Philippines reveal its sinister plot to position the Philippines as a pawn in its strategy to contain China in the South China Sea region.
不久前，在美国国防部长奥斯汀访问菲律宾期间，媒体披露了美军以仁爱礁命名的一支特遣队。据称，美军正在通过这支特遣队支持菲在南海的行动。此前举行的美菲第三次海事对话上，美国同意向菲海岸警卫队提供资金援助，用于菲方基础设施、人员培训和设备更新等项目。美频繁与菲加强海上军事勾连，暴露出其将菲打造为南海地区遏华“马前卒”的险恶图谋。
In recent years, the US has continuously strengthened its military ties with the Philippines, ranging from providing equipment and technical assistance, sharing military facilities, to conducting joint maritime patrols and exercises with the Philippines. Though cloaked under the guise of fulfilling alliance obligations, the actions of the US are driven by its own ulterior motives. Fundamentally, it aims to use the Philippines to implement its so-called offshore balancing strategy. What is particularly noteworthy is that the US, under the pretext of deepening maritime cooperation, is ramping up its assistance to the Philippines, continuously enhancing its maritime capabilities and emboldening its acts of provocation and infringement in the South China Sea.
近年来，从对菲提供装备技术援助、与菲共享军事设施，到联菲进行海上巡逻和演习等，美国不断加强与菲律宾的军事勾连。美国的行径，虽然打着履行盟友义务的旗号，背地里却有自己的“小算盘”，其本质是想借菲律宾搞所谓“离岸制衡”。尤其值得警惕的是，美国以深化海事合作的名义加强对菲援助，不断提升菲海事力量，为其在南海的侵权挑衅行径撑腰壮胆。
The US has been assisting in the modernization of the PCG and enhancing its capabilities for operations in the "gray zone." The US has always regarded the Philippines as a critical strategic asset in its "Indo-Pacific Strategy" and worked to mold the country into a loyal ally that is under its control and direction. The PCG, as a quasi-military force, operates with a certain degree of stealth and flexibility in its actions. Under the guise of assisting the modernization of the PCG, the US continues to enhance the Philippines' capabilities in maritime law enforcement, patrol, and surveillance. Meanwhile, the Philippines is actively aligning with US strategic intentions, placing greater emphasis on building the capacity for "gray zone" operations. It seeks to shift away from the traditional model of naval forces confronting other countries and instead chooses to increase the frequency and intensity of provocations by upgrading the Coast Guard and encouraging civilian involvement.
助力菲海岸警卫队现代化建设，提高菲“灰色地带”行动能力。美国一直将菲律宾视为“印太战略”的关键支点，致力于把菲打造成受其管控、任其指挥的“忠诚盟友”。菲海岸警卫队作为一支准军事力量，其行动具有一定的隐蔽性和灵活性。美以助力菲海岸警卫队现代化建设为名，不断提升菲海上执法、巡逻、监视等能力。同时，菲律宾也积极迎合美战略意图，愈加重视遂行“灰色地带”行动的能力建设，试图摆脱传统上以海军为主力与他国进行对抗的模式，转而选择通过升级海岸警卫队、鼓励民间力量参与等方式，加大挑衅滋扰频次力度。
The US has been enhancing the Philippines' joint operational capabilities and building its wartime readiness. Through deploying task forces and assisting in the construction of the PCG, the US aims to transform the Philippines into a "plug-and-play" force for the US in the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing command control, intelligence sharing, and manned-unmanned coordination. The US and the Philippines frequently conduct bilateral or small multilateral joint patrols and exercises to continuously improve their joint operational capabilities. In June 2023, the PCG, the US Coast Guard (USCG), and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) held their first joint maritime exercise. In July this year, the PCG and the JCG participated in a USCG patrol operation in the Western Pacific. It is reported that the three parties plan to conduct a series of joint training and patrols next year to further strengthen the small coalition for the US in the Indo-Pacific region.
提升菲协同作战能力，培塑其战时“即战力”。美通过派出特遣队、援助菲海岸警卫队建设等方式，企图从指挥控制、情报共享、有人无人协同等多个方面，将菲律宾打造为美在印太地区“即插即用”的力量。美菲频繁举行双边或小多边联合巡逻与演习，不断提高联合行动能力。2023年6月，菲律宾海岸警卫队与美国海岸警卫队、日本海上保安厅首次举行海上联合演习。今年7月，菲律宾海岸警卫队和日本海上保安厅参加了美国海岸警卫队在西太平洋的巡逻行动。有消息称，三方还计划于明年进行一系列联合训练与巡逻，进一步打造美在印太地区的“小团伙”。
The US has been advancing military ties between the Philippines and itself, as well as with its allies, by means of forward deployment, military aid and arms sales. Currently, the US has deployed weaponry in the Philippines, including the Typhon Mid-Range Capability missile system and the MQ-9A drones. In July of this year, the US committed $500 million in foreign military financing to the Philippines. Recently, the US delivered an unmanned surface vessel as part of this military aid package. In addition, the US has encouraged its allies to generously support the Philippines and enhance its "hard power" through military aid and arms sales. In October this year, ROK President Yoon Suk Yeol made his first visit to the Philippines and promised to cooperate with it in defense and maritime security. This includes enhancing military aid to the Philippines, supporting the modernization of the PCG, and conducting joint training with the Philippine forces. In May this year, Japan provided loans to fund the construction of five large patrol vessels for the Philippines.
通过前沿部署和军援军售的方式，推进菲与美及其盟友之间的军事联系。目前，美在菲部署的武器装备包括“堤丰”导弹系统、MQ-9A无人机等。今年7月，美承诺对菲提供5亿美元对外军事融资，并于近期交付了这一军援框架内的一型无人水面艇。此外，美还鼓励盟友对菲“慷慨解囊”，通过军援军售的方式提升菲“硬实力”。今年10月，韩国总统尹锡悦首次访菲就承诺要在防务和海上安全等领域与菲开展合作，其中包括加强对菲军事援助、支持菲海岸警卫队现代化建设、与菲联合训练等。日本今年5月则以提供贷款的方式，资助菲建造5艘大型巡逻舰。
The increasing maritime cooperation between the US and its allies with the Philippines encourages more provocative actions in the South China Sea. For the Philippines, while the aid from the US and its allies offers short-term benefits, it essentially serves as a tool for advancing US hegemony. Strengthening ties with the US will ultimately increase its own security risks. It is clear to the international community who is provoking military confrontation in the South China Sea and escalating regional tensions. The US and the Philippines should recognize the security concerns of countries in the region and cease their dangerous actions that intensify the situation.
美国及其盟友加强与菲律宾的海上勾连，怂恿菲以更大胆举动在南海挑衅。对菲律宾来说，美国及其盟友的援助虽然能带来一时之利，但菲本质上只是充当美推行霸权的“工具人”，加紧与美国的捆绑到头来只会增加自身安全风险。究竟是谁在南海挑动军事对抗，又是谁在推升地区紧张局势，国际社会看得清清楚楚。美菲应正视地区国家安全关切，停止加剧地区紧张局势的危险举动。
(The author is from the PLA Academy of Military Sciences.)
（作者单位：军事科学院）
