The Philippines repeatedly stirred up trouble in the South China Sea in recent days. It constantly conducted encroachment and provocative behaviors in the waters off the Ren'ai Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao and disseminated false information to fuel speculations against China. The US instigated and cooperated with these provocative gestures from the Philippine side, and even made reckless accusations against China by distorting right and wrong.

Repeated provocations from the Philippines

On December 10, four Philippine ships intruded into the waters adjacent to the Ren'ai Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao without the permission of the Chinese government, in an attempt to deliver construction materials to the illegally grounded warship on the reef. In the meantime, despite warnings from the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, the Philippine ships doggedly trespassed into the lagoon of the Ren'ai Jiao and dashed into the CCG vessels at the scene in a dangerous manner. Such actions of the Philippine side seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and endangered the safety of Chinese ships and personnel. The CCG took necessary measures against the Philippine ships in accordance with domestic and international laws.

Since the second half of 2023, the Philippines has repeatedly provoked incidents in the South China Sea in violation of China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Among these infringement and provocative activities, Ren'ai Jiao is regarded as the main target by the Philippine side. According to analysts, an important reason for the country's frequent disturbances on the Ren'ai Jiao is its concern that the warship it intentionally ran aground the reef in 1999 would become eventually disassembled, thus depriving it of its leverage in seizing the Ren'ai Jiao.

The Philippines' provocations had caused several emergencies in the waters off the Ren'ai Jiao. In response, the CCG took countermeasures in accordance with the laws to firmly uphold the Chinese territorial sovereignty, dealing with the conditions in a lawful, rightful, and professional manner. China has clearly stated its firm stance to the Philippines through multiple levels and channels and proposed initiatives to properly manage the situation on the Ren'ai Jiao.

However, dismissing China's efforts of goodwill, sincerity, and exercising restraint, the Philippine side persistently engaged in deliberate encroachment and provocations in the waters off the Ren'ai Jiao against its pledges, and relentlessly spread fabricated information and promoted sensationalized speculations, attempting to portray the intruded Philippine ships as so-called victims. Such actions gravely violated the international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and seriously infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Incitement and cooperation from the US

The Philippines' infringement and provocative behaviors are backed by some exterritorial forces, the most significant of which is the US. Regarding the incidents that occurred in the waters near Huangyan Dao on December 9 and near Ren'ai Jiao on December 10, the Spokesperson for the US Department of State Matthew Miller issued a statement on December 10 accusing the Chinese vessels of making "dangerous and unlawful" actions against the Philippine ships. He also claimed that the US stands with the Philippines, emphasizing the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty applies to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea.

This was not the first time that the US had defended the Philippines' infringement and provocative activities. The US had repeatedly issued statements censuring China upon the latter's on-the-spot response to the Philippines' provocations and regularly threatened China in the excuse of fulfilling the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty.

The US has long been known to sow discord between regional countries and China for the sake of its geopolitical strategies by employing the South China Sea issue. During the administration of former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, the US manipulated the political farce of the South China Sea arbitration case behind the scenes to provide the so-called legal basis for the Philippines' sovereignty claims. After the current Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. came to power, the US has made great efforts to strengthen their bilateral security cooperation and expanded the scale and scope of joint military exercises. The US and its allies had also stepped up military deployment around the South China Sea and conducted repeated military exercises to send wrong signals to the Philippines with the so-called security commitments.

Analysts pointed out that the consistent incitement and encouragement of the US over the Philippines' maritime provocations out of private geopolitical considerations are a flagrant bolster of the Philippine side's infringement upon China's sovereignty, and a serious violation of the purpose and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, gravely jeopardizing regional peace and stability.

A destructive factor of regional peace and stability

The Asia-Pacific is considered as the most energetic zone in the global economy, so maintaining the stability and prosperity within the area not only serves the interests of regional countries but also contributes to global economic development. As an important coastal country in the South China Sea, China has the responsibility to safeguard peace and stability in this region. Over the years, China has been committed to the path of peaceful development and the settlement of the South China Sea issue through dialogue and negotiations. In 2002, China and ASEAN countries reached the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea by means of negotiations. In recent years, they have actively promoted the consultations and continuously made incremental advancements in the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, providing institutional guarantee for building the sea into a space of peace and cooperation.

Zhang Jie, director of the Department of Asia-Pacific Security and Diplomatic Studies of National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that the general perceptions among China and most ASEAN countries are that the South China Sea issue does not encompass the full extent of the relations between China and ASEAN, and all relevant parties should hasten the conclusion of a COC to manage differences and coordination in the South China Sea to relieve the regional tensions and deepen cooperation in wider fields between China and ASEAN countries. The Philippines' recent acts of infringement and provocations obviously impede the early attainment of the COC and run counter to the aspirations of regional countries.