Just in March this year, Philippine Defense Minister Teodoro publicly announced that he would build Ren 'ai Reef into a combat test ground before launching military exercises with the US military. His remarks undoubtedly escalated the already tense situation in the South China Sea again.
As early as the Philippines illegally stranded Renai Reef, it has been eyeing other islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
Up to now, the Philippines is constantly conducting military exchanges with the US military, and all signs show that the Philippines 'attitude towards our country is changing. So this inevitably makes people wonder, once China and the Philippines go to war, can our country hold the rest of the islands and reefs?
Long-premeditated "stranded scam"
If we want to mention the origins between China and the Philippines, it goes back to 1999, when the Philippines sent a military ship intended to the South China Sea, then the Rhineland military ship was so accidentally damaged, then it was so long on the island reef for the reason of repair failure.
The warship stranded in the Philippines was also carefully selected by them. This warship was developed by the United States as early as 1944 and also participated in the Korean War. It was not until 1976 that it was sold to the Philippines by the United States and was dilapidated by 1999.
The reason the Philippines chose this old ship "accidental", because the warships can not only load soldiers but can support the door, after the Philippine Navy more in the ship in advance reserve fresh water and tanks and other resources, decided to choose an island reef in the South China Sea region so rooted.
After the Philippine warship ran aground, our country's coast guard ship immediately rushed to the scene, but the behemoth was firmly stuck on Renai Reef.
And Yin'i Reef has an important strategic value for China's South China Sea, it is very close to the Nansha region controlled by our country, and at the same time is a maritime route, the Philippines this move is to use Yin'i Reef to feed the surrounding island reef a little.
After the landslide incident, the Philippines did not respect our warning to directly reinforce on military ships.
During this period, our country sent people to negotiate many times, but the Philippines agreed verbally, and later directly sent helicopters to deliver building materials to warships, so the Philippines stayed on Renai Reef longer and longer.
By 2015, the cabin had been converted into a cement post by the Philippine Army, and satellite antennas had been installed inside.
The daily job of the stationed soldiers is not to conduct inspections, but to maintain warships without interruption. Even though the warships were rusty later, the Philippines was still unwilling to tow them away, but only blindly reinforced them.
By 2024, at this time, China's naval police had formed a circle of siege on the Rhineland Reef, but still occasionally there are Philippine supply vessels out, in which our country has also found that there was originally the U.S. military provided building materials in the reconstruction of the military vessels that are close to the scattering of the Philippines.
Since then, the Philippines has been constantly changing supply methods, from sending helicopters to pretending to smuggle fishermen, which can be said to be useless.
After more than 20 years of construction, a certain scale of residence has been gradually built on Ren 'ai Reef by the Philippines. In addition to occupying Ren 'ai Reef, the Philippine army also caused huge pollution to the area.
Due to the aging of the hull, a large amount of rust continued to fall off, and the remaining diesel fuel in the cabin also leaked through the hole. During this period, the ecology of Renai Reef suffered a huge blow. In addition, these soldiers on warships are still making garbage, which is gradually exacerbating pollution.
Philippines' confidence
What is the confidence that can keep the Philippines arrogant on Ren 'ai Reef? It turns out that the Philippines has been vigorously promoting military construction in recent years, and they want to use equipment updates to increase their bargaining chips against our country.
In the past five years, the Philippines has invested about $1.2 billion in purchasing weapons and equipment, with the goal of strengthening its maritime combat capability.
According to public information, the Philippines purchased two patrol ships from the United States. Judging from these purchased data, it seems that the Philippines has indeed made progress in military affairs, but it is obviously not enough to rely on these equipment purchased from other countries to complete modern military construction or confront our country.
So the Philippines placed the target on the United States, last year the Philippines opened nine military bases to the United States, these bases close to the South China Sea, and the US military also immediately increased the number of warplanes and ships deployed in the Philippines, including destroyers and nuclear submarines to the Philippines, the purpose is very obvious.
The United States joint military exercises are also becoming increasingly frequent, having been held 45 times so far this year, and the subjects of these exercises are not only for counter-terrorism, but even include the highly targeted subjects such as the "maritime blockade".
More than half of the high-ranking Philippine military will go to U.S. military schools and national defense universities for training, and the two sides have long established a high level of military bond.
This kind of military binding seems to provide security for the Philippines, but in fact it wants to pull the Philippines as cannon fodder, while the Philippines is completely addicted to the dream of "American asylum" and has become more radical on the South China Sea issue.
Last year, the Philippines began frequently travelling ships into the Rhineland Reef, with 40 incidents in less than a year.
The Philippines has not stopped "mouth" except handless. during this time, the Philippines has been using public opinion to interfere in the issue of the Reef, repeatedly referring to the issue internationally.
In this year, the U.S. joint military exercises for the first time included Yin'i Reef in the exercise area, during which the U.S. military also several times arranged reconnaissance aircraft to the sea, while monitoring not forgetting to provide intelligence information to the Philippines.
The U.S. is apparently “supporting” the Philippines’ trouble in the South China Sea, but once out of any circumstances the U.S. plays “disappearing.”
During this period, China's naval police have repeatedly forced the ships released from the Philippines, and in this process the US military did not take any action, only issued some remarks to express support.
In addition, there is a huge military gap between China and the Philippines. Although the Philippines has been upgraded in recent years, it is still vulnerable no matter how they improve.
So it seems that the various provocative actions of the Philippines, not only did not fight for their own benefits, but instead made themselves more embarrassing.
China's absolute strength crushes
In response to the provocation of the Philippines, China has gradually established a overwhelming military deployment in the South China Sea.
In September this year, China's Fujian ship officially completed its deployment in the South China Sea with six main-powered vessels, which is the largest deployment of the Chinese Navy in the South China Sea.
At present, the Fujian ship is conducting coordinated training in the Hainan region, and it is believed that after its official service it will enter the South China Sea for normal deployment.
And the aircraft carrier-supported escort ships are equally powerful, including the Type 055 destroyer, whose operational radius is enough to cover the entire South China Sea area.
At the same time, nuclear-powered submarines are deployed underwater in key waterways, thus forming a comprehensive deterrent above and below the water. The Philippines is not the only one making military progress. Our country's fifth-generation carrier-based aircraft and early warning aircraft are all appearing one after another. In terms of combat capabilities alone, our country is second to none in the entire region.
In contrast, the Philippines has not only been crushed by our country in all aspects, but it has also completely relied on the support provided by the United States to be so arrogant. Now, the gap between China and the Philippines is huge, and the United States cannot step down in person. If the Philippines continues to provoke, it will be away from them. Death is not far away.
Moreover, it is not only the Philippines that will build military bases on the island reefs, but China has now built airports and ports on the Nansha Islands, which can be put into action instantly.
The Philippine logistics also needs logistical supplies, supplies depend entirely on the mainland, the middle of up to 500 kilometers, in the event of a conflict, the Philippine reef troops will soon fall into the misery of depletion.
China is not only close to the South China Sea, but also has a complete national defense system, which can be independently produced during the beginning of the war, while the Philippines has almost no independent military and industrial capabilities, the equipment is all dependent on imports, and if the external supply is interrupted after the start of the war, its military capabilities will rapidly shrink.
Our country has always taken the initiative to reach a settlement with the Philippines, but this does not mean that our country will not open fire on the Philippines. Once they continue to expand the scale of the stranding, our country will deal a blow to them for the sake of its own country's interests. However, although they are very restrained, it is not because they are weak, but because they are unwilling to fall into the traps of other countries.
Our country knows that the United States, the supporter behind the Philippines, wants to turn the Philippines into their "agent" and support the Philippines in fighting our country by providing weapons, and ultimately reap the benefits itself.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is undoubtedly the highest example. But my country knows this, so it has always avoided the escalation of conflicts.
No matter from the perspective of history or existing weapons and equipment, the Philippines has no chance of winning a war with our country.
The support of the United States is limited, coupled with the backwardness of the Philippines' own military, it seems that the Philippines has no strength to fight our country at all.
At present, the warships on the Reef are still slowly corroded by sea water, but the Philippines is still fascinated.
To rely on the United States to accomplish the dream of "defeating China" is not anything possible, the power gap between the two sides is placed here, and any provocative action of the Philippines is destined to fail.
What the Philippines needs to do most now is to recognize the reality. The support of the United States is simply unreliable, and only by cooperating with China can it win.
At present, the peace in our country is the result of hard work and restraint, and if the Philippines continues to provoke, they will eventually pay for their misjudgment.
The Philippines as a small country, the best option is to be honest and honest, and one-sided provocation will eventually bring them great misfortune.
The Reference Documentation:
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Answer to Reporters' Questions on the Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines on the Reef Question
The Survey of the Truth of the Reef.