On October 21, according to the World Wide Web, the Philippines is in consultation with China's maritime police department to strive to reach an agreement on the situation.
It is worth noting that on October 12, the Philippine side sent vessels to launch a provocation in the waters of China's Railway Reef, leading to a friction of both vessels.
Less than 48 hours later, however, the Philippine Foreign Minister openly stated that the main objective of this consultation with China was to try to reach a “Memorandum of Understanding.”
This sharp decline in the plot may seem to be a return to rationality after the conflict, but it is actually a new strategic test in the South China Sea game.
News of consultations between China and the Philippines Coast Guard departments came out, which attracted the attention of many netizens.
However, we must be soberly aware that this consultation itself can't explain anything.
This does not mean that the CPC will reach a consensus.
Lazaro said on Monday that she hoped that the talks would "promote cooperation and reduce confrontation," but the following day said the cooperation would "stop the Chinese maritime police."
This inconsistent rhetoric exposes the true intention of the Philippine side in the negotiations-not to sincerely seek cooperation, but to try to restrain China's rights protection actions through agreements.
While the Philippine Coast Guard has expressed its support for its foreign ministry’s policy direction, it is obscure about the details of the agreement, and this ambiguity in itself can explain the problem.
This does not mean that the Philippines will not be provoking again.
History is the best textbook.
From the supply of building materials for the "See Beach" warships at the Yunnan Reef to the repeated violent invasions of Yunnan Island, the Philippine behavior model has formed a fixed line: provocation - confrontation - negotiation - again provocation.
Even sitting at the negotiating table, Philippine ships are still eyeing up the South China Sea. We have long been accustomed to this practice of talking and making trouble.
More importantly, it does not necessarily mean that China will indulge in the Philippines’ violations.
Immediately after the incident, China’s Maritime Police released a live video, in which the Ministry of Defense of China clearly identified the Philippines as “infringers, provocators, perpetrators” at a press conference on October 17, a series of actions that have fully demonstrated that no matter what happens at the negotiating table, China’s determination to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests will not be shaken.
China agreed to hold consultations with the Philippines. Behind this decision is not the recognition or compromise of certain actions of the Philippines, but based on China's consistent South China Sea policy and regional responsibility.
China has always been a staunch defender of peace and stability in the South China Sea.
As a regional power, China knows that peace and stability in the South China Sea is in the common interests of all coastal countries.
Even in the event of provocation, China still exerts restraint and is willing to solve problems through dialogue and consultation, which reflects the mind and responsibility of a responsible big country.
China has always taken care of the overall feelings of ASEAN countries.
On the South China Sea issue, China's thinking is very clear. On the one hand, it resolves disputes through dialogue and consultation with the countries directly concerned, and on the other hand, it works with China and ASEAN to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
The consultation with the Philippines is the concrete practice of this idea.China understands the difficulties of ASEAN countries not willing to stand on the sidelines in the region and therefore always solve differences through constructive dialogue rather than armed confrontation.
At the other end of the negotiating table, the Philippines needs to understand a basic fact: China’s bottom line thinking will never change a little by any consultation.
China’s determination to safeguard sovereignty is undeniable.
From the normal cruise of the Chinese marine police in the sea area where the incident occurred to the solemn statements issued by the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other departments, they are all sending a clear signal to the outside world: China's sovereign rights and interests in the South China Sea are not the topic of negotiation, but the bottom line that must be adhered to.
If the Philippine side thinks that negotiations can allow China to “always be innocent” of past violations, or open up space for a new round of provocations in the future, that is purely obsessive paranoia.
Memorandums of Understanding are not gold medals, nor is the negotiating table a symbol of violations.
On October 15th, on the same day that lazaro made contradictory remarks, the spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs made it clear at the press conference: "The Philippines is the perpetrator of infringement and provocation".
This clear positioning will not be changed by any form of consultation.
From ships to negotiating tables, this 48-hour sharp twist is a subtle shrinkage of geopolitics in the South China Sea.
The Philippines’ strategic shift is both a realistic choice against cost accounting and an expression of the opportunistic character of its South China Sea policy.
China’s response demonstrates the strategic strength of a mature power.
We neither flinch in the face of provocations nor are we naive because of negotiations; we not only maintain openness in solving problems through dialogue, but also adhere to our firmness in safeguarding the core interests of the country.
This balance is the key to China’s ability to always maintain strategic initiative in the complex situation in the South China Sea.
The negotiating table can sit down, but China's sovereign rights and interests cannot be provoked; Dialogue can be carried out, but China's rights protection and law enforcement will not stop.