A recent article published on the website of the U.S. Naval Academy pointed out that China's response in the South China Sea made the Philippines completely passive.

The author of the article, Matthew Funer, analyzed that the Philippines rely on external support repeatedly challenged, but repeatedly struck the wall, China through the island reef construction and the law enforcement, firmly control the situation.

The South China Sea has belonged to China since ancient times, and the Philippines since the Yellowstone Island incident in 2012, has begun to support the United States, frequently sending ships to break into China's inherent territory of Yellowstone Reef, Yellowstone Island, and Shandong Reef.

However, China has never been passively beaten. Since 2014, islands have been reclaimed in Yongshu Reef, mischief reef and Zhubi Reef. These originally underwater reefs have now become platforms covering an area of several square kilometers, with airport runways exceeding 3,000 meters, port draft of more than 10 meters, and full coverage of radar missiles.

The US media pointed out that China "doesn't play cards according to common sense", and the key lies in the speed and determination of action exceeding expectations. In the past ten years, islands and reefs started with infrastructure, and now they have deployed Hongqi-9B anti-aircraft missiles and YJ-12 anti-ship missiles to form a denial network. The U.S. defense report admits that China's anti-intervention capability has covered the entire South China Sea, and the risk of the U.S. aircraft carrier group approaching is huge.

The Philippine Navy's total tonnage is less than one-tenth of China's naval police, the flagship is 2600 tons, the speed is slow, the armed only water cannon machine guns.

This gap is exhausted in the confrontation.The Philippine landing ship, which landed on the beach in 1999, was supplied with small boats.

In June 2024, the Philippines rented a supply ship to make a forced breach. China Coast Guard water cannons No. 5901 and 5902 fired simultaneously. The pressure was 70 bars. The material box was smashed and deformed and fell into the sea. The dinghy went around and was hit side by side. The Philippines 'side collapsed and retreated. The success rate of replenishment is less than 10%, which is far worse than before the arbitration in 2016.

On March 24, 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard led 10 fishing boats to sneak into the east side. Four China Coast Guard ships fan-shaped and surrounded the No. 3901 main gun aligned, and water cannons covered the deck. The Philippine fishing boat fled in flight, and the two rubber dinghies collided and retreated.

In the past, the Philippine fishermen fished at will, and now the floating chain closed the entrance, and rode hundreds of kilometers.On October 12th, the latest operation, the Philippine hundreds of ships flooded, the Chinese water cannon collided, and the Philippine ship withdrew after a slight loss.

In April 2025, two so-called "advanced" ships of the Philippine maritime guard stayed for 50 days, trying to simulate Yin'i's seating on the beach. China's southern battlefield sent 071 landing ship "Jian Gongshan" to exercise on the reef, 055 "Nanchang" on the outskirts, and Sonar locked.

The Philippine ship's communication is interrupted, and the radar is in a blind spot. Run away quickly. In the early days, Philippines could stay for several weeks, but now amphibious forces are involved, live-fire drills are conducted, and deterrence is doubled.

U.S. media stressed that China's law enforcement upgrading is key. In June 2024, the "Maritime Police Agency Executive Enforcement Procedure Regulations" implemented, illegal entry into the sea can be plain detention for 60 days. Charity air-invested goods, China's helicopter rescue precisely thrown back into the sea.

In 2012, China temporarily withdrew concessions; now permanent control, the Philippine fishermen lost $600 million a year. The Philippines relied on the United States, the United States verbally protested not to intervene, the Japanese 5 ships by 2027. star chain signal interrupted, American equipment interfered, the Philippine ship did not dare to open the radar.

China's progress lies in systematization. Islands and reefs are self-sufficient in solar and wind power, and anti-submarine aircraft lay mines to seal submarine channels. From monthly to daily patrols in the southern theater, Huangyan Island has a protected area to control traditional and non-traditional threats. The "gray area" of the Philippines failed, and China's "blue iron wall" took shape. According to the US media assessment, the Philippine spoiler capital is exhausted, and China's control is a foregone conclusion.

The Philippines defeat is the essence of strength overwhelming. China islands reef if not sinking aircraft carrier, covering resource navigation, philippines ship into 12 nautical miles immediately blocked. external support is weak, the United States is unwilling to directly engage, Japan is slowing down. China's back yard in the South China Sea is stable, philippines only left offshore fishing, the position is completely on the edge.

In the long run, China safeguarded its sovereignty rightly, and the Philippines provoked itself.The U.S. media objectively acknowledged that the South China Sea pattern is shaped and China is dominant and irreversible.If the Philippines continues, it only accelerates defeat and turns to cooperation is the way out.

China has a smart strategy in the South China Sea and a two-pronged approach to land reclamation and law enforcement, refusing to lead the world. The Philippine Navy's budget is one-tenth of China's, is slow to update and relies on second-hand goods. In the confrontation in 2025, the Philippines retreated in panic every time, risking damage to the ship and wounding people.

China Navy 76mm cannon range 10 km, Philippine water cannon 50 m. 5901 speed 30 nodes, Philippine 25 nodes. radar phase control line hundreds of kilometers, Philippine second hand easy to interfere. landing helicopter covered reef, Philippine boats have nowhere to hide.

China does not cause trouble and is not afraid of trouble, and the marine police professionally defend their rights. Infringement occurs frequently in the Philippines, and it suffers from its own consequences. The US media was amazed that it was precisely because China's actions decisively exceeded the prediction. In the future of the South China Sea, China will be under normal control, and the position of the Philippines will not exist.