On October 26, two carrier-based aircraft of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier crashed into the sea one after another, and the accident occurred almost before and after the other without warning. On the same day, Japanese Prime Minister Saami Takashi and Philippine President Marcos quietly met in Malaysia and reached a military logistics consensus, preparing to "exchange needs" and even share ammunition and intelligence.
The old aircraft carrier suddenly returned, the Japanese military joined forces, the Philippines again to play the "arbitrary card"-All this doesn't seem to be a coincidence. Does the withdrawal of the US military mean a shift in strategic focus? Why did the Philippines push the arbitration case again in the name of environmental protection?
The crash of the "Nimez" revealed the US military's deployment of a weak iceberg. The aircraft carrier, which has served for half a century, after two consecutive shipwreck crashes in the South China Sea, the U.S. non-investigation team announced the return of the ship and returned to the navy base in Kichap, Washington, preparing for maintenance, investigation and retirement process.
Similarly, on the 26th, diplomatic occasions on the other side of the South China Sea were unusual.After the meeting of Cao市早苗 and Little Marcos, it was announced that the Japanese government "in principle" reached a consensus on the mutual provision of material labor.
The core of this agreement is to allow the armed forces of the two countries to achieve logistical exchanges and mutual support. They can not only borrow oil and roads, but also share ammunition, maintenance, and intelligence support. This is no ordinary cooperation, but rather paving the way for joint military operations in advance.
Within a few hours after the meeting between Japan and the Philippines, Marcos Jr. made harsh remarks in front of the media: The Philippines will push for the “second South China Sea Arbitration”, this time no longer referring to sovereignty, but to the flag of “ecological destruction.”Avoid sovereign disputes, use environmental protection clothes and try to bypass China’s legal stance and push China back to the international court.
In fact, a few days ago, Philippine official vessels broke into China’s relevant waters without permission and were driven away by China’s maritime police using water cannons. After the incident, the Philippine side responded with a bite, saying the Chinese side “deliberately struck” its vessels.
However, ASEAN countries do not buy bills.They understand the complicated situation in the South China Sea, and are more aware that the Philippines is the root of frequent provocations and disturbances.China and ASEAN have long been promoting the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea", while Marcos has tried to bring ASEAN to the water, spreading the dispute between China and ASEAN into "the opposition between China and ASEAN", which seems too bad.
At the same time, the sea trial of China's third aircraft carrier Fujian Ship is coming to an end, and it will officially join the South China Sea Fleet by the end of the year. This aircraft carrier equipped with an electromagnetic ejection system will be equipped with J-35 stealth carrier-based aircraft and Air Police-600 early warning aircraft. Its combat effectiveness will be close to that of the US military's nuclear aircraft carrier, which means that China has officially entered the "three aircraft carrier era."。
At this time, the U.S. military is in the shrinking power of the Nimitz, the U.S. aircraft carrier deployment in the Western Pacific is in a "empty window period". the U.S. military financial tensions, some units have stopped paying, the nuclear weapons department has management problems, but Trump has the opportunity to pressure the allies to demand that Japan bear 100% of the military expenses and pay "bonuses".
He wanted to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP. Buying more American-made weapons to "do what they like", but the "Nimitz" accident made her realize that it was no longer safe to entrust the United States with national securitySo she turned to the Philippines and prepared herself for the top.
Japan does not want to send troops, but is willing to pay, intelligence, and equipment. The Philippines is the one who is willing to "take action on his behalf". This military handshake between Japan and the Philippines is a typical "proxy war" layout.
In the Philippines, cooperation is also prompt: The Senate passed a resolution demanding a claim of 396 billion pesos (about RMB 49 billion) from China on the grounds of China’s “environmental damage” in the South China Sea.This approach to playing “ecological cards” is superficially moderate, and practically accurate — not talking about sovereignty, making it easier for the international community to accept; not talking about military, making it difficult for China to directly counter.
The Marcos government frequently provokes, behind which there is a US-Japanese backbone. resuming the "shoulder-to-shoulder" military exercises, inviting the Japanese Self-Defense Force to enter their own ports, to implement the Labor Goods Agreement, and then to environmental arbitration, every step of the red line of China's position in the South China Sea.
China did not sit down and ignore it. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Guo Jianquan made it clear: The Philippines 'deliberate infringement of rights and provocations is the source of tension in the South China Sea.The Chinese Coast Guard's expulsion of illegal intrusion in accordance with the law is completely legitimate and cannot be discredited.
More importantly, China has not lost its rhythm due to provocation. The Fujian ship entered service at the end of the year, the Shandong ship completed multiple combat readiness cruises, the Liaoning ship trained all the year round, and the three aircraft carrier formations are gradually building all-weather sea and air control capabilities. This is China's most powerful response to the situation in the South China Sea.
Although the United States and the Philippines are tightening the "rule trap" to try to guide the international public opinion, China is always taking the initiative. The South China Sea is China, which is never a topic for negotiation, exchange or compromise. For China, Marcos' "environmental arbitration" is only a replacement for the old trick of the Army, and the military interaction of JFK can not escape the surveillance of the Chinese radar.
From the US aircraft crash withdrawal, the Japanese rearrangement to the frequent provocations in the Philippines, the situation in the South China Sea is undergoing a quiet and dramatic shift. In this smoke-free battle, China must be awake, firm, not disturbed by the rhythm, not let the bottom line be touched.
Source of information:
[1] Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The Philippines' deliberate infringement and provocation at sea is the root cause of tension Beiqing.com
[2] The U.S. military crashed continuously in the South China Sea, Trump: It may be because the fuel quality is not good Observer.com