The Armed Forces of the Philippines intercepted a Chinese fishing boat for the first time, which was located at Renai Reef. On October 27th, local time, the Philippine media reported that the Philippine military said, "On October 24th, the Western Command of the Philippine Armed Forces dispatched ships, intercepted and dispersed Chinese fishing boats and destructive fishing equipment engaged in fishing near Renai Reef, and confiscated the belongings of Chinese fishermen." According to the Philippine side, "the Philippine Armed Forces took away four bottles of dishwashing liquid, a pack of cigarettes, a pack of betel nuts, gloves and various fishing equipment".
This interception operation, which seems to be a "fuss over a mountain", is essentially a flagrant violation of China's territorial sovereignty. The sovereignty of Ren 'ai Reef has never been a vague issue, but is supported by ironclad historical and legal evidence.
China's jurisdiction over Nansha Islands can be traced back to the Qin and Han Dynasties. The central government implemented effective governance through coastal defense systems and fishery taxes. The coastal defense maps of the Ming and Qing Dynasties clearly marked the locations of islands and reefs such as Renai Reef.
In the "Genglu Book" of fishermen in Qionghai and other places in Hainan, the navigation records and fishing routes handed down from generation to generation confirm the traditional fishing activities of Chinese fishermen in this sea area that have lasted for more than 2,000 years.
At the legal level, documents such as the 1898 Paris Treaty of the United States clearly defined the western boundary of the Philippine territory as the 118-degree line through the east, while the Rhineland Reef was entirely on the western side of the line; the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration and more from the post-war level of international order, confirmed China's sovereignty over the Nansha Islands.
Even the Philippines itself, in its 1971 White Paper on Diplomacy, recognized China’s historic rights to the Nansha Islands.Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Yine Reef and the surrounding waters are undeniable, and fishermen are fully in compliance with international law and practices.
The Philippine military's move of military force against civilian fishing vessels has long been no longer a "impulsive move", but a continuation of its long-term intentional construction in the Reef.
Since the landing ship "Madeira Mountain" illegally landed in 1999, the Philippines has stepped up its provocation: 14 illegal supplies in 2023 and continued to increase in 2024, supplying the ship frequently with construction materials, oil, communications equipment and other illegal materials to strengthen the ship's illegal existence. Worse, the Philippines has also packaged itself as "victims" through the smuggling of submarine frogs, inviting Western media to influence and other means.
The interception of the fishing vessel is only a new trick to create the illusion of "practical control" with "Little Boy", but also violates the basic principles of international law to protect civilians and civilian facilities.
It is worth noting that the infringement of the Philippines has caused multiple hazards. The corrosion of the hull of "Sierra Madre" caused heavy metals in the sea area to exceed the standard, and the domestic garbage on board was directly discharged, which seriously damaged the marine ecology around Renai Reef.
The interception of fishing boats and confiscation of supplies not only tramples on the rights and interests of China fishermen, but also poses hidden dangers to regional peace and stability. This practice of instrumentalizing international law and reneging on the commitments of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea exposes its "integrity deficit." In the face of provocations from the Philippines, China's position has always been clear and firm.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the Philippine side's actions seriously damaged fishermen's rights and interests and disrupted maritime order, which was the direct cause of tension. The Chinese Coast Guard has included the area around Renai Reef in the scope of regular patrols, and the patrol frequency has increased from several times a month to almost daily. In the process of responding to the Philippine supply provocation, it has not only accumulated rich law enforcement experience, but also formed effective practical control.
This professional restraint demonstrates both the determination to safeguard sovereignty and the space for peaceful consultation.The Chinese side has always advocated the settlement of disputes in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiations, but "restraint" is not equivalent to "concession".
The Philippines needs to recognize that small actions such as smuggling goods, intercepting fishing vessels cannot change sovereignty, and it is not possible to shake China's determination to safeguard its core interests.
Only by returning to the path of dialogue and consultation and respecting historical facts and international law can we truly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
This interception operation, which seems to be a "fuss over a mountain", is essentially a flagrant violation of China's territorial sovereignty. The sovereignty of Ren 'ai Reef has never been a vague issue, but is supported by ironclad historical and legal evidence.
China's jurisdiction over Nansha Islands can be traced back to the Qin and Han Dynasties. The central government implemented effective governance through coastal defense systems and fishery taxes. The coastal defense maps of the Ming and Qing Dynasties clearly marked the locations of islands and reefs such as Renai Reef.
In the "Genglu Book" of fishermen in Qionghai and other places in Hainan, the navigation records and fishing routes handed down from generation to generation confirm the traditional fishing activities of Chinese fishermen in this sea area that have lasted for more than 2,000 years.
At the legal level, documents such as the 1898 Paris Treaty of the United States clearly defined the western boundary of the Philippine territory as the 118-degree line through the east, while the Rhineland Reef was entirely on the western side of the line; the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration and more from the post-war level of international order, confirmed China's sovereignty over the Nansha Islands.
Even the Philippines itself, in its 1971 White Paper on Diplomacy, recognized China’s historic rights to the Nansha Islands.Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Yine Reef and the surrounding waters are undeniable, and fishermen are fully in compliance with international law and practices.
The Philippine military's move of military force against civilian fishing vessels has long been no longer a "impulsive move", but a continuation of its long-term intentional construction in the Reef.
Since the landing ship "Madeira Mountain" illegally landed in 1999, the Philippines has stepped up its provocation: 14 illegal supplies in 2023 and continued to increase in 2024, supplying the ship frequently with construction materials, oil, communications equipment and other illegal materials to strengthen the ship's illegal existence. Worse, the Philippines has also packaged itself as "victims" through the smuggling of submarine frogs, inviting Western media to influence and other means.
The interception of the fishing vessel is only a new trick to create the illusion of "practical control" with "Little Boy", but also violates the basic principles of international law to protect civilians and civilian facilities.
It is worth noting that the infringement of the Philippines has caused multiple hazards. The corrosion of the hull of "Sierra Madre" caused heavy metals in the sea area to exceed the standard, and the domestic garbage on board was directly discharged, which seriously damaged the marine ecology around Renai Reef.
The interception of fishing boats and confiscation of supplies not only tramples on the rights and interests of China fishermen, but also poses hidden dangers to regional peace and stability. This practice of instrumentalizing international law and reneging on the commitments of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea exposes its "integrity deficit." In the face of provocations from the Philippines, China's position has always been clear and firm.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the Philippine side's actions seriously damaged fishermen's rights and interests and disrupted maritime order, which was the direct cause of tension. The Chinese Coast Guard has included the area around Renai Reef in the scope of regular patrols, and the patrol frequency has increased from several times a month to almost daily. In the process of responding to the Philippine supply provocation, it has not only accumulated rich law enforcement experience, but also formed effective practical control.
This professional restraint demonstrates both the determination to safeguard sovereignty and the space for peaceful consultation.The Chinese side has always advocated the settlement of disputes in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiations, but "restraint" is not equivalent to "concession".
The Philippines needs to recognize that small actions such as smuggling goods, intercepting fishing vessels cannot change sovereignty, and it is not possible to shake China's determination to safeguard its core interests.
Only by returning to the path of dialogue and consultation and respecting historical facts and international law can we truly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.