Manila's latest troublemaking continues parade of provocations

China's military expelled three Philippine aircraft that illegally entered the airspace near China's Nansha Islands in the South China Sea on Thursday. That is Manila's second provocation in the waters in a week. Two days earlier, a Philippine aircraft unlawfully entered Chinese airspace over Huangyan Island.

Despite the warning of Beijing, Manila repeatedly tries to distort China's legitimate and lawful maritime rights, and engage in smear campaigns. That Manila claims that China's actions were "dangerous" is nothing but calling black white to help promote its unlawful claims by distorting the facts. Clearly, Manila is intent on making waves in the South China Sea.

Yet its clumsy tactics are destined to fail, as the People's Liberation Army remains on high alert to defend national sovereignty and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The Philippine government should put an end to its irresponsible and dangerous gamble, which may lead to geopolitical confrontation and turn the waters into a conflict flashpoint.

The Philippines plans to allow more powers from outside the region to build a military presence on its land. It has also repeatedly involved external parties in its so-called joint patrols in the South China Sea. When the sound of foreign warships overwhelms that of fishing boats, the Philippines' gamble risks hollowing out the foundations of regional peace.

The Philippines has no major external security threats, yet it is undermining regional peace and stability with its militarization carnival. Going back on its word, the Philippines has absurdly used the deployment of the US Typhon mid-range missile system as a bargaining chip in discussions on the South China Sea issue. In July 2024, a Philippine Army spokesman told AFP that "it will be shipped out of the country in September that year or even earlier".

This is reminiscent of another case of Manila reneging on its promises. In 1999, the Philippine military vessel BRP Sierra Madre was illegally "grounded" on China's Ren'ai Reef of the Nansha Islands. The Philippines repeatedly pledged that it would tow the vessel away, yet it is still there today.

At the heart of the maritime disputes are the Philippines' illegal occupation of certain Chinese islands and reefs. China is committed to resolving the disputes in the South China Sea through peaceful means. The Philippines should respect the facts of history, abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and consistently and truly honor its commitment to handling its differences with China properly. Becoming a pawn of external forces is not a feasible tactic and could put a country in a more passive position.