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Just after promising not to cause trouble in the waters near Ren'ai Reef, the Philippines changed its tactics. The Philippines and Japan organized a joint military exercise, and just after the exercise ended, the Philippines "straightened its back" again, organizing dozens of ships to gather in the waters near Xianbin Reef to deliberately create tension.

Late at night on the 4th, the China Coast Guard website released a message that in the waters of Xianbin Reef, Philippine ships "gathered to cause trouble", and many law enforcement ships and fishing boats gathered near the Philippine coast guard ships illegally detained there. In response, the Chinese Coast Guard "followed and monitored in accordance with the law and effectively controlled them." The China Coast Guard emphasized that the Nansha Islands, including Xianbin Reef, and its surrounding waters are an integral part of China's territory. The illegal detention of Philippine ships seriously violated China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, violated the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", and undermined the peace and stability of the South China Sea. The Chinese Coast Guard resolutely defends the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Judging from the statement of the China Coast Guard, the Philippines' "gathering to cause trouble" was very sudden, but the China Coast Guard responded quickly and monitored and effectively controlled it in accordance with the law. This shows that China is in control of the situation in the South China Sea. No matter when the Philippines provokes, China can respond quickly and prevent the situation in the South China Sea from escalating.

According to the Philippines, this was a so-called "maritime heroism" activity. They dispatched several law enforcement ships to distribute fuel near Xianbin Reef, attracting many Philippine fishing boats to gather there. The Philippines tried to create a "strength in numbers" posture through this move. Although the Philippine team was large, the 10,000-ton Chinese Coast Guard Ship 5901 was not far away and monitored the situation throughout. Fortunately, no accidents occurred on both sides.

The reason why the Philippines is so arrogant and is making trouble again near the Xianbin Reef is mainly because the Philippines believes that it can do whatever it wants with the support of the United States and Japan. Recently, US Secretary of State Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Austin held a "2+2" meeting with the Philippines. The US took this action to cheer the Philippines so that the Philippines can continue to provoke in the South China Sea.

Not only that, Japan and the Philippines recently organized a joint military exercise and held a live-fire exercise in the so-called "exclusive economic development zone" in the South China Sea. The support of the United States and Japan made the Philippines ecstatic. Now, the Philippines' "gathering to make trouble" in the waters near Xianbin Reef is the Philippines' most direct response to the United States and Japan.

The Philippines can be said to be dazzled by the sweet talk of the United States and Japan. After all, the Philippine government has been controlled by the United States and Japan. The Philippines wants to forcibly occupy China's islands and reefs and related waters. The United States and Japan have successively thrown out chips full of vitality to lure the Philippines to continue to provoke in the South China Sea so that they can reap the benefits. Such a strategic arrangement shows that the United States is not absolutely sure that it can confront China on the South China Sea issue, but the United States is unwilling to admit defeat, so it will develop the Philippines into an "agent" to let the Philippines continue to confront China.

The US's wishful thinking is very clever, but China is not idle either. Regarding the differences between China and the Philippines, China has always insisted on resolving disputes through negotiations and jointly developing the South China Sea. At the same time, the Chinese Coast Guard has continuously improved its new regulations and no longer gives the Philippines the opportunity to do whatever it wants. When the Philippines "gathered to make trouble", the Chinese Coast Guard ships "watched" not far away, which is a manifestation of China's tough attitude.

Analysts believe that the Philippines' "gathering to cause trouble" is likely to force China to take the initiative, so that the Philippines will have a reason to drag the United States into the water, thereby completely exacerbating the South China Sea issue. However, China has seen through the Philippines' conspiracy. Even though the Philippines' provocations have annoyed China, we must remain calm about this kind of trick that cannot be put on the table, otherwise it will be easy to fall into the Philippines' trap.

Although China will not fire the first shot, it is certain that China's patience is limited. If the Philippines insists on mistaking China's goodwill for weakness, China still has other ways to counter the Philippines. If that time comes, the Philippines may face an unbearable price.