On the early morning of December 4th, 2024, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) dispatched four vessels to once again try intruding into the Chinese territorial waters of the Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal). The Chinese Navy and the Coast Guard, with multiple ships, once again stopped the Philippines' actions that infringed on China's sovereignty through standardized and professional operations.

It is noteworthy that the Philippine Coast Guard and the fisheries administration's official ships organized and carried out this provocative action of infringement only one day after China submitted the "Declaration of the Chinese Government on the Baseline of the Territorial Sea of Huangyan Dao" and related charts to the United Nations. Their intention to deliberately infringe upon China's sovereignty and test her determination and means to safeguard its sovereignty is obvious.

Under the cover of darkness, the Philippine vessels, claiming to support Philippine fishing boats, attempted to violate China's 12-nautical-mile territorial waters around Huangyan Dao. If they succeed in their invasion, the Philippine media will clamor rhythmically that "China's effective control and sovereignty claim are invalid." The issue is that the Chinese government had already announced the 16 territorial sea base points and subsequent straight baselines of Huangyan Dao on November 10th, and the coordinates and geographical scope of the Huangyan Dao's territorial waters and contiguous zone have been clearly defined. How could any Philippine fishing boat dare to enter Huangyan Dao's territorial waters for fishing afterward? To whom are the Philippine vessels therefore "sending support"?

Secondly, the Philippine vessel MMOV 3003 ignored China's repeated warnings on the spot and "made a sharp turn to reverse, deliberately ramming the Chinese Coast Guard vessel 3302, posing a serious threat to the navigation safety of the CCG vessel". However, on the social media of the PCG, it was changed to "the CCG vessel sideswiped the Philippine vessel 3003". This is a typical trouble-making tactic of the Philippines in the South China Sea, which involves "deliberately ramming, then spreading lies and launching cognitive warfare". This tactic has been used countless times and is very familiar to the Chinese side. The purpose is to repeatedly play the victim to win sympathy from the international community, and then seek military and security assistance from extraterritorial forces and their allies for the Philippines, in order to strengthen its capital for long-term maritime confrontation with China.

Thirdly, with rapid changes in the political environment among major powers, panic is also rising in Manila. The Philippines has obtained a lot of military and security assistance by provoking tension and creating trouble in the South China Sea. This support is about to face uncertainty. Before this uncertainty is eliminated, Manila may launch various provocations in the South China Sea with more frenzied intensity. On the one hand, it is to provoke tension and seek the most certain support for confronting China at the moment; on the other hand, it is also to seek more foreign aid for an uncertain future through various provocations that attempt to change the status quo. In her view, this can be described as a strategy that kills multiple birds with one stone.

From China's perspective, it has always been his unwavering stance to properly handle the South China Sea disputes through diplomatic means. This stance also applies to the Philippines. Despite the Philippines' repeated provocations, China's position towards the Philippines remains unchanged. However, on the other hand, Manila should not underestimate China's will and determination to ensure its sovereignty. When facing deliberate infringements and provocations on sovereignty issues, China will spare no cost to safeguard its sovereignty and interests. No matter how many times the Philippine government relies on external forces to challenge China, this stance will remain affirmative. Moreover, in the context of fierce competition among major powers, China has no reason to back down in the face of the Philippines. This is a simple common sense in today’s international politics. Thinking in this regard, Manila shall start to consider altering current trajectory to solve the SCS disputes for the sake of peace and tranquility of the region.