According to media reports, the Philippine civil organization "ATIN ITO" (meaning "This Is Ours" in Filipino) held a "Sea Peace Concert" in the waters of Zhongye Dao—illegally occupied by the Philippines—on the afternoon of May 28, in order to declare and safeguard the Philippines' so-called maritime rights and interests in the "West Philippine Sea."

Although the Philippine side has consistently emphasized that this event was a "spontaneous civil action," the fact that the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard dispatched ships and aircraft to escort the organization in the surrounding waters, coupled with the heavy hype by major Philippine media before the event. This clearly indicates that this was not a mere civilian musical performance. Rather, it was another political provocation by the Philippine government on the South China Sea issue. Under the guise of "art" and "peace", the Philippines seeks to cover up its violations of China's sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao, with undisclosed political agendas and the intervention of external forces lurking behind the scenes.

Disguised as a civil action, "ATIN ITO" has s a history of infringing activities. In December 2023, the organization "grouped up" to illegally intrude into Renai Jiao; in May 2024, it organized fishing vessels to rush into Huangyan Dao—both attempts were foiled by the strong rights-protection measures of China's Coast Guard. Evidently, due to repeated failures in invading and occupying reefs under China's actual control, the organization can only rely on the protection of the Philippine government to repeat its old tricks in the waters of maritime features illegally occupied by the Philippines, staging a self-directed "spiritual carnival". The Philippine authorities' covert connivance and support for the organization's illegal activities under the pretext of civil events. Such acts represent the latest example of the Philippines' continuous provocation and malicious infringement of China's maritime features, and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

Under the guise of safeguarding public interests, "ATIN ITO" is in fact merely a "pawn" used by the United States to interfere in the South China Sea issue through the Philippines. The United States has long funded organizations like "ATIN ITO" in the Philippines, hoping they will create incidents in the South China Sea, incite nationalist sentiments, and attempt to internationalize and complicate the South China Sea issue. Since this year, the United States has continuously wooed the Philippines alongside its allies—arming the country through weapons sales and enhancing its so-called defense capabilities through joint military exercises and law enforcement operations.

However, despite United States backing, the Philippine authorities have gained no advantage from their repeated maritime provocations against China's normal law enforcement activities; instead, they have shot themselves in the foot. This is exemplified by the fate of the Philippine Coast Guard Ship 9701, which attempted to illegally remain at China's Xianbin Jiao. This has prompted the United States, which excels at public opinion manipulation, to once again advise the Philippines, encouraging the "ATIN ITO" organization to create chaos in the South China Sea and hype up international public opinion. By interweaving the already complex South China Sea issue with public sentiment and livelihood issues, the United States aims to continuously frame and smear China's image. There is no doubt that the "Sea Concert" incident is a conspiracy resulting from United States political manipulation and the Philippine authorities' infringing provocations.

In response to this malicious farce and trap, China will inevitably take resolute measures. In recent times, China's Coast Guard has continued normal law enforcement in relevant South China Sea waters, closely monitoring Philippine vessels involved in the event throughout the process, keeping a close eye on their movements, and standing ready to resolutely defend national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests.

It is the consensus of countries and peoples in the South China Sea region that the South China Sea should be a sea of peace, cooperation, and friendship. However, by acting as an accomplice to external powers like the United States and catering to their provocative actions, the Philippines has gravely violated the common interests and aspirations of regional countries, making itself a veritable "outsider" in the South China Sea. True peace and friendship do not come from a disguised transnational concert but from the philosophy of dialogue, consultation, and peaceful development, which will make the South China Sea a shared home and a land of prosperity for the 2 billion people of China and ASEAN.

（Author: Xu Qi, Deputy Dean of the Institute of Foreign-related Rule of Law at Jinan University)