It's time to stop!, The Philippines is on this absurd "performance art" ship at My Love Reef | China | Performance Art

A group of people guarding a pile of scrap metal for 24 years, constantly secretly reinforcing it, doesn't this sound like an incredibly absurd "performance art"?

On August 5th, despite repeated dissuasions and warnings from China, the Philippines sent ships to illegally enter the waters of Ren'ai Reef, attempting to transport construction materials for large-scale maintenance and reinforcement to the illegal "sitting on the beach" warship. Chinese maritime police lawfully drove Philippine ships away.

The Philippines and the United States have hyped up this absurd "performance art", but how many absurd things are there behind it?

01

The rights and wrongs of the Chinese maritime police's lawful expulsion of ships illegally entering the waters near our Ren'ai Reef from the Philippines cannot be clearer.

Ren'ai Reef has always been a part of China's the Nansha Islands. The historical context of the Ren'ai Reef issue is very clear. In 1999, a Philippine "master class" landing ship, the Madre Mountain, illegally "docked" on Ren'ai Reef due to "mechanical failure". The Chinese side immediately made solemn representations and requested the Philippine side to tow the warship.

The Philippine side has repeatedly promised to tow the warship, but has not fulfilled its promise until today. 24 years have passed, and warships have become a pile of rusty scrap metal. However, the Philippines is very persistent in sending a team of soldiers to station on the ship. Not only that, the Philippine side also attempted to carry out large-scale maintenance and reinforcement of the warship, achieving permanent occupation of Ren'ai Reef.

This is not only absurd "performance art", but also shameful rogue behavior. This move by the Philippines seriously infringes on China's sovereignty, violates its own commitments, and violates international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed between China and ASEAN countries. China urges the Philippines to tow the "Sitan" warship from Ren'ai Reef and restore the original state of Ren'ai Reef.

It is worth emphasizing that China has the full ability to tow the Philippine ship that was lying there, but in order to stabilize the South China Sea, China has shown goodwill and patience, always maintaining a very restrained attitude. The Chinese side has also made temporary special arrangements for the transportation of necessary daily necessities such as food by the Philippine warship "Zuotan" from a humanitarian perspective.

Unfortunately, the Philippines has failed to live up to China's goodwill. For a period of time, the Philippines has been carrying a large amount of construction materials onto ships under the pretext of personnel rotation and transportation of daily necessities. China has repeatedly expressed serious concerns to the Philippines through diplomatic channels and suggested that both sides discuss how to control the situation on Ren'ai Reef, but the Philippines refused to respond to this.

After understanding the background, let's take a look at this incident.

Recently, after learning that the Philippines will carry out a new round of transportation and replenishment of Ren'ai Reef, China has made negotiations with the Philippines at multiple levels and through various channels, demanding that the Philippines not send ships to enter Ren'ai Reef without authorization and not transport construction materials for large-scale maintenance and reinforcement to the "sitting beach" warship.

Despite China's repeated dissuasions and warnings, on August 5, the Philippines illegally entered the waters adjacent to Ren'ai Reef in the the Nansha Islands without the approval of the Chinese government. Chinese coast guard ships were lawfully intercepted and warning enforcement measures were taken. In the event that multiple warnings were ineffective, water cannons were used to implement warnings in order to avoid direct interception and collision. The on-site operation was professional and restrained, which is beyond reproach.

02

China upholds its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with the law, with a clear and firm attitude and stance.

On August 7th, a spokesperson for the China Coast Guard responded by stating that China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty, and once again called on the Philippines to accept China's suggestions and discuss specific measures to control the situation on Ren'ai Reef through negotiations.

On August 7th, the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement stating that on August 5th, the Chinese Coast Guard intercepted and used water cannons to attack supply ships and Coast Guard ships carrying out routine supply missions in the waters off Ren'ai Reef in Nansha, violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the arbitration award in the South China Sea, and infringing on the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Philippines.

The statement made by the Philippines is undoubtedly a reversal of the truth. On the 8th, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded once again.

Point one, the Philippines is the one that violates international law. The actions of the Philippines seriously violate international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed between China and ASEAN countries.

Point two, China has not violated international law at all. The South China Sea arbitration case claims that the award violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and is illegal and invalid. China does not accept or recognize this ruling, and does not accept any claims or actions based on this ruling. This position is clear and firm, and is a legitimate measure to uphold the international rule of law.

Key point three, the Philippines is the one who is causing trouble. For a period of time, China has communicated with the Philippines multiple times through diplomatic channels on the issue of Ren'ai Reef, clearly requiring the Philippines not to transport construction materials for large-scale maintenance and reinforcement to illegal "sitting on the beach" warships, and proposing that both sides discuss measures to control the situation on Ren'ai Reef as soon as possible. But the Philippine side disregarded China's goodwill and sincerity, insisting on transporting construction materials for repair and reinforcement to the Ren'ai Reef "Sitan" warship, which is the cause of this situation.

Key point four, China is willing to continue to handle the issue properly. The Philippines is an important maritime neighbor of China, and both sides have reached important consensus on controlling maritime disputes. China is willing to continue to properly handle maritime issues with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation, and jointly maintain bilateral relations and stability in the maritime situation.

The Philippines should be aware that China's restraint belongs to restraint, but its stance on safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights is firm and clear, with no room for compromise. For the Philippines, if they give up their illusions one day earlier, they will also enjoy the development and cooperation dividends brought about by peace and stability in the South China Sea one day earlier.

03

How could this absurd "performance art" be without the presence of the United States?

The US supports the Philippines' legitimate maritime activities and claims that an armed attack on the Philippine Coast Guard will trigger the US Philippines Joint Defense Treaty. This statement can be said to be full of threats.

The response from the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was resounding, detailing several crimes committed by the United States on the issue of Ren'ai Reef.

Firstly, the US State Department disregarded the facts and issued a statement attacking China's legitimate maritime rights enforcement actions, endorsing the illegal provocative actions of the Philippines. China firmly opposes this.

Secondly, for a period of time, the United States has encouraged and supported the Philippines to repair and reinforce its military vessels on Ren'ai Reef, even sending military aircraft and ships to cooperate and support the Philippines at sea, and frequently threatening China by fulfilling the US Philippines Joint Defense Treaty. This move by the US is blatantly supporting and encouraging the Philippines to infringe on China's sovereignty, and its plan is destined to be unsuccessful.

Thirdly, the South China Sea arbitration case is a political farce manipulated by the United States behind the scenes under the guise of law. Its so-called ruling violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and is illegal and invalid. The US's use of this illegal ruling to argue cannot in any way affect China's firm determination and will to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with the law.

The fact has repeatedly shown that the United States is a true "South China Sea security risk maker" and "regional peace and stability disruptor". But whether it's the end result of their own "sea disturbance" or supporting other countries, it will ultimately be a farce. We also urge the US to stop using the South China Sea issue to sow discord and sow discord, and to truly respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, as well as the efforts of regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

For 24 years, no matter how secretly reinforced, the Philippine warship "Sitan" has still become a pile of scrap metal, which is an undeniable natural law. Similarly, no matter how much the Philippines and the United States hype up, their attempts to disrupt the South China Sea are destined to be unsuccessful, and this is also an undeniable trend of the times. This absurd "performance art" should stop!

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