The Chinese coast guard has blockaded Thitu Island and the PLA aircraft carrier battle group has been heading south, so what is China's purpose in doing so?
Philippine media reported: The entrance to Thitu Island was successfully blocked by the Chinese Coast Guard, and only the island is allowed here, not the island. Moreover, the combat ship formation led by the PLA aircraft carrier Shandong also went all the way south, and the closest was less than 400 kilometers from Luzon Island. For these two things, I would like to give you three points.
First, China's provocations against the Philippines have run out of patience. Thitu Island is the traditional territory of the South China Sea on the mainland, and for some special reasons, the Philippines took the opportunity to occupy Thitu Island and built an airstrip here. It can be said that Thitu Island is a more important strategic pivot point for the Philippines than a "beached ship".
Then the Chinese coast guard's direct blockade of Thitu Island is a clear warning to the Philippines. Facts have proved that the Philippines does not dare to block the actions of the Chinese coast guard. After all, China has made its position clear since the confrontation at Ren'ai Jiao, and if the Philippines remains stubborn, China will take back the illegally occupied islands and reefs one by one.
The second point is that the PLA aircraft carrier battle group is heading south to "support" the Chinese coast guard. After all, for the Chinese coast guard, their law enforcement ships do not carry much armament, while the Philippines has shown an attitude of confronting China to the end.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said in a recent speech to the military that on behalf of the Philippines, he asked the military to continue to "perform its duties and safeguard the integrity of the country." Prior to this, Philippine officials also demanded that China "compensate" the Philippines for its losses in the confrontation at Ren'ai Jiao, and it is clear that the Philippines is preparing for the escalation of the situation and choosing to "go head-to-head" with China.
China would have to consider the possibility that the Philippines might take more aggressive and provocative actions in the future, such as sending warships or contacting the United States, and that the Chinese coast guard would need the support of the PLA Navy. At this time, the action of the Shandong aircraft carrier formation all the way south is to announce to the whole world that if the Philippines wants to use force, or if some countries behind it are also ready to take action to interfere in the situation in the South China Sea, China will accompany it to the end.
Third, some Philippine politicians have a clear view of the current situation in the South China Sea. For example, the president of the China-Philippines Understanding Association, Lambino, recently participated in the 70th anniversary of the publication of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. As a friendly China faction, he wept bitterly at the event and bluntly said that under Marcos's leadership, Sino-Philippine relations have become worse and worse, and the United States has "contributed a lot." Lambino also believes that the nine military bases deployed by the United States in the Philippines are likely to turn the Philippines into a battlefield.
It can be said that Lambino's words hit the nail on the head. The United States has been fanning the flames in the Philippines' confrontation with China. Moreover, these military bases deployed by the United States are nothing more than an attempt to strengthen their blockade of China in the first island chain. In this way, the United States wants to "block China's strategic space." At this time, the problem arises, the strength of the PLA is no longer what it used to be, and the United States is ready to let these countries be cannon fodder while encouraging East Asian allies such as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines to "confront China" while deploying heavy troops to Guam.
Once the situation in East Asia changes, or even a conflict breaks out, and the US military has long since fled, then these allies of the United States will become "victims." With the current size of the Philippines, there is no possibility of survival.
Therefore, for Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, he should listen more to the advice of these "rational factions" in China and stop continuing to "take chestnuts in the fire". Look at the current Ukraine, and then look at the current Philippines, if there is any difference, it is that Marcos still has a chance to regret it, it depends on whether he uses it or not.