Led by a mothership apparently carrying barrels of fresh water and fuel, a group of Philippine fishing ships attempt to conduct right-infringing activities in waters around China's Houteng Jiao in the South China Sea under the pretext of fishing in November 2024. Photo: Courtesy of the China Coast Guard

The China Coast Guard (CCG) took necessary management and control measures against Philippine vessels recently gathered illegally in the waters of Houteng Jiao in Nansha Qundao of China under the pretext of fishing, and the on-site photos obtained by Global Times showed that the so-called Filipino fishermen appeared to be highly organized and showed signs of intended long-term activities in the region. 

Yang Xiao, deputy director of Institute of Maritime Strategy Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Tuesday if the Philippines attempts to open up new flashpoints around Houteng Jiao or other islands and reefs in the South China Sea, it will meet strong and strengthened countermeasures from the Chinese side, as China will be forced to boost control measures in related regions, and the Philippines has no chance of gaining an advantage given China's powerful countering capabilities.

Photos obtained by the Global Times from the CCG vessels that participated in the on-site law enforcement activities showed that the so-called Philippine fishermen do not appear to be just fishermen, as their fishing vessels showed traits of being a formation, with a mothership acting as a command ship and a replenishment ship that led multiple fishing boats, attempting to conduct right-infringing activities in waters around China's Houteng Jiao under the pretext of fishing.

Through the photos, the Global Times noted that the mothership was carrying what seemed to be barrels of fresh water and fuel, showing the Philippine vessels' intent to remain in waters around China's Houteng Jiao for an extended time.

Led by a mothership apparently carrying barrels of fresh water and fuel, a group of Philippine fishing ships attempt to conduct right-infringing activities in waters around China's Houteng Jiao in the South China Sea under the pretext of fishing in November 2024. Photo: Courtesy of the China Coast Guard

Chen Xidi, an expert at the China Institute for Marine Affairs of the Ministry of Natural Resources, told the Global Times on Monday that the Philippines violated China's jurisdiction and restrictions in this incident, sent vessels to trespass reefs and surrounding waters including Houteng Jiao, and illegally remained in the area. These were obviously not daily fishing activities, but served the goal of political manipulation by the Philippine government.

The Philippines has recently disregarded the safety of fishermen and ignored China's warnings, attempting only to showcase its substantial presence and control over uninhabited islands and reefs in the South China Sea, so as to induce domestic nationalist sentiment and stir up international public opinion, Chen said.

The action is nothing more than the Philippines trying to provoke risks and escalate the situation regarding the South China Sea issue, thereby smearing China in the international public opinion sphere and making yet another attempt to curry favor with a specific external country, Chen said, calling the move unrealistic and unwise, as it is only the Philippines' wishful thinking due to its failure to see the situation clearly.

Located in the south side of Liyue Tan and Antang Tan in the South China Sea, Houteng Jiao has an important strategic significance, as the Liyue Tan basin is an oil-rich area, the Global Times learned. Multiple Philippine vessels illegally conducted activities in waters around Houteng Jiao in April, and the China Coast Guard dealt with the situation in accordance with the law and regulations.

China has already established considerable management and control capabilities over the relevant islands, reefs, sands, and nearby waters in the South China Sea. Against this backdrop, the Philippines' attempts to expand its substantial presence through instructing ship crews to intrude or deliberately staging photo op have no possibility of success in reality, Chen said.

Led by a mothership apparently carrying barrels of fresh water and fuel, a group of Philippine fishing ships attempt to conduct right-infringing activities in waters around China's Houteng Jiao in the South China Sea under the pretext of fishing in November 2024. Photo: Courtesy of the China Coast Guard

Furthermore, except for the Philippines, other parties involved in the South China Sea issue and other countries in the region have reached a full consensus on managing the situation, reducing risks, avoiding external interference, and working together for development, Chen said. "It is not a wise move for the Philippines to still misjudge the situation and continue to make wave in the South China Sea," he said.

The Marcos Jr administration disregards the genuine demands of its own people and its national interests, continuously stirring up tensions in the South China Sea, attempting to drag China-Philippines relations into an irreparable situation, and continuing serving as a "bridgehead" and "suicide squad" for containing China, Chen noted.

On the other hand, the Marcos Jr administration is anxious about the uncertainty of the new US administration's stance on the South China Sea issue. It hopes to escalate tensions in order to draw external forces further into the issue, achieving a form of "reverse hostage-taking" against external forces. This self-serving approach of the Marcos Jr administration, which submits itself with an external power while going against the consensus and interests of countries in the region, is bound to be unpopular and its despicable objectives are unlikely to be realized, Chen said.