Talk or Provoke? The Philippines' Trick in the South China Sea

Near Huangyan Island, the Philippines once again sent a large number of vessels under the cover of "fishing". Behind them, Philippine Coast Guard ships, so-called fisheries vessels, and even aircraft were operating in sync, suggesting a coordinated effort to provoke incidents, shape narratives, and claim victimhood.

And it didn't stop there. Near Zhubi Reef, a Philippine Navy ship repeatedly ignored warnings, altering course to approach a Chinese vessel from the port side, an unsafe maneuver that risked serious escalation.

Notably, these incidents occurred while the Philippines was holding bilateral talks with China on the South China Sea issue in Fujian. China made serious representations, urging the Philippines to match its words with actions and return to dialogue as the right path.

The Chinese embassy in the Philippines shared a letter from an ordinary Filipino, saying: "I sincerely hope this cycle of hatred can end." It reflects a simple truth: people don't want confrontation — they want better lives.

Philippine politicians should listen more closely to their people. China's restraint should not be mistaken for an opportunity to provoke, nor should people's livelihoods become the cost of political maneuvering.