Da Tay A Island has an important position on the Truong Sa archipelago. Not only that, the island is also a solid fulcrum, helping fishermen to reach out to sea and cling to the sea. Each soldier is an “iron shield”, guarding the peace for the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland. Young soldier Dang Trong Hieu (from Ba Ria – Vung Tau) who is on a mission on Thuyen Chai C island said: The love of the sea and islands is the driving force for him and his teammates despite all difficulties and hardships to carry out. well protect the sovereignty of the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland. The square eagle tree on Thuyen Chai island C. Officers and soldiers on the island said that, nearly 4 years ago, the new tree was about 2m high, and the canopy was about 1m wide. A moment of relaxation at the Multi-Cultural House on Da Thi Island – a work awarded by the Party Committee, the government and the people of Hanoi. In the midst of the immense sea and sky, Da Nam Island is firm and steadfast, firmly defending the country’s sovereignty over the sea and islands. The tops of spinach of the soldiers at Thuyen Chai C island rose high in the sun and wind of the sea. Although it is difficult for trees and flowers to grow well in the sun and wind, in addition to the hours of training and ready to fight, the young soldiers also deployed a very beautiful youth flower garden. The Truong Sa soldiers were on duty day and night to guard and firmly protect the country’s sovereignty over the sea and sacred islands. Sunset on Co Lin island. Along with other islands of the Spratly archipelago, Co Lin island forms a solid and continuous battle, is the outer shield protecting the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Trees were planted and cared for by officers and soldiers of Tay A Da Island (Spratly archipelago) under the model “For the green Truong Sa” which was established and put into operation in June 2015. (Photo: Phan Sau-Sy Tuyen-Thang Trung/VNA) The storm tree is still green amidst the sun and wind of the sea. (Photo: Phan Sau-Sy Tuyen-Thang Trung/VNA) A layer of young eagles grows under the canopy of a square tree on Da Tay A Island (Spratly archipelago). (Photo: Phan Sau-Sy Tuyen-Thang Trung/VNA) The square eagle tree and other trees are taken care of by officers and soldiers of Nam Yet island to create a landscape right at the office. (Photo: Phan Sau-Sy Tuyen-Thang Trung/VNA) Pangasius flowers bloom in the summer, resulting in a specialty called “sea grapes” at the end of the season, a symbol of the enduring vegetation of the Spratly archipelago. (Photo: Phan Sau-Sy Tuyen-Thang Trung/VNA) Three maple flowers bloom in the middle of May sunshine on the Truong Sa archipelago. (Photo: Phan Sau-Sy Tuyen-Thang Trung/VNA) Square eagle flower – symbol of green vitality, intense longevity of flora on Truong Sa archipelago. (Photo: Phan Sau-Sy Tuyen-Thang Trung/VNA) Trees on Sinh Ton island (Spratly archipelago) have been present since the island’s existence and have grown well for shade, softening the sweltering summer day amidst the sea. (Photo: Phan Sau-Sy Tuyen-Thang Trung/VNA) Green vegetables are covered by the soldiers of Da Nam Island and Truong Sa archipelago with closed cages so that the plants can grow well in the hot summer sun. (Photo: Phan Sau-Sy Tuyen-Thang Trung/VNA)

Fascinating history In April 1975, our army liberated the islands along the Central Coast and South Central Coast; invaded and liberated most of the islands in the Spratlys occupied by the puppet troops. In the photo: Navy Special Forces Army Corps 126 liberated An Bang island belonging to Truong Sa archipelago, on April 28, 1975. Photo: VNA broadcast On April 4, 1975, General and Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap sent a special telegram to the Navy and Military Region 5 assigned the task of liberating the Spratly archipelago held by the Saigon puppet army. The telegram stated: “According to the instructions of the Politburo, the Standing Committee of the Military Commission assigns tasks to the Military Zone Committee, the Military Region, the High Command of the 5th Military Region and the High Command of the Navy to urgently study the plan. war and carry out all preparations so that when the opportunity arises, the Spratly Islands will be promptly liberated, considering it a very important task ”. Colonel Hoang Chien No (born 1952), former Political Chief, Military Command of Dak Doa district, Gia Lai province recounted: in 1975, I was 23 years old, holding the position of lieutenant – lieutenant Captain of Battalion 2, Company 5, Regiment 95, Military Region 5. After completing the mission of liberating Khanh Hoa, on the evening of April 10, I followed fishermen’s fishing boats from Nha Trang to the island. Travel time is exactly 4 days 3 nights to the West Song Tu Island. Our forces at that time pretended to be fishermen on a fishing boat, so during the movement they were not detected by the enemy. “Around 3 am, April 14, the directions were brought by rubber boats to bring troops close to Song Tu Tay Island. At 4:30, after hearing the gunshots in the west of the island, they all opened fire to attack. To our nose on duty, comrade Dinh Quoc Lap (former platoon leader of Battalion 2, Company 5, Regiment 95, Military Region 5) shot a B41 at the enemy’s bunker and attacked in many directions. for the enemy to panic and panic. The enemy fought back weakly, quickly surrendered, our troops destroyed and captured 33 enemies. At 5:30 a.m. on the same day, we lifted the flag of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam onto the flagpole on the island, asserting the sovereignty of the Fatherland, ”recalled Colonel Hoang Chien No. Sergeant Master Dinh Quoc Lap, who directly participated in the battle to liberate Song Tu Tay and was admitted to the Party on the island, said on April 24, the weather on the island is very beautiful, under the row of green coconuts on Song Tu Tay Island, with with the Party flag hanging at the trunk of the coconut tree, I was accepted and accepted into the ranks of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in the presence of my comrades who stood shoulder to shoulder.
“As the first soldier admitted on Song Tu Tay Island, at that time I was only 20 years old, it is an honor, great happiness, not a moment I forget,” said Senior Sergeant Dinh Quoc Lap. Song Tu Tay was lost, the enemy’s defenses on the Spratlys were threatened. Taking the opportunity, at 0:30 on April 25, we used two ships 673 and 641 to carry forces from Song Tu Tay Island to Son Ca Island. When 2 nautical miles from Son Ca island, this force was divided into 3 cape, preparing to land on the island. At 1:30, our army finished landing and began to reconnaissance the island. At 2:30, we opened fire to attack and destroy the enemy. Suddenly hit, the enemy resisted weakly, then ran away in panic, surrendered. At 3 o’clock on April 25, our army completely liberated Son Ca island, destroyed and captured 25 enemies, confiscated their weapons and all their equipment. After our “lightning speed” victory at Song Tu Tay and Son Ca islands, the enemy’s defenses on the islands were seriously threatened. The enemy troops on Nam Yet island panicked and fought back weakly. At the moment of chance, our forces quickly liberated the island. At 10:30 a.m. on April 27, our army completely took control of Nam Yet Island. After hearing that our army liberated Song Tu Tay, Son Ca, Nam Yet islands, the enemy troops on Sinh Ton island had wavered in panic and retreated from the morning of April 27, so our forces landed smoothly. At exactly 10:20 on April 28, we completely own the island. At 9:00 am on April 29, 1975, the last combat detachment of the 126th Commando Brigade landed to control Truong Sa island. Since then, Truong Sa island in particular and Truong Sa archipelago in general entered a new historical period, a period of battle building and maturity. Build and maintain national sovereignty The Naval Region 4 Command (Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province) inspects units throughout the Region for combat readiness. Photo: VNA broadcast Truong Sa has a part of the island in Khanh Hoa province, by the Navy forces stationed in Region 4 (Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa) to protect the strategic island waters. Over the past years, promoting the liberation of the Spratly archipelago, the Party Committee and the High Command of the Naval Region 4 have led and directed the units to promote education and grasp thoroughly for the army to grasp the situation of the mission. ; clearly identifying partners, objects and conspiracies, tricks and activities that infringe foreign sovereignty; the Party’s and State’s directing ideas, mottos and policies to deal with maritime issues. Along with that, the Naval Region 4 always attaches great importance to educating the army on the nation’s tradition of fighting the enemy and defending the country, especially the victory of liberating the Spratly archipelago. According to the Political Chairman of the 4th Naval Regional Command, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Manh Chien, for the task of training, combat readiness of the unit. Agencies and units have focused on training cadres, especially those at the level of ships, companies, squadrons, battalions and the like in tactics, techniques, and command organization qualifications to improve high capacity to respond and handle complex situations that may occur. The units, especially the island block and the ship block actively trained proficient in tactics from platoon to battalion level; actively mastering new and modern technical weapons and equipment while increasing mobility training, synergies and training in complicated weather conditions … Along with that, in order to strengthen the building of the defense posture of the entire people, the solid “battle posture of the people”, the sea-coast-island connection, the Naval Region 4 maintains strict regime, order and system. ready to fight; actively organize exercises, drills, thereby supplementing and adjusting combat plans in accordance with the practical situation; promptly advise and propose to the Party Committee, the High Command of the Military Service to handle situations at sea well, not to be passive or unexpected. Chairman of the People’s Committee of Truong Sa island district, Khanh Hoa province Le Dinh Hai shared that the victory of liberating islands in the Spratly archipelago of Military Region 5, the People’s Navy of Vietnam has become a historic milestone. , is a great contribution to the Great Victory in Spring 1975. Promoting the spirit of victory to liberate the Spratly archipelago, officials, soldiers, people on the islands of the Spratly archipelago today always overcome difficulties. actively study, practice, strive to rise, be ready to fight, act as a fulcrum to firmly protect the sovereignty over the sacred seas and islands of the country. Today’s life on Song Tu Tay Island, one of the islands in the Spratly archipelago has had many innovations, said Mr. Thai Minh Khai, a householder living on Song Tu Tay Island, Truong Sa archipelago, said The heart of the Party, State and command of Khanh Hoa province, Song Tu Tay island and the hard work of the family, life here has been stabilized. The family wishes to continue living on the island and strives to train together with officials and soldiers on the island to build and firmly protect the sovereignty of the country. According to Vice Chairman of People’s Committee Song Tu Tay Nguyen The Hung Linh, the households here have stabilized their lives, actively participating in social activities, community activities on the island such as: environmental sanitation in the area. living areas, marine areas, livestock and poultry husbandry, solidarity, love, support, coordinate well with the authorities and soldiers and soldiers on the island to perform work, activities, contribute to creating peaceful island and country.

There are also banners, slogans, and election propaganda panels that everyone sees in these days on the mainland, but seeing that image on the islands of Truong Sa island district and the DK1 rigs, we have The feeling is special. When we arrived at Sinh Ton island commune, the army and people on the island were excitedly preparing for the festival of all people to vote. In the mainland, there are many remarkable activities and images, plus the busy work that distracts many people, not realizing the exciting atmosphere preparing for the election day. And here, the whole island is like on a big festival. Pano, banners, propaganda posters were hung, glued everywhere, loudspeakers broadcast information about the election and songs about election topics bustling across the island … Comrade Ho Luong Hieu, Vice Chairman of Sinh Ton Commune People’s Committee said: The commune has been actively conducting all preparations for the election. In particular, the listing of voters of Sinh Ton island has been completed and consultative meetings have been held. The decoration of the ceremony has also been completed, the propaganda about the election to the fishermen and the units attached to, the armed forces performing the tasks here has been actively done by the locality for many days. The people on the island are well aware that going to vote is the right and duty of each voter, so they are excited to prepare to wait for the election day. Le Xuan Chat, a resident of Sinh Ton island commune, confided: “Outside the remote island, although the access to information is limited, my family and I are always interested in the situation of the country. On this occasion, I heard a lot of propaganda about the election work, I understand clearly the responsibilities of the voters and will consider carefully to elect the most deserving people ”. Officers, soldiers and people in Truong Sa town follow the electoral roll posted at the town People’s Committee. Similarly, in Truong Sa town, the preparation for the election is also actively carried out by the local authorities early. Truong Sa town has 3 constituencies: Unit 1 includes: Truong Sa Lon Island, Da Lat Island; Unit 2 includes: Truong Sa Dong Island, An Bang Island, Da Dong Island, Da Tay Island; The third constituency includes: Thuyen Chai Island, Phan Vinh Island, Toc Tan Island, Nui Le Island, Tien Nu Island. The number of candidates for the People’s Council in Truong Sa town is 24. Truong Sa town is administratively managing many scattered island points, so on election day there will be ships to each island point to coordinate to ensure that all voters can exercise their citizenship. Talking about the election preparation here, comrade Dinh Van Cuong, Chairman of the People’s Council of Truong Sa town, said: “We determine that the upcoming election will be a great festival of the townspeople. On the basis of thoroughly grasping documents of all levels on the electoral work, we set up election committees and established constituencies, electoral groups; fully implemented steps in introducing personnel, consulted and agreed to introduce the candidates for the People’s Council of Truong Sa town in accordance with regulations. Propaganda, ceremony decoration, preparation of constituencies, polling rooms, electoral cards, listing of electoral register … were carefully implemented. All ready for election day. The army and people of Truong Sa town believe that the upcoming election will be successful in the election of the National Assembly and the People’s Council deputies at all levels; At the same time, I hope the Party, State and elected delegates will continue to pay attention to the effective implementation of the Vietnam Maritime Strategy, the development of sea and islands in general and Truong Sa island district in particular to become stronger and stronger. firmly support fishermen to rest assured to reach the sea, firmly protect the sovereignty over the sea and sacred islands of the Fatherland ”. In the Spratly island district, the polling stations prepare the list of contingent electoral cards to be ready to serve fishermen in the area to exercise their right to vote if these voters have no conditions. return to the mainland on election day. Over the past several days, every fisherman’s boat has entered the islands to refuel, water, repair damaged ships or request medical examination and treatment … in addition to helping fishermen, island officials and officials, fighting soldiers stationed on the island also propagated to relatives about the election, and mobilized fishermen if they could not go to the mainland to vote, they would go to the island to register to exercise their voters’ rights and obligations in the great festival of the country. Mr. Cao Van Tho (born 1966, captain of fishing boat KH 99789TS, hometown in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province), who was fishing offshore, was sick, and was treated at the Truong Sa Town Hospital. Here, Mr. Tho was treated by doctors and heard propaganda about the election. Mr. Tho said: “I was informed by the soldiers here about the election and introduced the election points in Truong Sa. Election day, the capabilities of my ship are operating offshore. I will send the ship to the nearest polling place on the island for all crew members to exercise their right to vote ”. Sacred island votes are far away For the soldiers on the islands, the preparations for the election day are conducted very methodically and urgently. The activities of the army, emulation movements, political activities with the theme of the election were actively conducted by all units. On Truong Sa Dong Island, election education and propaganda have been actively and effectively implemented, both integrated into unit activities, mass organizations, and distributed continuously on the system. Internal broadcasting, hanging banners, panels, posters in many locations. The first time to exercise the right to vote, in this special place, soldier Nguyen Van Cong (Truong Sa Dong island) confided: “To me, this will be a memorable memory in my life because not everyone. I was also fortunate to participate in the election in the middle of the sea, in the sacred Spratly archipelago of the Fatherland. My teammates and I were eagerly awaiting the big festival but also quite nervous because this was the first time. Currently, I have the right to vote for the National Assembly and the People’s Council. Being in charge of the education and propaganda unit, I understand that I have to take high responsibility for my vote when voting ”. According to comrade Le Dinh Hai, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Truong Sa island district, the locality has implemented specific election work to each island commune and Truong Sa town. The entire island district has 24 polling stations. Currently, the preparation for the election has been basically completed. Khanh Hoa Provincial Election Committee proposed to the National Election Council for Truong Sa island district to hold elections a week earlier than the whole country. On the DK1 rigs, although the space is narrow and few people, but the preparation for the election for the 15th National Assembly and the representatives of the People’s Council at all levels for the term 2021-2026 is still carried out very methodically and thoughtfully. The day we went to the DK1-9 rigs, panels, campaign propaganda slogans were posted in the most formal and conspicuous locations; Voter lists are posted in the central meeting room of the rig. Senior Lieutenant Do Quoc Trai, Politician of the DK1-9 Rig said: “The election at the rigs is done according to the plan of the Naval Region 4. On the day of the election, the election team will move to each rig house. In the middle of the sea, we clearly see the sacredness of the voting ballot and we always determined to uphold the responsibility, contribute to the successful implementation of the whole country. This important dispatch ”. As far as Truong Sa island district and DK1 rigs were found, even in the middle of the sea, the preparations for the election day were still actively carried out by the Party committee, authorities, troops and people. thoughtful; All voters uphold their responsibilities, eagerly waiting for the day to manually vote to elect people worthy of representing themselves, for the people to join the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels with the expectation that delegates are full Having enough virtue and talent will continue to shoulder the responsibility of building the homeland, the country develops and prosperity day by day.

Satellite images recorded by the US company Maxar Technologies on March 23 showed that about 220 Chinese ships anchored near Ba Dau rock in Sinh Ton cluster, infringing upon Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Spratly archipelago. (Source: Getty Images) “Prelude” smooth? The incident of hundreds of Chinese ships gathered in Ba Dau Stone has been attracting the attention of domestic and international public opinion today, especially on China’s intentional motives. Philippine officials and scholars warn, this is a sign that China may be taking on new attempts in the South China Sea, possibly leading to the occupation of this rocky beach as it did with Hoang Nham in 2012. Former judge Antonio De Carpio said that the hundreds of fishing vessels gathered at Ba Dau Stone is likely to be “prelude” for China to occupy this beach as what Beijing did with the Ring Stone in 1995. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Trieu Lap Kien affirmed that Chinese ships are only on this rocky beach to avoid bad weather, and this is a normal practice that has taken place for a long time. China. This spokesman also said that the Philippines calling the ships above as civilian fishing ships was not true. Meanwhile, scholars Andrew Erickson and Ryan Martinson of the US Naval War College analyzed AIS satellite data to prove that there are at least seven of the ships operating in the Sinh Ton island cluster, with the number the branding of each ship is clear, belonging to China’s “armed militia at sea” force. Besides, the group of ships here does not show that these are normal fishing vessels. Regarding the activities of Chinese fishing vessels in the South China Sea at Ba Dau Rock in the Spratly Islands of Vietnam, at a regular press conference on the afternoon of April 8, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said : It is necessary to reiterate that Vietnam has full historical evidence and legal basis asserting sovereignty over the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, in accordance with international law, as well as sovereignty, sovereignty right, jurisdiction over the relevant waters in the South China Sea, established in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982. All forms of propaganda and promotion of contents contrary to historical truth and international law is invalid, can not change the reality of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, as well as the reality of the South China Sea issue. China is against the law of nature Through analyzing satellite image data, observers said, there are at least 3 reasons to believe that the gathering of hundreds of Chinese ships in Ba Dau Stone is not the purpose of avoiding bad weather, and this is also not a long-standing custom of Chinese fishing vessels. first , satellite image data taken from Ba Dau Stone from 2016 up to now shows that hundreds of Chinese ships gathered at Da Ba Dau is a phenomenon that has only started to appear from February 2020. In previous years, Chinese fishing vessels had been anchored sporadically at Da Ba Dau but usually no more than 20 ships, and the ships had never been reassembled into such large structures. Monday According to satellite image data, the phenomenon of China massaging ships and boats mounted into structures at Ba Dau Stone since the beginning of 2020 has lasted for weeks or even months. Such a long gathering period was clearly not meant to avoid bad weather. Moreover, the mass gathering of ships only occurs at Da Ba Dau, while around the Sinh Ton island cluster there are many natural structures, also suitable for ships anchored to avoid weather. bad, but there were almost no ships anchored or sheltered there. Tuesday March and April each year is the quietest time of the year in the Trường Sa area of ​​the year. Vietnamese folk have a saying: “In March, the old woman goes to the sea”, this time is the calm sea season, even the old woman can go to the sea, so ships all choose this time to go fishing. The fact that China used the reasons for bad weather shelter is not only inconsistent with the satellite image data obtained, but also contrary to the natural laws of the area. New salami slicing strategy So what does China mean by gathering hundreds of fishing boats at Ba Dau Rock, with the number of years after the year being much higher than the previous year, as satellite image data shows? Maybe China’s goal is to establish a regular, large-scale presence in the Ba Dau Stone, turn this presence into a “normal” thing, gradually move towards fully taking control and possibly Illegally building and renovating this stone into a new military facility. This will be China’s new salami-sand tactic to effectively expand control of the South China Sea. It is likely that this tactic will use a large number of ships gathered in an area to obstruct the activities of countries, and at the same time, these ships can spread, encircle, harass or impede operations. of other countries in different structures. Professor Alexander L. Vuving of the Center for Asia-Pacific Security Research in Honolulu, USA, said that China may be using a tactic as used in Scarborough Shoal, to blatantly gain control. in the field at Ba Dau rock which has a strategic location. Beijing tried to take the stone in the 1990s, he warns, but with no success, but this time it may be different. Alexander reiterates that Vietnam was the first party to speak out about the Three Heads Stone, opposing China allowing troops to land on that entity in 1992, so China may have changed its tactics. It is also possible that another goal of China is to gather a large number of militia ships here to deter countries in the region during the sea season of fishermen, which is also the season when countries in the region deploy activities. oil and gas exploitation activities. Meanwhile, Grigory Lokshin, a Russian expert on the South China Sea, said that there is no doubt that this is a Chinese political action in response to the meeting of the new Quartet in Tokyo in March. by. And former director of the China Maritime Research Institute at the University of Maritime Warfare Peter Dutton said that Beijing is pressuring US allies in the South China Sea to send the implicit message: “China is strong and will do what Beijing wants, if needed, regardless of previous laws or commitments. Whatever the reason and the motive, China’s gathering of large numbers of ships in the Ba Dau Stone has once again raised concerns about China’s intentional goal in the region, undermining strategic confidence in when the region needs cooperation in economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. This action is also unlikely to be considered a goodwill act in the context of ASEAN and China working to revive the negotiation process of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). This behavior also violates the spirit of the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea (DOC), violates the principle of restraint not complicating the already increasingly complicated situation here, is the main cause of public opinion in the region. and international concerns and criticisms of China over the past time. (According to South China Sea Research)

Chinese fleets are lined up at the Ba Dau Rock area in the South China Sea. Photo: CNN

Two weeks later, more than 40 Chinese ships remained in the Ba Dau Stone and the statements became more concise. The Philippine Foreign Ministry on April 12 warned China that Manila would issue daily protest diplomatic notes as long as the mainland’s “marine militia” remained in the area. The Philippines authorities have used a phrase similar to the US way of describing the Chinese fleet.

Bloomberg quoted Carl Schuster, former director of missions at the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center as commenting: “If your goal is to capture an ocean and atoll, without fighting, this is an excellent dishonesty tactic. Only professional seafarers knew it was a lie. No one allowed their ships to ‘shelter’ in the hurricane zone several weeks before a storm. If they were really commercial ships, it would cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars a day to lay these ships idle side by side.

Analysts Andreo Calonzo and Philip Heijmans said Beijing appears to be probing whether the new US President Joe Biden will take any action after pledging to shake hands with allies in the region to prevent Chinese assertiveness or not. Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin blamed the Obama administration for failing to stop Beijing in a similar incident in 2012 at Scarborough Shoal.

“This is a test of what the Biden administration is willing to do. The way the US responds will determine the next challenge. For now, everything we (the US) have done is more eloquent than substantive, ”said Schuster, currently professor in military science and diplomacy at the University of Hawaii Pacific. emphasize.

Complex decisions

Last month, the US vowed to stand with the Philippines while accusing China of using “maritime militias to intimidate, provoke and intimidate other countries”. When asked about relations with China at a news conference the same month, President Biden revealed that his administration “would hold China accountable for obeying the rules” in the South China Sea and elsewhere.

Another big problem is how to correct the response. China’s use of commercial fishing vessels resembles a “gray zone” tactic, allowing Beijing to deny that anything is wrong. Sending an aircraft carrier or other warships near the reef risks becoming an overreact, making the United States seem like the aggressor.

On the contrary, doing nothing can give the impression of weakness. Over the past few years, the United States has increased its challenge of China’s sovereignty over the waters, increasing the frequency of free navigation operations around disputed territories. The Biden administration also reaffirmed that the US-Philippines defense treaty covers every attack in the South China Sea, which was made clear under former President Donald Trump after decades of ambiguity.

Another major problem for Mr. Biden is Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte, who has weakened the alliance while praising closer ties with Beijing.

According to Rommel Ong, a retired Philippine Navy admiral and now professor at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Management, under President Duterte there will be only very limited options for the Navy. Manila’s response is believed to be limited to sending objectionable diplomatic notes and anti-China statements via social media.

The Philippines’ statement on April 12 used some of the strongest words, including a 2016 international arbitral tribunal ruling. The statement also condemns the Chinese Embassy for criticizing the minister. Defense Delfin Lorenzana, who last weekend said the weather was fine and boats had no reason to stay in the Ba Dau Rock area.

Warning

Duterte’s government responded to China’s April 3 statement with a statement that it hopes Filipino officials will “avoid any unprofessional remarks that may add to irrational feelings”. . On April 13, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lap Kien accused the Philippines of violating the United Nations Charter, the Law of the Sea and international law by invoking the 2016 ruling of the United Nations court. But Beijing insisted on rejecting.

Mr. Trieu warned the Philippines should see the situation “objectively and properly, stop exaggerating the problem to avoid any negative effects on the bilateral relationship between the two countries, stability and peace in the country. East Sea”. The Beijing representative also denied that the Chinese ships illegally present in the Ba Dau Rock belonged to the maritime militia.

President Duterte broke his weeks-long silence with an April 13 statement, insisting the dispute would be resolved through “peaceful measures” and would not “shape the relationship. Bilateral”.

“It will not be an obstacle to the positive overall development trajectory of our bilateral friendship,” the Philippine government leader said in the statement, citing increasingly deep cooperation. vaccine against Covid-19 and “economic recovery from the pandemic” between the two sides.

Reputation is compromised

Vaccine access has become a major concern for Mr. Duterte. Manila was shut down again last week as the Philippines faces its worst outbreak and is expecting much of the vaccine supply from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac.

The Philippine President attended a March 29 celebration in which Chinese Ambassador Huang Zilian said the vaccine was a testament to the “closer cooperation in the new era” between the two countries.

Shahriman Lockman, a senior analyst at the Institute for Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia, said that this time, Washington was “not so naive” after a failed attempt in 2012 to reach a withdrawal agreement. retreating from Scarborough Shoal “did great damage to American prestige in Southeast Asia”. According to Mr. Lockman, the Biden administration is wary of the danger of sinking into this scenario and not knowing if they will eventually be blamed for escalating the situation, which is quite possible while the Philippines capable of reacting only in a perfunctory way.

US and Philippine soldiers in a “Balikatan” exercise

Attempting to repeat the “gray area” strategy.

The question of where the Chinese marine militia ships have been unusually concentrated since the beginning of March 2021 in the Ba Dau rocky area located in the Sinh Ton Dong island cluster in the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam. when the number of more than 200 ships dropped to a few dozen, there was an answer. The latest aerial photographs of the Philippines show that hundreds of Chinese marine militia ships are gathered in Ga Ven rock and Ken Nan rock in the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam.

Images taken by satellite Europe and the US, published by the AFP news agency on April 13, also show that China’s marine militia fleet is present in a large number of hundreds of ships in Ga Ven rock. The pictures taken by the Philippine authorities. According to experts, the Chinese maritime militia fleet is no longer crowded and large rafts like Ba Dau rock but radiates, thickens around Ga Ven rocks and Ken Nan rocks of the Spratly Islands of Vietnam. Male.

Previously, from the beginning of March 2021, Philippine officials and photos taken from satellites said that hundreds of Chinese iron-hulled ships were abnormally concentrated in the waters close to Ba Dau rock in Vietnamese territorial waters. The South is in Sinh Ton Dong island cluster, located in Truong Sa archipelago. Subsequent tallys showed that the number of Chinese iron-hull ships was more than 220, many of which were made into large rafts.

The Chinese side justifies that these are fishing boats, concentrated in Ba Dau rock “due to bad weather”. However, Philippine officials immediately rejected when claiming that the weather in this area is very good, moreover, these ships only turn on the lights all night, but absolutely do not have any fishing activities.

Filipino officials confirmed that hundreds of Chinese iron-hull ships gathered in Ba Dau rock since early March were Chinese marine militia ships disguised as fishing ships. Therefore, the fact that hundreds of marine militia ships have aggressive and aggressive acts on Ba Dau Rock has caused regional nations, the international community and analysts alike to think that Beijing is trying. calculated once again the “gray area” tactic for Ba Dau rock, a shallow beach with an area of ​​about 10km belonging to Sinh Ton Dong island cluster in the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam.

In a strategy throughout the realization of its sovereignty ambitions in the South China Sea, China has adopted the “gray zone” tactic, using the overwhelming power of a disguised fleet of iron-shell fishing vessels that are essentially marine militia ships with the backing of armed ships to illegally occupy control of entities such as the Philippines-controlled Scaborough Shoal in 2012, the Vanh Khan (about 50 nautical miles from Ba Dau) in the Spratly Islands Vietnam in 1995. Thus, the unusual concentration of hundreds of marine militia ships managed by the Chinese army in the Ba Dau Rock under Vietnam’s legal and undisputed sovereignty has caused experts to accept. China may be contemplating a repeat of a dangerous tactic nine years ago to forcefully capture and control a Scaborough.

This concern is more and more basic when hundreds of ships gathered in Ba Dau rock at the same time and radiated Ga Ven rock and Ken Nan rock of the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam, many armed ships, ships. Chinese heavy warfare is also present in the region for its taciturn backing. Most recently, the combat squadron of the Liaodong carrier of China, after conducting exercises in waters near the island of Taiwan, moved southward into the South China Sea. It is reported that the Shandong aircraft carrier combat squadron, the aircraft carrier built by China, is also present in the South China Sea.

Do not accept ostentation, encroachment in the East Sea

A series of moves that show off China’s military power in the South China Sea are concerned by regional countries, the international community, especially countries with interests attached to this sea area with deep concern. . On April 13, the Philippine Foreign Ministry summoned the Chinese Ambassador to the country to protest the actions of the Chinese ships at Ba Dau Rock. The Philippine Foreign Ministry earlier also sent a protest note to Beijing, and rejected the Chinese interpretation that disguised iron hulls in Ba Dau rock were just “ordinary fishing boats anchored due to bad weather. “.

At the same time with the strong response through diplomatic channels, the Philippines also took action on the ground to deal with China’s aggressive, aggressive behavior. Most recently, on April 13, the Philippines has deployed 1 more coast guard ship, 4 naval ships and 2 ships of the fisheries protection agency to many Chinese ships that are abnormally concentrated in the South China Sea.

Filipino Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana on April 10 had a phone call with his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, to discuss the South China Sea situation and the appearance of hundreds of Chinese marine militia ships in the Ba Rock. Head. During the phone call, Mr. Austin proposed a series of measures to strengthen defense cooperation between the US and the Philippines, including “raising awareness of the situation of threats in the South China Sea”, and the Minister of State. rooms of the two countries share a commitment to maintaining close communication.

Just a day after the phone call, the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Armed Forces (AFP) said on April 11 that the joint exercise with the US named Balikatan was resumed and started from April 12. during 2 weeks with the participation of thousands of soldiers from the two countries. The exercise is said to be the cooperation and action of the Philippines and the US in response to a series of provocations by China in the South China Sea.

Previously, when answering questions from reporters about Vietnam’s reaction to many Chinese ships operating at Ba Dau beach in the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed. , the activities of Chinese ships within the territorial sea of ​​Sinh Ton Dong belonging to the Spratlys of Vietnam have violated the sovereignty of Vietnam, violating the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the activities of foreign ships in the territorial sea of ​​a coastal country, contrary to the spirit and content of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), complicates the situation, is not beneficial for the negotiation process of a Code of Conduct between ASEAN and China in the South China Sea (COC).

The spokesperson stressed that Vietnam asked China to stop its infringement; respect for the sovereignty of Vietnam; goodwill to implement UNCLOS; strictly comply with the DOC, especially the obligation to restrain, not complicate the situation; create a favorable environment for the COC negotiation process; contribute to maintaining peace, security, stability and legal order at sea in the region.