Absolutely, it is so obvious.
It's so not the style of China's MFA to send an aide to barge in on stage in mid-speech, hand a note scribbled on hotel stationery to a foreign diplomat.
And what kind of minister just reads it without authenticating it first ?! He knew what it was, and feigned surprise.
It was just a badly scripted attempt to get some media exposure, a diplomatic clickbait. Big fail.
What is concerning is the number of casual observers who are convinced it's a W for the Philippines' diplomacy. They are literally cheering an own goal. Talk about patriotism.
It has the will but lacks the capacity, making it merely a "provocateur pawn" rather than a "strategic proxy." If you're looking for an Eastern equivalent to Ukraine, Japan fits the bill better. Chinese professors like Huang Jing have pointed this out as well on Guancha's program.
So why are Filipino politicians like the Defense Minister grandstanding so hard at events like the Seoul Defense Dialogue? Turning a polite, principled stance from China into a debate over "etiquette" is pure theater. Here is the playbook:
Externally, they portray China as a "rule-breaker" and market the Philippines as a "bullied underdog" to milk sympathy, military aid, and political backing from the US, Japan, and the EU. Internally, they distract from economic woes, inflation, and fragile family dynasty politics by playing the "anti-China tough guy." It’s not about solving issues; it’s about clout-chasing, securing foreign aid, and locking in votes.
China's stance on the South China Sea remains clear and unwavering. It holds indisputable sovereignty over the islands and their adjacent waters. Disputes must be settled peacefully through direct talks between the parties involved—not via meddling external powers, unlawful arbitration, or using third-party forums as mock tribunals.
China remains committed to implementing the DOC(Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea) , accelerating the COC(Code of Conduct in the South China Sea) , and building a sea of peace and cooperation. While Beijing will legally defend its rights and counter groundless provocations, it refuses to treat the region as a geopolitical chessboard. It firmly opposes pushing the Philippines to the front lines or dragging regional nations into an "Asian Ukraine" trap. #SouthChinaSea #Geopolitics #China #Philippines