According to reports by the Associated Press and other foreign media on Tuesday, two senior Philippine officials claimed that the Philippine forces recently experienced communications interference from Chinese vessels while attempting to resupply the illegally grounded warship at Ren’ai Jiao. In response to the claims, a source from the Chinese military told the Global Times on Wednesday that the accusations were entirely fabricated and deliberately sensationalizing the situation, revealing their intent to escalate tensions in the South China Sea.
Philippine forces transported food, fuel and new personnel to the warship at Ren’ai Jiao the South China Sea, where Chinese government ships jammed communications during the hours long supply mission, the AP reported, citing two top unnamed officials in the Philippines.
One of the officials claimed that the CCG jammed communications apparently to prevent possible drone surveillance by foreign forces. They did not elaborate and spoke on condition of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity, according to the AP.
A source from the Chinese military told the Global Times on Tuesday that the Philippine allegations were entirely fabricated and deliberately provocative. According to the source, out of humanitarian considerations, China allowed a Philippine civilian vessel on November 14 to deliver basic supplies to the illegally grounded warship at Ren’ai Jiao, with the CCG verifying and monitoring the operation throughout. The so-called media hype by certain Philippine individuals has clearly undermined the previously stable situation, revealing the Philippines’ intent to escalate tensions.
“The Philippine side’s accusations are evasive. It is obvious that they intended to stir up trouble but failed, so they resorted to fabricating claims in order to forcefully create a ‘hot topic’ and draw attention,” Yang Xiao, a maritime issues expert at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Since the June 17, 2024 incident, the Philippines has clearly felt China’s state of full-time vigilance and firm preparedness, as well as China’s determination to resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests at the Ren’ai Jiao waters, Yang said, noting that the cost of Philippine provocations at Ren’ai Jiao has continued to rise, and any substantive acts of infringement or provocation will inevitably be met with strong countermeasures from China.
The Chinese expert noted that on one hand, they cannot bear the potential losses of manpower and resources from provocative actions; on the other hand, they are unwilling to fade quietly in the international public opinion arena. As a result, they resort to fabricating lies, creating waves and smearing China, Yang said, noting that after all, portraying China as a “bully” has long been one of the Philippines’ objectives in stirring trouble in the South China Sea.
The “6.17 Incident” in recent years marked one of the most serious provocations by the Philippines in the vicinity of China’s Ren’ai Jiao, prompting a strong Chinese response.
According to an official statement previously released by the CCG, on June 17, 2024, the Philippines violated its commitments by sending one supply vessel and two inflatable boats to illegally enter the waters near Ren’ai Jiao, attempting to deliver supplies to the illegally grounded warship. During the operation, the Philippine resupply vessel dangerously approached and deliberately collided with Chinese vessels conducting normal navigation. The CCG lawfully implemented warning interceptions, boarding inspections, and forced removal measures. The operation was handled in a reasonable, legal, and professional manner.
Footage of the enforcement operation was later released in early August this year in the China Central Television program. The video showed the Philippine vessels illegally entering the waters near Ren’ai Jiao, with personnel on board not only pouring unidentified liquids at Chinese personnel but also threatening them with firearms. Faced with these threats, CCG officers remained undaunted and ultimately towed the infringing vessels away from the area. This operation has been recognized as a vivid demonstration of China to safeguard peace through resolute struggle.
“After this incident, based on humanitarian considerations, China reached a consensus with the Philippines that as long as the Philippines provides prior notification, accepts Chinese inspection, and ensures that no other sensitive materials are being transported, China will tacitly allow the resupply activities. To date, this mechanism has operated smoothly under Chinese supervision,” Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told a Global Times reporter on Wednesday.
He added that if the Philippine resupply activities are carried out through friendly consultation between China and the Philippines, properly notified, inspected, and guaranteed to contain no illegal materials, China will not interfere with such humanitarian resupply.
The Chinese expert believes that the so-called “jamming communication” hyped by foreign media and some Philippine officials are impossible. This is because the Philippines was using a chartered civilian merchant vessel for the resupply mission, and there is no need to conduct electromagnetic interference against such a civilian ship.
“The so-called ‘telecommunication interference’ seems more like the imagination of certain Philippine figures, similar to their previous hype about China using ‘laser weapons,’ and is a seriously exaggerated narrative. Its purpose is likely to deliberately create a false narrative and exaggerate the ‘China threat,’ which has long been a common tactic of the Philippines and its related media,” Chen said.