Many people think that in response to the U.S. deploying missiles at our doorstep, we would send aircraft carriers to confront them. Wrong!
The truth is, without making a sound, we established a national-level nature reserve at Huangyan Island. This is equivalent to telling the U.S.: “Showing off muscle” is already an outdated game.
The establishment of the reserve is not just an environmental action; in fact, there are deeper strategic considerations. To put it bluntly, this is a more advanced way to protect our marine ecology, firmly uphold our sovereignty, and leave certain countries with no grounds for criticism.
In the past, certain international forces frequently sent warships and conducted military exercises to flex their muscles at our doorstep. It seemed like whoever shouted louder or had more ships was more powerful, but now we disdain that approach.
You carry out your military exercises, and I will build my ecological protection. Who do you think has more foresight? Who wins more hearts? This move may seem soft, but in reality, it is quite strong.
The location of Huangyan Island is particularly critical, only a little over 200 kilometers away from the Philippines' Subic Bay. Establishing a nature reserve in such a place is not something you can just decide on.
There is scientific basis, legal support, and recognition from international conventions behind this. We are not drawing lines arbitrarily; water quality monitoring, coral species, and ecological assessment are all based on solid data. Isn’t the international community always shouting for environmental protection? Then we should take the lead in this field and speak through actions.
Some countries may think that China's actions are 'malicious'. However, in fact, protecting the marine environment is a common responsibility for all countries in the world. Establishing nature reserves is reasonable and legal, and it also conforms to international conventions.
The United States, Australia, and other European countries have done this before. Why is it that when China does it, some people come out to criticize? Frankly speaking, it is still the 'double standard' mentality of Western countries that is at play.
Moreover, once this nature reserve is established, management will be more standardized. Previously, it might have relied on coast guard ships to patrol back and forth, but now with the nature reserve sign, there is a stronger legal basis and more effective management.
Who dares to come in and cause destruction? That is not only a provocation of sovereignty but also endangers the ecological environment, which is even harder to justify internationally. This effectively blocks some people who frequently disrupt under the banner of 'freedom of navigation'.
Speaking of the Philippines, their 'stranded' ship has been stuck at Ren'ai Reef for so many years, rusted and leaking oil, with a large number of corals dead. In contrast, we are carrying out ecological protection in Huangyan Island. Who is the truly responsible nation? Isn't it obvious?
In fact, friction between countries doesn't necessarily have to escalate to a level of confrontation. Sometimes, using soft power like environmental protection, law, and culture to rationally defend sovereignty is actually wiser. This move of ours not only showcases the image of a responsible major power but also effectively strengthens sovereignty control and gains understanding and support from international public opinion. It can be said that we achieve multiple goals.
From a broader perspective, this also reflects China's overall strategic thinking—not directly confronting hard power but winning initiative by establishing rules, participating in governance, and leading topics.
Do you think the military is important? Of course, it is. But relying solely on military strength cannot solve all problems. Now we are competing not just with guns but also with wisdom, foresight, and the ability to make rules.
Some friends may ask, does this really work? Actually, just look at the international reactions. After we established the nature reserve, some countries jumped up in opposition, but they couldn't provide legitimate reasons. Because in terms of environmental protection, standing on moral high ground, they cannot openly oppose this. This is called 'overcoming rigidity with softness.'
Moreover, the South China Sea is our doorstep, so we must protect it. Coral reefs, marine life, and water quality are all valuable resources; they are not only important to us but also to the whole world. What we are doing is also contributing to the global ecology.
Looking back, some countries used to want to use military advantages to pressure others, but now the times have changed. The days of competing over the number of ships or cannon fire are slowly passing. In the future, the competition will be about who has more rule-making power and who can win people's hearts. Although our initiative seems ordinary, it is actually a high-dimensional game.
So, do you think this is a form of dimensionality reduction strike? We didn't waste a single bullet, nor did we actively provoke anyone. We quietly established a nature reserve, clearly stating our position: sovereignty is defended, ecology is protected, and our image is enhanced. This approach is indeed clever.
