Exclusive video footage obtained by the Global Times shows a Philippine “fisherman” holding a long knife during a law enforcement operation by the China Coast Guard at Xianbin Jiao in the South China Sea.

 在12月15日举行的外交部例行记者会上，发言人郭嘉昆在回应外媒问询时透露，12月12日菲律宾有组织有预谋地纠集大量船只在仙宾礁附近海域挑衅滋事，并冲闯仙宾礁潟湖，此次行动中菲方人员甚至持刀威胁中方现场维权执法的海警。《环球时报》记者于15日获取的独家影像显示，面对中国海警的执法人员的管控和取证，菲方人员竟拿出长刀进行挑衅。

After China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday revealed that Philippine personnel threatened Chinese law enforcement officers with knives during a recent, organized provocation near Xianbin Jiao in the South China Sea, exclusive video footage obtained by the Global Times on the same day showed that Philippine individuals openly wielding long blades in defiance of China Coast Guard (CCG) officers conducting on-site control and evidence collection.

相关专家12月16日在接受《环球时报》记者采访时表示，在此次的侵权挑衅行动中，菲方人员所展现出的组织性、对抗性，以及与菲海警船只的高度协同性表明菲方人员绝非普通渔民，而是菲军方秘密组织的“武装渔民”。“此次侵权挑衅活动表明菲方开始采用‘武装渔民’方式打头阵，目的是升级碰瓷手法，加强对华污名化叙事。”

An expert noted the level of organization, confrontation and high degree of coordination with Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels displayed by the Philippine personnel during the infringement and provocation at Xianbin Jiao clearly showed that they were not ordinary fishermen, but reserve forces covertly organized by the Philippine military. This move indicates that the Philippine side has begun deploying "armed fishermen" as the vanguard in the South China Sea, with the aim of escalating its staged confrontation tactics and strengthening stigmatizing narratives against China, the expert told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

据中国海警局通报，12月12日，菲律宾多批船只打着捕鱼的旗号，不顾中国海警一再劝阻和警告，执意赴中国南沙群岛仙宾礁海域滋事挑衅。中国海警对菲方船只依法依规采取喊话警告、外逼驱离等必要管控措施。

Earlier, CCG said in a statement that multiple batches of Philippine vessels that deliberately intruded into the waters adjacent to Xianbin Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao under the pretext of fishing on December 12, despite repeated dissuasion and stern warnings from the CCG. The CCG said it took necessary control measures, including issuing verbal warnings and expelling by external means.

随后，菲方对于中方的正常维权执法进行了污名化叙事。菲律宾海岸警卫队发言人杰伊·塔里埃拉13日在社交平台上X上转发《环球时报》的相关报道称，约20艘菲律宾“渔船”遭到中国海警船艇的“暴力袭击”，中方船艇使用了水炮并采取了阻拦行动。中国海警舰船海出动小型硬壳充气艇海割断了数艘菲律宾“渔船”的锚链。此次行动中，三名菲律宾“渔民”受伤，两艘渔船受损。路透社12月15日的报道称，菲政府当天表示，将抗议中国海警的行为。菲律宾海事委员会则在一份声明中表示：“菲律宾将采取适当的外交回应。”

Following the incident, the Philippines launched a smear campaign against China’s lawful law enforcement actions. On Saturday, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Jay Tarriela reposted related Global Times coverage on social media platform X, claiming that approximately 20 Philippine “fishing boats” had been “targeted” by CCG vessels, alleging the use of water cannons, blocking maneuvers, and the cutting of anchor lines by small rigid-hulled inflatable boats. He also claimed that three Philippine “fishermen” were injured and two vessels damaged. Reuters reported on Monday that the Philippine government vows to lodge a protest, while the Philippine maritime council claimed that “the Philippines will undertake the appropriate diplomatic response.”

而在12月15日举行的外交部例行记者会上，发言人郭嘉昆在回应外媒问询时则透露了菲方本次挑衅侵权行动的真相。

However, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun revealed the true nature of the incident at a regular press briefing on Monday. 

“12月12日，菲律宾有组织有预谋地纠集大量船只在仙宾礁附近海域挑衅滋事，并冲闯仙宾礁潟湖。期间，菲方所谓渔船不顾中方一再劝阻和警告，顽固在仙宾礁潟湖滞留，还多次采取恶意转向等危险举动。菲方人员甚至持刀威胁中方现场维权执法的海警。”郭嘉昆表示，菲方行径严重侵犯中方主权和权益，严重违反国际法和南海各方行为宣言，严重破坏海上和平稳定。

He said that “On December 12, the Philippines has taken organized and orchestrated moves to send a large number of ships to make provocations and create trouble in the waters off Xianbin Jiao and intruded into the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao. The Philippines’ so-called fishing ships, despite China’s repeated dissuasion and warning, have deliberately anchored in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao and repeatedly conducted dangerous maneuvers including veering suddenly off course. The Philippine personnel even threatened China Coast Guard officers with knives who were carrying out rights-defending law enforcement activities," Guo said.

The Philippines’ moves seriously infringe upon China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, violate international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and sabotage maritime peace and stability, Guo noted.

《环球时报》记者于当天获取的影像显示，面对中国海警执法人员对菲侵权船只的管控与查证，菲方所谓的“渔民”不仅不配合，还拿出长刀挥舞挑衅。相关知情人士介绍称，菲方所谓“渔民”挥舞的刀具长约20公分，其行为对中国海警执法人员的人身安全造成严重威胁。

Exclusive footage obtained by the Global Times on Monday showed that when CCG officers attempted to control and verify the intruding vessels, the so-called Philippine “fishermen” not only refused to cooperate, but also waved long knives in a provocative manner. 

A source close to the matter told the Global Times that the knives were approximately 20 centimeters in length and posed a serious threat to the personal safety of Chinese law enforcement personnel.

“种种行径表明，参与此次侵权行动的所谓菲渔民绝非普通渔民，而是菲方暗中组织的，具有军事属性的‘武装渔民’，此次侵权行动让菲方这一计划正式浮出水面。”中国现代国际关系研究院研究员杨霄12月16日在接受《环球时报》记者采访时表示，在菲方此次的侵权挑衅行动中，菲方所谓“渔民”面对中国海警专业化的维权执法，展现出了“训练有素”的一面。对于中方的劝阻和警告，菲方人员不仅执意冲闯，还在中国海警舰船之间恶意转向，多次做出危险举动，甚至持刀表现出强烈的对抗性。“如果仅仅是以打渔为生的普通渔民，这些行为所带来的风险远大于收益，因为菲渔民使用的‘八爪鱼船’经不起对抗性活动。”

“All these actions indicate that the so-called Philippine fishermen involved were by no means ordinary fishermen, but reserve forces secretly organized by the Philippine side with clear military attributes,” Yang Xiao, a maritime issues expert at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Tuesday, adding that the operation marked the formal surfacing of a plan long in preparation.

Yang noted that during the confrontation, the Philippine personnel demonstrated a level of organization, confrontation and coordination inconsistent with civilian fishing activities. “Facing the professional and standardized law enforcement of the CCG, they appeared well-trained,” he said, adding that they deliberately forced their way through, made dangerous maneuvers between CCG vessels, and even displayed knives. 

“If they were merely ordinary fishermen making a living, the risks of such behavior would far outweigh any potential gains, especially given that the ‘octopus boats’ they use cannot withstand any confrontational activities,” Yang said.

此外，他进一步分析称，菲律宾海岸警卫队发言人杰伊·塔里埃拉的相关表述也说明参与此次侵权行动的绝非普通渔民。“·塔里埃拉称，菲海警4403、4411船就部署在附近为菲‘渔民’提供关键支持，向‘渔民’分发燃料和食品，这表明菲所谓‘渔民’与菲海警船艇之间具有高度的协同性，菲‘渔民’负责打头阵，菲海警舰船则负责提供后勤保障，菲‘武装渔民’开始承担‘碰瓷’中国海警舰船的任务”。杨霄称。

He further pointed out that statements by PCG spokesperson Tarriela indicated the Philippine personnel involved in this incident are not normal fishermen. Tarriela acknowledged that PCG vessels 4403 and 4411 were deployed nearby to provide “key support,” including fuel and food supplies. “This shows a high degree of coordination: the ‘fishermen’ take the lead on the front line, while coast guard vessels provide logistical support. Philippine ‘armed fishing vessels’ are being used to stage confrontations with CCG ships,” Yang said.

菲“武装渔民”计划是菲律宾武装部队于2023年提出的一项南海侵权计划。据公营电视台ABC-CBN此前报道，时任菲律宾武装部队总参谋长罗密欧·布劳纳2023年8月表示，菲律宾正计划组建“海上民兵”，并考虑让菲渔民加入预备役部队。时任菲律宾武装部队西部司令部司令的阿尔贝托·卡洛斯则表示，发展“后备力量”是其中一项重点工作，也将是一项举国之力的行动。菲军方鼓励菲律宾渔民前往南海的争议海域行使捕鱼权。

The Armed Forces of the Philippines have planned to organize fishermen in reserve forces in 2023 as part of its South China Sea strategy. According to a previous report by Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN, AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. said in August 2023 that the Philippines was planning to establish a “reserve force” to strengthen its presence in the South China Sea, and considering incorporating fishermen into the reserve force. Alberto Carlos, then commander of the AFP Western Command, said developing reserve forces would be “one of the thrusts” of Chief of Staff of AFP, and “a whole of nation approach”, with fishermen encouraged to operate in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

“让‘武装渔民’参与到南海侵权行动显然可以服务于菲方的‘认知战’，通过鼓励所谓的菲‘渔民’驾驶着八爪鱼船去碰瓷先进的中国海警舰艇，从而塑造中方在南海恃强凌弱的‘霸凌形象’，对华开展污名化叙事。”杨霄表示，如果菲方认为通过这种方式就能“束缚”中方的维权执法行动，开展“作秀式”侵权和“渐进式”侵权就大错特错了，中国海警依法在中国管辖海域持续开展维权执法活动的决心，不会因为侵权对象的不同而动摇。

Yang said deploying “armed fishermen” serves Manila’s “cognitive warfare” objectives by encouraging fishermen to use lightly built boats to provoke encounters with advanced CCG vessels, thereby portraying China as a “bully” and reinforcing stigmatizing narratives against China. “If the Philippine side believes this approach can constrain China’s rights-protection and law enforcement, it is gravely mistaken,” he said, adding that China’s determination to conduct lawful enforcement in waters under its jurisdiction “will not waver because of who the infringing actors are.”

外交部发言人郭嘉昆15日也表示，中方采取必要处置措施，维护自身领土主权和海洋权益，合理合法，专业克制，无可非议。菲方应该立即停止侵权挑衅和煽宣炒作，停止无休止地上演自编自导的海上闹剧，不要挑战中方维护自身主权和权益的坚定决心。

Guo reiterated on Monday that it is legitimate, lawful, professional, restrained and beyond reproach for China to do what is necessary to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The Philippines needs to immediately stop its infringement, provocations and vilification, stop its endless self-directed stunts at sea, and refrain from challenging China’s firm resolve to safeguard our sovereignty and rights and interests.