Ren'ai Jiao explained: The debate on 'promise' in the South China Sea

Editor's Note: Amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, the spotlight has once again shifted to the issue of Ren'ai Jiao, sparking widespread debate not only within China and the Philippines but also on a global scale. Delve into the background of this issue, explore its current status, and contemplate its potential future trajectory with our three-episode series, "Ren'ai Jiao Explained."

Whether the Philippine side had promised China to remove its "grounded" military vessel has always been a matter of dispute for the international community. Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China, China's territorial sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao has remained unchallenged.

However, in 1999, under the excuse of "technical failures," the Philippines purposefully and illegally ran aground the BRP Sierra Madre, a crumbling World War II-era naval hulk acquired from the U.S., on China's Ren'ai Jiao. Due to the silence of the Philippine side, the issue of the "grounded" ship at Ren'ai Jiao has remained unresolved to this day.

China has shown maximum restraint to prevent potential escalation over Ren'ai Jiao. The fact that the "stranded" warship has remained in place for 25 years speaks volumes about China's patience. Unfortunately, moves by the Philippines in the past two decades clearly indicate that it has no plan to meet China halfway.

Has the Philippines made a commitment to China regarding the "grounded" BRP Sierra Madre? Did the Philippine government admit that it would remove the military vessel? Click the video to uncover the truth behind its "commitment."

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