On February 6th, the 054A frigate and Su-30 fighter jets decisively took action, and the Philippines realized the situation was serious!

On that day, a private jet from the Philippines flew close to the airspace above Huangyan Island, but before long, it turned back — this time it wasn't leaving 'voluntarily,' but was driven away by the Chinese Navy’s 054A frigate 'Dali' and a suspected Su-30MK2 fighter jet. This scene surprised many Filipino media: in the past few years, the Chinese side mainly relied on verbal protests or maritime standoffs in similar incidents; why was the response so quick and forceful this time?

Not long ago, the Philippines had successfully attempted multiple times to approach the vicinity of Huangyan Island using fishing boats, coast guard ships, and even private jets, while the Chinese side maintained a strategy of 'controlling but not escalating.' However, since the end of 2025, Manila has clearly increased its probing frequency in the South China Sea, not only restarting joint patrols with the US military but also allowing US ships to use more Philippine ports — this has been viewed by Beijing as crossing a strategic red line. This could no longer be ignored.

Looking at February 6th, the Philippines dispatched coast guard and fisheries bureau joint task aircraft, ostensibly to 'monitor fishing activities,' but the flight path was directed straight towards the edge of the 12 nautical miles airspace of Huangyan Island. This kind of operation has precedents: using non-military platforms to execute 'gray zone' tactics, which not only creates a presence but also avoids direct military confrontation.

But this time, the Chinese side did not follow the old playbook — the 054A frigate 'Dali' was conducting routine patrols in nearby waters, and after receiving orders, it quickly advanced while simultaneously guiding aerial forces to intercept. The Su-30MK2, as a heavy fighter with long-range interception and anti-ship strike capabilities, itself conveyed a clear message: this was not an ordinary coast guard expulsion; this had escalated to military force.

Brother Dao believes that when the navy took over the coast guard's duties, the Philippines was in serious trouble. Next, if there was any accidental discharge of fire, it would inevitably bring disaster to the Philippines.