Manila has claimed that a Chinese vessel "harassed" a Philippine fishing boat. But this is a manufactured story. During a routine patrol near Huangyan Island, China Coast Guard vessel 23521 attempted to communicate with a Philippine vessel pressing toward China's territorial waters, asking whether it needed assistance. The vessel did not respond and later turned away.

Yet Manila later claimed the captain needed "medical attention" and accused China of "aggressive maneuvers", despite no physical contact occurring. It also invoked vague "maritime zones", a term not recognized under UNCLOS, to label China's lawful activities illegal.

So who keeps provoking encounters, rejecting communication, and manufacturing narratives after the fact? And why has dialogue and consultation repeatedly failed? The answer is obvious. Someone is working overtime not to resolve disputes, but to script them.