Humanity at sea, politics on shore

On January 25, the China Coast Guard transferred 17 rescued Filipino crew members to the Philippine side. When a foreign vessel capsized near China's Huangyan Island, China launched an immediate rescue. After receiving care, the survivors shook hands with their rescuers, embraced them, took photos, and waved goodbye. This was a humanitarian rescue. And yet, the Philippine side continues to smear China's legitimate actions at sea.

This is not an isolated case. On December 25 last year, when the Chinese navy rescued a stranded Filipino fisherman in the South China Sea, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela dismissed it as a "PR stunt". Saving lives is called a show. This kind of warped logic exposes a narrow mindset. At sea, human life should come first, not politics.