The Philippines and some Western media recently reported that a Philippine fishing boat stranded on China's Wufang Reef in the South China Sea was towed away by Chinese rescue vessels and several more boats were on patrol and blocked the waters during the operation.

Citing the waters as the "traditional fishing waters" of the Philippines, these reports described a scenario in which Philippine fishermen were bullied by China and could not engage in their normal fishing activities.

However, the Wufang Reef incident immediately reminds Chinese people of a warship the Philippines deliberately grounded on Ren'ai Reef in May 1999. Disregarding the repeated demands by China that it be removed, the Philippines has endlessly sent logistical supplies to the ship in an attempt to occupy the Chinese reef as a permanent stronghold. The grounded ship has ever since remained a source of friction between the two countries.