等着我

菲律宾在与美国、澳大利亚举行长达19天，规模“史上最大”的联合演习后，酝酿多时的挑衅手段终于拿出来了。    Editor's Note: 
In an era of profound global shifts and increasingly complex regional dynamics, a proper understanding of the world must be rooted in "grounded experience" and localized insights. Global Times English edition, in collaboration with the Academy of International and Regional Communication Studies, Communication University of China, is proud to launch "Local Insights," an English-language column dedicated to original, field-based observations.
We invite Chinese scholars and professionals who are studying, conducting exchanges, or working outside China, as well as international students and friends living and studying in China who are familiar with the social contexts of their home countries or third countries, to begin from first-hand field experience and engage with social, cultural, and contemporary issues beyond China. In the fifth article of this column, drawing on her on‑the‑ground experience as a Chinese exchange scholar, the author observes a South Africa Freedom Day memorial gathering, revealing how local politics unfolds through collective singing, dancing, and grassroots participation, while also reflecting on the gap between political liberation and economic justice.
As a PhD student, I am currently on an exchange program at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, with support from the China Scholarship Council. Since arriving here, I have developed a habit of stepping beyond campus whenever possible. Community meetings, municipal events and public gatherings have become a vital way for me to engage with local life. This time, a local friend recommended that I attend a memorial event in Kariega, organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in honor of its former president, Phumzile John Gomomo. Beyond that, I had little sense of what kind of gathering I was about to enter.
It was on the way that I noticed the streets were unusually vibrant. Groups of people were dressed in colorful attire, with bright Xhosa headscarves and garments bearing political symbols. My friend then reminded me that it was April 27, which is Freedom Day in South Africa. On this day in 1994, South Africa held its first non-racial election, formally ending apartheid and inaugurating democratic rule. Over the past three decades, Freedom Day commemorates political liberation, while also inviting recurring reflection on whether the promise of freedom has been fully realized. In that sense, Freedom Day marks an important moment for observing contemporary South African politics and social sentiment.
         The aerial view of Johannesburg, South Africa Photo: VCG
From street to hall: Entering Freedom Day
The event was scheduled to begin at 10 am, and we arrived shortly before the hour. Yet there were not many people present. Banners of COSATU, the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the African National Congress (ANC) had already been displayed inside the hall, quietly framing the political context of the gathering. Although my understanding was still limited, I could already sense that their presence mattered. COSATU, SACP and ANC represent key forces in South Africa's political landscape, historically linked through the "Tripartite Alliance" formed during the anti-apartheid struggle and sustained in various forms since 1994. I could see that this was not simply a local gathering, but one embedded within a much longer political tradition.
What struck me first was how different the atmosphere was from what I had expected of a political gathering. There was no sense of urgency or visible tension. My friend introduced me around, and we greeted each other through handshakes, embraces and brief conversations, with a familiarity that suggested long-standing connections. Someone also greeted me with "ni hao." The early autumn wind carried a chill that felt almost like winter. However, the mood was unmistakably different. A sense of warmth emerged from the way people related to one another.
We took our seats in the front row. As I looked around, the hall was gradually filling up. I noticed that people wore headscarves, skirts and short-sleeved shirts layered under heavier coats, with ANC insignia visible in various forms. Every time I made eye contact with someone, they would respond with a warm smile. Even as the only foreign face in the hall, I felt no sense of awkwardness or exclusion.
         The author takes a photo with Babalwa Lobishe, Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor and ANC regional chairperson. Photo: Courtesy of He Yue
When music preceded speech
The atmosphere felt far more open than I had imagined. There was no formal signal from a host. Yet, almost imperceptibly, singing and dancing began to fill the space. At first, it was only a few voices. Then others joined. A group of older women stood up, stepping lightly as their bodies moved with the rhythm. Their arms tracing steady patterns in the air, moved with an ease that suggested a deep sense of rhythm. Around them, others began to join in. Someone clapped, someone responded in song, while others stepped forward into the center, aligning themselves with the unfolding rhythm.
Before I fully understood what was happening, someone gently pulled me into the group. I followed, trying to imitate the movements. It didn't take long for me to realize that participation did not depend on learning the steps. Once inside, you were already part of it. 
Meanwhile, a more distinct call began to emerge, repeated at intervals: "Amandla" (Power) "Awethu" (To the People). The words rose above the singing and then dissolved back into it. Song, chant and movement overlapped, making it difficult to distinguish where one ended and another began. At that moment, I found myself wondering: was this a political gathering, or a celebration?
It was not until around midday that the event formally began. Speakers gradually took their places, and the hall shifted into a more structured atmosphere. What I did not expect, however, was that the mayor I had followed on social media was among those arriving. Seeing her there came as a surprise. I didn't expect to see local officials there, let alone find myself within what was clearly part of their political life.
The memorial lecture brought together members of the ANC, alliance partners and the broader community in a moment of reflection and renewed commitment. The gathering honored the enduring legacy of Phumzile John Gomomo and his immense contribution to the struggle for workers' rights and social justice. 
They reflected on Cde John Gomomo as one of the most dedicated worker leaders produced by the Congress Movement, emphasizing unity, organization and ongoing activism as essential to advancing the goals of the democratic movement. Gomomo was an icon in the labor movement. He devoted his entire life to serving workers and is remembered as a hero of the struggle for freedom, democracy and workers' rights. His contributions were situated within the broader historical moment of South Africa's transition to democracy - a transition whose achievements are commemorated each year on Freedom Day, marking the political liberation attained in 1994.
The lecture also raised a question that resonated widely: when political freedom was achieved, did it also translate into economic freedom? Gomomo's legacy was not only invoked as history, but also a lens through which to examine the present.
Speakers highlighted the ongoing challenges facing workers today, including high unemployment and the rising cost of living, which continue to strain working-class households. Against this backdrop, unity, organization and sustained activism were presented not as symbolic gestures, but as necessary responses.
The themes of the lecture aligned closely with the spirit of International Workers' Day, linking past struggles with present realities and ongoing demands. In this sense, the lecture stood not only as a tribute, but also as a call to action, urging those in attendance to carry forward the values, discipline and commitment that defined his life of service.
After each speaker delivered their speech, people rose from their seats, singing and clapping. The officials on stage joined in as well, blurring the distinction between speaker and audience. The atmosphere remained lively, with an almost continuous sense of energy. Gradually, I began to realize that the event was not simply a commemorative one, but rather a form of political practice.

         At a Freedom Day commemoration, participants use song and rhythm to express political memory and labor solidarity. Photo: Courtesy of He YueA moment of presence
What stood out to me was that the mayor mentioned China in her speech. She spoke of the strong relationship between China and South Africa, noting the presence of Chinese automotive companies in Nelson Mandela Bay and expressing hope for further cooperation. After her speech, I was invited to take a photo with her. She shook my hand, welcomed me as an international student in South Africa, and expressed her positive view of China.
I also had a brief exchange with Xolile Nqatha, the provincial secretary of the SACP in Eastern Cape. Reflecting on the history of leftist movements in South Africa, he noted that both the SACP and the Communist Party of China were founded in 1921. He also remarked that it remains rare to see Chinese scholars present at such gatherings. I had not imagined that I would be speaking with government officials, which initially caught me off guard. For me, this brief encounter made China's presence in South Africa feel less like a matter of diplomatic language and more like something embedded in local political life.
The event continued until around 3 pm. As I stepped outside, the surrounding streets were noticeably more crowded. The parking area was nearly full. Roadside vendors were selling clothing marked with political symbols, and media crews remained on site, documenting the scene. People left gradually. Many paused to exchange farewells, embracing one another before leaving, as if the rhythm of the gathering had not yet fully ended.
The experience reshaped my understanding of what a political gathering could be. In a global context where political expression is increasingly fragmented, a mode of public engagement built around rhythm and participation offers a different way of understanding political life. Here, politics did not take shape solely through institutions, procedures or formal speech. It could be serious, yet also warm. It could be articulated through language, but it could just as readily take shape through song, movement and collective response.
This year also marks the 32nd anniversary of the end of apartheid. It represents the restoration of dignity, equality before the law and the collective promise that South Africa would never again be a society governed by exclusion, injustice or oppression. In the community, I saw how residents engaged with the local government, participated in decision-making processes and worked collectively to build safer, more inclusive neighborhoods. For me, the gathering became an entry point into contemporary political life in South Africa, revealing something that cannot be fully grasped from a distance.
The author is a PhD student in African Area Studies at the College of Foreign Languages, Zhejiang Normal University
。据环球时报报道，近两天，一个菲“民间组织”将召集一群所谓的“当地渔民”，前往中国黄岩岛周边寻事，菲方意图以“渔民”为“肉盾”，推进新一轮南海侵权行动，并蓄意“碰瓷”，向国际社会“卖惨”。

对此，美国海事专家鲍威尔披露，中国正派遣一支庞大队伍前往封锁黄岩岛，至少有4艘海岸警卫队船只和26艘大型海上民兵船。

二 |

也就是说，中国和菲律宾的海上力量，都在向黄岩岛集结，在菲律宾通过演习谋划多时后，有可能在此次对峙中采取激进动作，迫使双方摊牌。对此，我们聊三个话题。

三 |

第一个，菲律宾新一轮挑衅动作，为什么要选址黄岩岛？这可能出于三个原因。

首先，黄岩岛是距离菲律宾本土最近的中国岛礁。资料显示，黄岩岛距菲北部的吕宋岛，直线距离只有220公里，而菲律宾首都马尼拉，则正好在吕宋岛上，而且与黄岩岛几乎在一条平行的直线上，就像中方盯着菲律宾的一只“眼睛”，这让菲方感到特别受不了，因此内心最希望拔除的，就是黄岩岛。

不仅如此，黄岩岛还扼守在进出菲律宾苏比克湾的咽喉要冲上，通过卫星地图查询，距菲律宾著名的苏比克海军基地，直线距离也就300公里。令人关注的是，这里也是美军长期在菲租用的基地。如此，不仅菲律宾，恐怕美国也想拿下黄岩岛。而且，当年美菲搞所谓“南海仲裁”，针对的就是黄岩岛，中菲首次大型对峙，也在黄岩岛。

其次，黄岩岛的地质条件，非常适宜“造岛”。说它是“岛”，但实际上黄岩岛并不是大片在海水之上的陆地，它只是一个三角形的珊瑚岛屿。探测数据显示，黄岩岛的礁盘面积约150平方公里——包括礁坪面积80平方公里，周边环礁潟湖面积70平方公里。

而且，一个非常有利的条件是，黄岩岛北端和南端的礁坪周边，海水仅深0.5米，非常适合填海造陆。如果对其进行升级改造，这里完全可以填出一座40平方公里的大岛，容纳20万人长期生活。中国是全球公认的“基建狂魔”，如果愿意的话，填出一个大岛来并非难事，但这对菲律宾来说，则无异于是一个“恶梦”。

四 |

最后，菲方引进的巡航导弹，主要盯着的就是黄岩岛。在上月底，菲律宾从印度引进的“布拉莫斯”巡航导弹到位后，被菲方部署到了吕宋岛西侧，直白点说就是“正对黄岩岛”的位置，潜台词已经非常清楚了，虽然印度不希望太过刺激中国，将射程限制在了290公里，但前面说了，吕宋岛离黄岩岛仅220公里，对菲律宾来说，完全够用。

而且，美菲澳在“肩并肩”联合演习中，演练的“抢滩登岛”，也是拿黄岩岛当“范本”进行参照的。在菲律宾看来，黄岩岛“势在必得”。

五 |

第二个，菲方出动的这个“民间组织”其实并不简单，甚至还有“美国背景”。

六 |

此前，菲方也有过渔民擅闯黄岩岛海域，因为周边不仅有丰富的渔业资源，而且也是中沙群岛周边相关海域中，唯一可以停靠船舶躲避台风的天然岛屿。但是，马科斯政府开始在南海挑衅中国后，菲方在进入2024年后，开始派渔政船强闯黄岩岛，这与渔民来打鱼，完全是两个性质。

观察还发现，此次准备到黄岩岛滋事的菲“民间组织”，来头也不简单，它的名字很奇怪，叫“这是我们的”，菲方选择它前往黄岩岛挑事，恐怕这个名字也有一部分原因。

七 | 梳理资料还发现，这个“民间组织”其实常年受美方资助，在南海议题上兴风作浪，并借此影响菲政府的南海政策。

八 | 如今，菲律宾政府也选择它，表明美菲对在南海挑衅中国，已完全达成了一致。

九 |

据称，这个菲“民间组织”此次组织了200多人，准备乘坐100多条船前往黄岩岛，在临近海域抛放“象征性浮标”，上面写有充满挑衅意味的标语。如果像美国海事专家所说，中方若用30艘船阻拦，恐怕根本忙不过来，届时会出现什么样的混乱场面，其实并不难想象，如果菲方再夹带“其他内容”，局面有可能当时就会激化，从而导致双方直接摊牌。

对于中菲在南海的争议，一开始中方还是希望能通过沟通解决的，并也达成过“君子协议”，但马科斯政府根本不讲信用，不仅不执行，而且还不承认与中方达成过协议。

十 | 在这样的背景下，中方也不再客气，不仅对外公布了双方达成共识时的对话录音，而且还直接点名道姓，称其获得了哪些菲方高层的同意。

十一 | 这样直接“打脸”的动作，也让菲方有些气急败坏，所以此次蓄谋挑衅，动静不会小。

一个值得关注的动向时，针对黄岩岛，央视曾在5月13日一天之内，连发三条重要消息。上午是“中国海警位黄岩岛海域开展常态化训练”，中午是“首次披露黄岩岛航拍影像”，晚间是“披露中国海警川山舰近日在黄岩岛海域开展海上救生的训练细节”。三条信息不仅与黄岩岛相关，而且三件事还都相互关联，恐怕这也是一个“预警”信号，表明黄岩岛接下来若有事，不会是小事。

实际上，中方在最近一段时间，不仅对菲律宾的回应越来越冷，而且在美菲澳演习还没有结束之际，就让055携带四舰编队开往了南海，并在美菲眼皮子底下，实施实战化演练。这四艘战舰分别是055遵义舰，052C海口舰、052D昆明舰和054A咸宁舰，光垂发单元就达到256个，且能进行全维打击，强硬姿态非常明显。

而且，菲方还对外披露，称中方在仙宾礁已经启动“造岛”工程。资料显示，仙宾礁在仁爱礁东侧，距菲律宾更近，在目前背景下，菲方这一消息，恐怕也并非“空穴来风”。如此，菲律宾如果仍肆意挑衅，则双方在南海摊牌的日子，恐怕真的就越来越近了。