China Looks Around And Pronounces: "It's All Ours!"

[Kathianne]

Everything! We'll build islands, we'll confiscate islands. Eventually we'll claim all that is ours!

https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2023/09/25/another-provocation-china-puts-a-floating-barrier-in-the-sea-to-block-philippine-fishermen-n580451



Another provocation: China puts a floating barrier in the sea to block Philippine fishermenJOHN SEXTON 9:40 PM on September 25, 2023

Another provocation: China puts a floating barrier in the sea to block Philippine fishermen
As I’ve pointed out many times, China is always trying to up the ante in the South China Sea (and elsewhere) with new provocations. They’ve been trying to lay claim to various islands using something called the cabbage strategy for years. Recently they’ve been trying to use this around various islands near the coast of the Philippines.


Last month, the Chinese Coast Guard tried to prevent the Philippines from bringing supplies to a small contingent of soldiers who stay aboard an old rusted out boat that has been anchored over a spot called Ayungin Shoal since 1999. China claims the shoal as its own and has already militarized another nearby reef. The Chinese Coast Guard tried to block access to the shoal but it didn’t work and the supply boat got through the blockade.


Over the weekend, China tried another tactic to keep Philippine fishermen away from Scarborough Shoal, another submerged reef that China has long maintained was its own.


The Philippines on Sunday condemned the Chinese coast guard for installing what it called a “floating barrier” in a disputed area of the South China Sea, saying that it prevented Filipino boats from entering and fishing in the area.


In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the floating barrier was discovered by Philippine vessels during a routine maritime patrol on Friday and measured around 300 meters (984 feet).


“The Philippine coast guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources strongly condemn the China coast guard’s installation of a floating barrier in the Southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc, which prevents Filipino fishing boats from entering the shoal and depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities,” the statement read.


Here’s what the barrier looked like:




And here are some images showing the Chinese boats setting it up.




Today, the Philippine Coast Guard announced the barrier had been removed:


“The barrier posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law. It also hinders the conduct of fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk,” the Philippines coast guard said in a statement.


It described the shoal as “an integral part of the Philippine national territory”


There is video of the barrier being cut out and of an anchor that was removed along with it.


This fight over this particular shoal has a long backstory.


Beijing seized the Scarborough Shoal in 2012 and forced fishermen from the Philippines to travel further for smaller catches.


It later allowed the Philippines to fish nearby when relations improved under former President Rodrigo Duterte.


However, tensions have heightened since Ferdinand Marcos Jr became president last year.


It was China’s seizure of this shoal that led to the Philippines seeking arbitration over control of this and other islands in the South China Sea. In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration which is part of the Hague ruled in the Philippines favor and dismissed China’s claims to the majority of the South China Sea based on the nine-dashed line. However, China merely ignored the ruling and has continued to act as if they own everything. That’s exactly what they did yesterday when the Philippines complained about the barrier:


In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the shoal and its adjacent waters are “China’s inherent territory,” where Beijing “has indisputable sovereignty.”


A Philippine government fisheries vessel “trespassed into the waters” without China’s permission on Sept. 22, Wang said, and “attempted to intrude into the lagoon” of the shoal. “China’s coast guard took the necessary measures to stop and warn off the ship in accordance with the law, which was professional and with restraint,” he added…


A Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship which anchored off Scarborough on Friday and at least 54 Filipino fishing boats were ordered by four Chinese coast guard ships by radio to leave the territory, saying the Filipinos were breaching Chinese and international law. The Philippine fisheries ship insisted in its radio response that it was on a routine patrol in Philippine waters…


So one barrier down but you can bet by next week China will lay claim to something else as their exclusive territory.

[Gunny]

Everything! We'll build islands, we'll confiscate islands. Eventually we'll claim all that is ours!

https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2023/09/25/another-provocation-china-puts-a-floating-barrier-in-the-sea-to-block-philippine-fishermen-n580451



How to start a war. China puts up barriers, Philippines cuts them. At some point, the naked aggression has to stop. Wonder has the CCP noticed it is surrounded by enemies? To date, it has pissed off Vietnam, the Philippines, all the tiny island nations, Taiwan, Japan, India. Australia.

Increasing polarization leading to the next world war unless stopped.

[Gunny]

Caught a blurb on my cell: Philippines removed the barriers.

[Gunny]

https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/asia/philippines-south-china-sea-floating-barrier-removed-intl-hnk/index.html

[Kathianne]

Caught a blurb on my cell: Philippines removed the barriers.
I think that was in the article. They removed them in daylight.

[Kathianne]

Gunny

https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/how-a-tiny-crew-struck-a-blow-against-china-with-a-wooden-boat-and-a-knife-fc397ee1?st=tj7q9vxq2lea0ut&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink


How a Tiny Crew Struck a Blow Against China With a Wooden Boat and a KnifeWhen the Chinese coast guard put up a barrier in the South China Sea, the Philippines devised a plan to retaliate

The tiny crew had a risky mission: Sail to a contested coral atoll in the South China Sea, cut a barrier blocking Filipino fishermen and get out before Chinese ships catch on.

Last week, Chinese forces floated a nearly 1,000-foot-long string of buoys near Scarborough Shoal, a reef located about 120 nautical miles from the Philippines that has been at the center of maritime tensions between the countries for years. Manila had objected, saying the “floating barrier” obstructed the country’s fishermen.


Then, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a decision: The barrier needed to go.


Security officials devised a simple but bold plan. They would try to slip past the four Chinese coast-guard ships in the area without attracting attention and cut it, said Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the Philippine coast guard.


So, days after the barrier went up, a small coast-guard crew climbed into a wooden fishing boat and set off. They didn’t wear their uniforms in an effort to pass themselves off as fishermen.

...

[Gunny]

@Gunny (http://www.debatepolicy.com/member.php?u=30)

https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/how-a-tiny-crew-struck-a-blow-against-china-with-a-wooden-boat-and-a-knife-fc397ee1?st=tj7q9vxq2lea0ut&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Pretty sure that was in the link I posted. Pooh/PRC are just being a-holes. They aren't going to stop.

[Black Diamond]

How to start a war. China puts up barriers, Philippines cuts them. At some point, the naked aggression has to stop. Wonder has the CCP noticed it is surrounded by enemies? To date, it has pissed off Vietnam, the Philippines, all the tiny island nations, Taiwan, Japan, India. Australia.

Increasing polarization leading to the next world war unless stopped.

How do they currently stand with the kims.

[Gunny]

How do they currently stand with the kims.IMO, they have been supporting and supplying N Korea all along. Now Russia is dealing openly with Kim.

Kim, never one to miss a chance, is now publicly calling for an alliance against US/NATO aggression.

[Black Diamond]

IMO, they have been supporting and supplying N Korea all along. Now Russia is dealing openly with Kim.

Kim, never one to miss a chance, is now publicly calling for an alliance against US/NATO aggression.

Yeah it's been an interesting development. I remember there was a point where we had the Chinese try to reel Kim in.

[Gunny]

Yeah it's been an interesting development. I remember there was a point where we had the Chinese try to reel Kim in.

There's going t be another war. The bad guys all want to take and enslave others' land and resources. Just a matter of who's prepared. Naturally, we aren't. We're relying too heavily on technology when war is about numbers, not just tech.

Russia trading oil to Iran for weapons and supplies
Russia dealing openly with N Korea

China supplying Russia with "non-lethal" aid for oil.

Iran tentatively dealing with Russia, but hates everyone. If they want to be part of the bad guys since they damned sure aren't part of the good guys they'll have to get over that hate at least on the surface.

[Kathianne]

There's going t be another war. The bad guys all want to take and enslave others' land and resources. Just a matter of who's prepared. Naturally, we aren't. We're relying too heavily on technology when war is about numbers, not just tech.

Russia trading oil to Iran for weapons and supplies
Russia dealing openly with N Korea

China supplying Russia with "non-lethal" aid for oil.

Iran tentatively dealing with Russia, but hates everyone. If they want to be part of the bad guys since they damned sure aren't part of the good guys they'll have to get over that hate at least on the surface.

IDK much about warfare, but some about history. US has never been 'prepared' and isn't now. We'll never be able to match China numbers, ever. Problem is, we've been funding heavy tech, not ships, planes, etc., in serious numbers. Our tech is mostly ahead of others, with exception of hypersonic-which I don't know if that's ready to go for anyone? We need numbers in what we attack hordes with, if there's a chance of avoiding or minimizing nuclear.

[jimnyc]

I love this part:

"How a Tiny Crew Struck a Blow Against China With a Wooden Boat and a Knife"

Imagine seeing the Chinese work at putting up some barriers, and then an old fisherman out in his little dingy comes along and cuts the line with his handy pocket knife and the barrier is destroyed or floats away. That's comical. :laugh2:

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

I love this part:

"How a Tiny Crew Struck a Blow Against China With a Wooden Boat and a Knife"

Imagine seeing the Chinese work at putting up some barriers, and then an old fisherman out in his little dingy comes along and cuts the line with his handy pocket knife and the barrier is destroyed or floats away. That's comical. :laugh2:

China is a very greedy bad guy that is going to take whatever they can get by with.
With Biden the senile fool owned by them they do not have to worry about us very much.
They first either take Tawain or parts of the Philippines is my best guess.
Biden will not do a thing and they know it...They own him...-Tyr

[Gunny]

IDK much about warfare, but some about history. US has never been 'prepared' and isn't now. We'll never be able to match China numbers, ever. Problem is, we've been funding heavy tech, not ships, planes, etc., in serious numbers. Our tech is mostly ahead of others, with exception of hypersonic-which I don't know if that's ready to go for anyone? We need numbers in what we attack hordes with, if there's a chance of avoiding or minimizing nuclear.

Did you see how well Putin's "hypersonic" worked?:laugh:

My biggest issue is our military is soft. I mean, man for man, one on one, individual close combat, they are definitely behind. Take a good look at those Ukrainians and even Russians you see on the news. They are hardasses slugging it out in static, line warfare. Their lives in both places are WAY harder than Americans. You don't hear any talk of "diversity" or "wokeness" coming out of there.

What are we doing? Integrating our ranks with the lowest possible common denominators to ensure social equity:rolleyes:

[Gunny]

China is a very greedy bad guy that is going to take whatever they can get by with.
With Biden the senile fool owned by them they do not have to worry about us very much.
They first either take Tawain or parts of the Philippines is my best guess.
Biden will not do a thing and they know it...They own him...-Tyr

Doesn't matter who they inch in on. If the taking the tiniest of islands isn't met with resounding force, they'll just take another. The Japanese did and we had to take them back one inch, one bullet and one body at a time. Lot easier and less costly to stop them from landing than it is to dislodge them.

[Kathianne]

Did you see how well Putin's "hypersonic" worked?:laugh:

My biggest issue is our military is soft. I mean, man for man, one on one, individual close combat, they are definitely behind. Take a good look at those Ukrainians and even Russians you see on the news. They are hardasses slugging it out in static, line warfare. Their lives in both places are WAY harder than Americans. You don't hear any talk of "diversity" or "wokeness" coming out of there.

What are we doing? Integrating our ranks with the lowest possible common denominators to ensure social equity:rolleyes:

Oh I agree, though I wouldn't lose track that there's still a hell of a lot of experience from Iraq/Afghanistan. Even so, it wouldn't take long for reality to set in if shit starts flying. It never does.

[Kathianne]

Doesn't matter who they inch in on. If the taking the tiniest of islands isn't met with resounding force, they'll just take another. The Japanese did and we had to take them back one inch, one bullet and one body at a time. Lot easier and less costly to stop them from landing than it is to dislodge them.

That's been my position whether talking about Chinese or Russian aggressions-stop them, preferably with others' soldiers.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Doesn't matter who they inch in on. If the taking the tiniest of islands isn't met with resounding force, they'll just take another. The Japanese did and we had to take them back one inch, one bullet and one body at a time. Lot easier and less costly to stop them from landing than it is to dislodge them.

Absolutely correct you are!!!
We can only take it back with our blood and our guts-- and that my friend is a whole damn lot more costly that mere greenbacks!!!----:saluting2:--Tyr

[Kathianne]

Well things certainly seem to be coming to some sort of end point:

Lots of attacks via Iran through proxies (https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/u-s-deploys-missile-defenses-to-middle-east-following-recent-attacks-1cee9391?st=e0y1slkji2vi9rg&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink), some more direct than others. Without a doubt though, Iran is green lighting hits on US in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon.

China-moving ships into ME now. 60 Minutes and heads of world 'spy' agencies looking at China last night:

https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2023/10/23/five-eyes-warn-silicon-valley-china-is-stealing-everything-it-can-at-an-unprecedented-rate-n587112


'Five Eyes' Warn Silicon Valley: China is Stealing Everything It Can at an Unprecedented RateJOHN SEXTON 8:40 PM on October 23, 2023

'Five Eyes' Warn Silicon Valley: China is Stealing Everything It Can at an Unprecedented Rate
I missed this 60 Minutes story when it aired last night so maybe you did too. The “five eyes” are a group of five countries (US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand) formed after World War II as a joint intelligence gathering operation. Last week, leading figures from all five countries met in Palo Alto, California to spread the word about a threat they don’t think most people working in US technology fully understand. That threat is the unprecedented level of espionage directed by China at technology companies around the world. China is quite literally trying to steal anything and everything it can at levels never seen before.


Christopher Wray: The People’s Republic of China represents the defining threat of this generation this era. There is no country that presents a broader, more comprehensive threat to our ideas, our– our innovation, our economic security, and ultimately our national security. We have seen efforts by the Chinese government, directly or indirectly, trying to steal intellectual property, trade secrets, personal data– all across the country. We’re talking everything from Fortune 100 companies, all to smaller startups. We’re talking about agriculture, biotech, health care, robotics, aviation, academic research. We probably have somewhere in the order of 2,000 active investigations that are just related to the Chinese government’s effort to steal information.


Scott Pelley: But all countries spy.


Mike Burgess of Australia.


Mike Burgess: Yes, absolutely, all countries spy. Our countries spy. All governments have a need to be covertly informed. All countries seek strategic advantage. But the behavior we’re talking about here goes well beyond traditional espionage. This scale of the theft is unprecedented in human history. And that’s why we’re calling it out…


Ken McCallum is director general of MI5, the U.K.’s FBI.


Ken McCallum: So we see the theft happening in a range of ways. One is that we see employees within those companies being manipulated. Often, in the first instance, they are not aware of what is happening. We have seen, for example, the use of professional networking sites to reach out in sort of masked, disguised ways to people in the U.K., either who have security clearance or who are working in interesting areas of technology. We’ve now seen over 20,000 examples of that kind of disguised approach to people in the U.K. who have information that the Chinese State wishes to get its hands on.


This topic has been flying under the radar all year. It never goes away but it rarely gets the sustained attention it deserves. In February the country was transfixed by a Chinese spy balloon which passed over some sensitive military sites. Did the embarrassing coverage of that incident slow China’s roll? Not at all, it seems. In March the NY Times Magazine published a story about China’s espionage campaign and how it operates. In June there were reports China might replace its spy balloons with a more permanent spy installation in Cuba. Then there was the story about China hacking the email of Commerce Secretary Raimondo. In August, two US Navy service members were arrested for spying on behalf of China. Just last month there were reports about a Chinese spy in Parliament. Also last month the general who least the US Air Force warned that China was targeting US troops. There was also a story at the WSJ about Chinese nationals posing as tourists to enter US military bases. China’s government is an aggressive, belligerent thief which will do whatever it needs to to gain an advantage over the free world. Here’s how FBI Director Wray put it.


Christopher Wray: I mean, essentially what you have with the Chinese government is the autocracy and oppressive regime of– you know, East Germany combined with the cutting edge technology of Silicon Valley. And the combination represents a daunting first of its kind threat for the United States and for our allies.


Here’s the full interview with the Five Eyes leadership. It’s good to see them taking this threat seriously and trying to raise some awareness about the problem publicly. China will not stop this behavior unless we stop them.


Now direct ramming of Philippines boat in area we discussed earlier on this thread:

https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2023/10/23/chinese-coast-guard-ship-collides-with-philippine-resupply-boat-in-south-china-sea-n587143

[Kathianne]

So, assume these illegals are here to escape China or are coming in for China's best interests?

https://stream.org/encounters-of-chinese-illegal-immigrants-at-the-southern-border-surged-over-1100/

[Gunny]

So, assume these illegals are here to escape China or are coming in for China's best interests?

https://stream.org/encounters-of-chinese-illegal-immigrants-at-the-southern-border-surged-over-1100/Same with Palestinians or other Arabs for that matter. I doubt ME countries would put as much effort into it (yet), but I wouldn't put it past China to have completely brainwashed/groomed, and appropriately raised from birth for historical documentation to meet our "lofty" standards solely to infiltrate.

The PRC is pushing and testing in every area it wants on a constant basis. Why would they need illegals when they can fly a recon balloon all the way across the country. Let me guess, shooting it down once its mission was complete stopped it from transmitting data the whole time:rolleyes:

[Kathianne]

Same with Palestinians or other Arabs for that matter. I doubt ME countries would put as much effort into it (yet), but I wouldn't put it past China to have completely brainwashed/groomed, and appropriately raised from birth for historical documentation to meet our "lofty" standards solely to infiltrate.

The PRC is pushing and testing in every area it wants on a constant basis. Why would they need illegals when they can fly a recon balloon all the way across the country. Let me guess, shooting it down once its mission was complete stopped it from transmitting data the whole time:rolleyes:

More, including how US may become involved:

https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/china-a-u-s-ally-and-the-fight-over-an-old-rusty-ship-daf24da3?st=3f5nwm62t1oh20i&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink


China, a U.S. Ally and the Fight Over an Old Rusty ShipA dispute in the South China Sea is escalating, with the potential to draw in the U.S.
By
Niharika Mandhana
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Oct. 25, 2023 4:05 am ET








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The BRP Sierra Madre is a marooned transport ship that serves as a Philippine military outpost. PHOTO: ERIK DE CASTRO/REUTERS
SINGAPORE—A dispute between China and the Philippines, a U.S. ally, is rapidly escalating over an unusual military outpost: a World War-II era ship that is leaky, riddled with holes, covered in rust and sitting atop a reef in the South China Sea.


The decrepit ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, and the small detachment of marines aboard are defending the Philippines’ claim to Second Thomas Shoal, located about 100 miles off its west coast. The country grounded the ship on the reef 2½ decades ago to stave off China’s expanding control over the South China Sea.


The Philippines sends regular supplies to the marines on the ship, and China is trying to make those missions as difficult as possible. The Chinese coast guard has aimed a military-grade laser and shot a water cannon at Philippine vessels. On Sunday, a Chinese coast-guard ship and maritime militia boat collided with Philippine vessels that were headed to Second Thomas Shoal.


The stakes are high, not just for the Philippines but also for the U.S. If tensions continue to rise, they could draw in Washington, which has a security alliance with Manila.


So far, the U.S. has shown strong support for its Southeast Asian ally and sought to deter further Chinese escalation. President Biden said Wednesday that any attack on Filipino aircraft, vessels or armed forces would invoke the countries’ mutual defense treaty.


“I want to be clear, I want to be very clear,” he said in remarks at a joint news conference during a visit to the White House by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “The United States defense commitment to the Philippines is ironclad.”


U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke to his Philippine counterpart Monday. The State Department called China’s actions dangerous and unlawful, as did other U.S. officials in separate comments.


Navy destroyer USS Dewey was over the horizon from the site of Sunday’s encounters between Chinese and Philippine ships—present, though keeping its distance. An American patrol aircraft was at the scene during a resupply run last month, a Philippine armed-forces spokesman said. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Seventh Fleet declined to comment on specific military operations but said all of its activities were done in coordination with the Philippines.


The tensions in the region have been rising as Manila contends with a pressing problem: The Sierra Madre is in bad shape after being exposed to the elements for nearly 25 years. The Philippines has carried out repairs incrementally over time, but the ship won’t stay intact forever—and some think its days are numbered.

...

Any move by China to seize Second Thomas Shoal would put pressure on the U.S. to back up its ally—not just diplomatically but also militarily. That could bring the U.S. into direct conflict with China, carrying huge risks for both powers. Beijing might see a window of opportunity while the U.S. is preoccupied with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, security analysts said.


The U.S. response to developments in the South China Sea are under greater scrutiny because of events in 2012 that scarred the alliance and caused lasting national trauma in the Philippines. That year, after a weekslong standoff between Chinese and Philippine forces, China seized a coral atoll called Scarborough Shoal. Officials in Manila said later the U.S. hadn’t done enough to support its ally, allowing Beijing to wrest control with few repercussions.


If China succeeded similarly at Second Thomas Shoal, it would send “very bad signals about the U.S. alliance and the effectiveness of its security guarantees,” said Batongbacal.


“That’s why I think it’s such a tempting target for China,” he said. “If they’re able to swing this, they will be able to basically crack a U.S. alliance in the region and the credibility of U.S. security guarantees.”


China’s tactics around Second Thomas Shoal have grown more aggressive this year.


In February, the Philippines said its coast-guard crew was temporarily blinded by the military-grade laser flashed by China’s coast guard. A few months later, it was a water cannon, slamming into a Philippine boat. In early October, a Chinese coast-guard ship came so close that the Philippines said it had to throw a vessel into reverse to avert a collision. This weekend, collisions occurred—not just one, but two.




The Philippines grounded the ship on the reef 2½ decades ago to stave off China’s expanding control over the South China Sea. PHOTO: ERIK DE CASTRO/REUTERS
The confrontations have come as the Philippines has shifted its stance on its neighbor. Since coming to power last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reversed the pro-China policies of his predecessor. He has doubled down on the alliance with the U.S. and pushed back against Beijing in the South China Sea. Philippine coast-guard and armed forces frequently call out Chinese actions, putting out photos and videos showing its tactics.


“It is no longer as easy for China to get away with what it is doing in the South China Sea,” said Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. As the Philippines has fought back by broadcasting encounters between the two countries, China has “found itself being humbled or humiliated by what was going on,” he said.


China might also have accelerated its actions to make sure the Philippines doesn’t go any further to cement its presence on Second Thomas Shoal, such as by building permanent structures there, Koh said.


Some security analysts say the U.S. should do more to assist the Philippines. The U.S. Navy could deploy ships to escort Philippine resupply convoys to Second Thomas Shoal or even go a step further by helping to protect the Philippines if it tries to erect structures there, they say.


These are tricky calls, said Koh, adding, “It’s a game of chicken.”

[Gunny]

More, including how US may become involved:

https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/china-a-u-s-ally-and-the-fight-over-an-old-rusty-ship-daf24da3?st=3f5nwm62t1oh20i&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalinkWhoever's pulling the puppet's strings and making his mouth move better get their priorities in order. Destroy US capability or fight two fronts while supplying a third.

[Kathianne]

HHhhmmmmmmm

https://media.townhall.com/townhall/reu/o/2018/150/d2e998ad-98db-44a4-8b76-f019397ed248-860x475.jpg

https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2023/11/11/reporters-get-an-up-close-view-of-chinas-bullying-in-the-south-china-sea-n591732


Reporters Get an Up Close View of China's Bullying in the South China SeaJOHN SEXTON 4:00 PM on November 11, 2023

Reporters Get an Up Close View of China's Bullying in the South China Sea
(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)
As regular readers already know, China has been trying for decades to seize submerged reefs in the South China Sea and turn them into islands which it claims are for civilian use. China did exactly this with Mischief Reef which was once a reef that was only partially exposed during low tide. After years of dredging and construction by China, it now looks like this:


AP/Reuters Feed Library
Second Thomas Shoal is another reef only about 25 miles east of Mischief Reef. China has claimed it as well but has been thwarted by the Philippines which back in 1999 ran an old US ship aground on the reef as an outpost. That ship, the Sierra Madre, has been rusting in place for more than two decades but a handful of Philippines soldiers occupy it at all times, preventing China from claiming it.


The whole issue of China’s behavior in the Spratly Islands in general and at Mischief Reef and Second Thomas Shoal in particular was already decided in 2016 by the Hauge. That 450-page decision, which you can read here, found China’s claim to the majority of the South China Sea (the so-called 9-dashed line) had no merit and that its construction of an island on Mischief Reef granted it no additional claims to territorial waters in the area. In fact, the Hague found that both Mischief Reef and Second Thomas Shoal were within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. China refused to participate in the process that led to that conclusion and has disputed it ever since.


Having lost the legal argument, China has resorted to frequent harassment of Philippines resupply ships which come to Second Thomas Shoal with supplies and soldiers who are moved on and off the decrepit Sierra Madre. This battle has been going on for decades but this year in particular China’s Navy has really upped the ante, using lasers, water cannons and recently even colliding with a resupply boat.




In response to China’s bullying, the Philippines has been inviting international media on board these resupply runs so there are witnesses to what is happening. The Philippines has referred to this as an “assertive transparency campaign.” Yesterday the NY Times had a reporter aboard one the Philippines’ ships and got to witness it.


When the sun rose around 6 a.m., the cat-and-mouse game immediately began. The Chinese ships boxed in the Cabra, forcing the vessel to maneuver its way out. This occurred at least two more times…


A Chinese coast guard vessel crossed the Cabra’s bow at least twice. When the vessel was only yards away, the radar system turned red, warning of collision danger.


The Associated Press also had reporters aboard yesterday and has more:


At the height of Friday’s four-hour faceoff in the high seas, a Chinese coast guard ship blasted a water cannon toward a Philippine motorboat delivering food and other supplies to Filipino forces on a marooned, rusting warship that serves as the country’s fragile territorial outpost at Second Thomas Shoal…


At least 38 Chinese ships were spotted in Second Thomas Shoal’s vicinity on Friday, including a Chinese navy fast assault craft and a hospital ship, the Philippine coast guard said.


One of the Philippine coast guard ships, the BRP Cabra, was surrounded five times by the Chinese coast guard and other ships, but managed each time to move away until it was hemmed in near the shoal.


Eventually, the Cabra was able to make it to Second Thomas Shoal and the resupply was completed. The Philippines condemned China’s actions on Friday.


The Philippines on Friday condemned China’s coast guard for “unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers,” including its use of a water cannon against one of its boats, in an attempt to disrupt a resupply mission in the South China Sea.


China’s actions, the Philippines said, have not only “put the lives of our people at risk,” but have “put into question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue.”


China did its best to block the Philippines’ resupply run short of opening fire on it and they were unable to prevent it. Having once again failed, China then claimed it had made a special temporary exception.


Gan Yu, a spokesman for the China Coast Guard, said on Friday three Philippine coastguard ships and two cargo vessels made an “unapproved entry” into the disputed waters.
He said the coastguard followed and took control measures against the Philippine vessels and made “temporary special arrangements for the Philippines to transport food and other necessary daily supplies”.
Needless to say, that’s not at all what happened. But how much longer can this showdown continue? The Times reports that in 2018 the Philippines estimated the rusting Sierra Madre would only survive another two years. Five years later it’s still there but it’s only a matter of time before it literally collapses into the sea. And when that happens, China will swoop in and claim the territory.


The Philippines has considered refurbishing the ship but bringing construction equipment to the site would provoke an even stronger reaction from the Chinese Coast Guard. Another option is also mentioned:


Manila has few good options. Building an entirely new military outpost could take months and would require transporting large amounts of construction materials that could be prevented by a Chinese blockade. The government even considered building a structure inside the Sierra Madre, said Mr. Ong, who likened it to the outer shell of an egg breaking up “with a chick inside.”


An outpost inside the crumbling ship. Could that work? And then we get this last paragraph of the story. It’s not clear whose perspective we’re getting here. Did the Times’ reporter board the Sierra Madre?


A tall concrete structure loomed at one end of the ship, with rooms that appeared to be unfinished. Atop of it was a steel post connected with wires, cameras and a satellite dish. On the far side, the Philippine flag billowed in the wind.


An unfinished concrete structure inside the ship? It sounds like the Philippines may have already gone with the chick inside the breaking egg strategy. At least I think that’s what the Times is suggesting. But that’s the end of the story so we don’t get any more about this or where it came from. But it sounds like China may have a much longer time to wait if they were hoping the collapse of the Sierra Madre would be their moment to seize the shoal.

[Gunny]

HHhhmmmmmmm

https://media.townhall.com/townhall/reu/o/2018/150/d2e998ad-98db-44a4-8b76-f019397ed248-860x475.jpg

https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2023/11/11/reporters-get-an-up-close-view-of-chinas-bullying-in-the-south-china-sea-n591732

Saw this yesterday. Seems par for the course though, no? WW III starts over a rusty ship grounded on a shoal:rolleyes: MSM's sure ready to play it that way.

What did you name this thread? This is about the EEZ and China's encroachment, claiming any and everything it wants. Why not? Everyone and their brother knows our primary Naval assets are in the Med/ME.

China has the same dispute going with Vietnam, and it appears any other island nation in SE Asia. Matter of fact, China has a border dispute with almost every nation it borders.

Unlike Taiwan, we DO have a mutual defense agreement with the RP.