The Philippines is taking steps to retake Scarborough Shoal, a disputed chain of rocks and reefs in the South China Sea that has been effectively controlled by China since 2012.
“Since the new administration took office, we have already strategized how we can take control once again of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), especially the lagoon,” Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela said Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.
Tarriela’s comments came a day after he said the Philippine Coast Guard removed a “floating barrier” planted by China near Scarborough Shoal that Manila said impeded Philippine vessels. Tarriela said the order to remove the barrier came from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
According to The South China Morning Post, China had allowed Philippine fishing vessels to return to Scarborough Shoal when relations were better under Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. But tensions have significantly increased since Marcos came into office last year.
Since Marcos came into office last year, tensions between China and the Philippines have significantly escalated. Marcos is moving much closer to the US and signed a deal granting the US military access to four new bases in the Philippines. The US and the Philippines have also increased military exercises and recently conducted a joint patrol in the South China Sea.
The US has strongly backed Manila’s claims to the South China Sea and has repeatedly warned Beijing that the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty covers attacks on Philippine vessels in the waters, turning the area into a potential flashpoint for war between the US and China. The commitment was formalized earlier this year when the US and the Philippines issued new guidelines for the treaty.
Sticking our collective nose (led by El Presidente) into everyone else’s backyard is how we roll, here in the land of the invisible homeless and the poverty stricken beneficiaries of Capitalism’s Heaven on Earth..
re: The Philippines is taking steps to retake Scarborough Shoal, a disputed chain of rocks and reefs in the South China Sea that has been effectively controlled by China since 2012.
Good luck on that.
China plans to dredge Scarborough Shoal and convert it into an air and naval base to complete China’s control of the entire South China Sea. At present, China has no air and naval base in the northern part of the South China Sea.
An air base in Scarborough Shoal will allow Chinese warplanes to cover the entire South China Sea from bases in islands on the eastern and western side of the South China Sea. It will also allow Chinese warplanes to easily reach the Bashi Channel, the gateway to the Pacific for China’s nuclear-armed submarines whose ballistic missiles at present can reach the continental United States only if fired from the Pacific Ocean. Of course, a Chinese air and naval base in Scarborough Shoal will be important for China if it invades Taiwan.
Anything from Bloomberger is a lie…!
“The US has strongly backed Manila’s claims to the South China Sea . . .”
What does Taiwan, which also claims Scarborough Shoal, say about that?
And what about the previous US position, that no nation has sovereignty over Scarborough?
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr”
Son of Imelda, second of his name, king of the Philippines, and lord of the Tagalog.
SERIOUSLY?!!!
Marcos Jr?😳 Nice Pedigree🤦♂️
re: The US has strongly backed Manila’s claims to the South China Sea and has repeatedly warned Beijing that the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty covers attacks on Philippine vessels in the waters
China controls Scarborough Shoal and along with it the territorial waters around it. The mainstream media chatters about the Philippines EEZ but sovereignty rights take precedence over control of water assets in any EEZ.
Manila Times — Sep 28, 2023
PH bent on retaking Scarborough Shoal
The PCA was a part of UNCLOS, Law Of the Sea, and their finding made it clear that they were involved with seas and had no authority for decisions on territory. It was all about fishing rights, which are contested in many parts of the world. The PLA determined that both China and Philippines had a valid interest to harvest fish in the area. So the Manila Times article focused on territory is baloney.
Good rock everybody!