Another encounter between Chinese and Philippine vessels occurred in the South China Sea on Wednesday, with Chinese authorities saying they warned boats making an “unapproved” entry near Second Thomas Shoal, a reef claimed by both Manila and Beijing.
The Philippine side said it conducted a successful resupply for troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era ship Manila grounded on the shoal in 1999 to assert its claims.
Manila’s National Security Council said Philippine vessels resupplied the ship despite “a significant number of China’s coastguard and maritime militia vessels” that attempted to “block, harass and interfere” with the mission.
A spokesman for China’s Marine police said the Chinese Coast Guard “warned, followed and effectively regulated” the Philippine vessels, but it’s unclear if China tried to block the resupply mission.
There have been several encounters between China and the Philippines around Second Thomas Shoal, which is part of the Spratly Islands. During one incident in early August, a Chinese vessel fired a water cannon at Philippine boats trying to resupply the Sierra Madre.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been more confrontational in his approach to Manila’s maritime dispute with Beijing than his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. In another recent incident, the Philippine Coast Guard said it cut a “barrier” that was blocking Philippine vessels from entering Scarborough Shoal, another disputed reef in the South China Sea.
The South China Sea has turned into a potential flashpoint for a war between the US and China since Washington has repeatedly stated the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty applies to attacks on Philippine vessels in the waters. The US and the Philippines have been taking steps to strengthen their military alliance, including the US expanding its military presence in the Southeast Asian country by adding four new bases.
The US is just looking for an excuse like the Gulf of Tonkin or Remember the Maine.
And where do you see the US in this article, commie?
The South China Sea has turned into a potential flashpoint for a war between the US and China since Washington has repeatedly stated the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty applies to attacks on Philippine vessels in the waters. The US and the Philippines have been taking steps to strengthen their military alliance, including the US expanding its military presence in the Southeast Asian country by adding four new bases.
sure, and it’s a flashpoint becasue China wants to make other’s territorys theirs. And were the only one with the balls to do something about it.
Congratulations Mr Childs. You have IMHO joined the ranks of the other 4 or 5 Russia and China haters who read this web site. You need to look at your own house for the war mongers.
Either he’s filling in for two of the other trolls that usually show up here, or he’s one of them with a different account. (sarcasm)
Thanks.I appreciate your reply.
You asked where the US was in the article.
Why are we opposing the ROC in this matter. I thought Taiwan was our bud.
All I see is Chinese imperialism trying to expand into the waters of a much smaller neighbor.
But some here love imperialism and neocolonialism as long as the Chinese do it.
Progressives are like that; they bemoan western actions but love others who do the same.
re: it’s unclear if China tried to block the resupply mission.
The Chinese vessels have a deeper draft than the Philippines vessels.
The Sierra Madre was an improvised, temporary solution to a vicious problem. It was intentionally run aground in 1999 to physically demarcate Philippine maritime sovereignty over 2nd Thomas Shoal. In 2014, the Chinese government asked the Philippines to remove the grounded ship. Now it is rusting and rotting away. A current observation from one source: “The time bomb of the Philippines BRP Sierra Madre is ticking down to zero.”
https://dlzvpuc9ucfb7.cloudfront.net/jcr_content_2e4845f6f2.jpg
In any case, the only reason the PI is getting snotty now is because we continued our payments to the Marcos family.
China harrassing a tiny nation over territorial waters is so imperialist of them.
So many get upset over western imperialism but ignore a blatant case like this.