China asserts claim over SC Sea, intrudes into Philippine territory.

[JDC]

Chinese ships in a standoff with Philippine Navy forces.

The Philippines deployed a second vessel to tiny islands in the South China Sea on Thursday in a bid to protect its sovereignty in an increasingly tense territorial standoff with China. Authorities said a coast guard boat joined the Philippines' biggest warship at Scarborough Shoal, where two Chinese surveillance vessels were protecting a group of Chinese fishermen from being arrested. "It has arrived in the area. It is there to support our navy and to show our flag," foreign affairs department spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters, referring to the 56-metre-long (184-foot) search and rescue coast guard vessel.

"It is mandated to protect our seas."

However Hernandez also emphasised the Philippines was intent on ending the standoff peacefully, and quickly.

"We are confident the two sides will find a diplomatic solution as they are committed to finding one," he said.

"We want this to be resolved immediately. Our people are there, the Chinese fishermen are there. It is hot and they could run out of food so we want this to be resolved as soon as possible."

The dispute began on Sunday when Philippine authorities found eight Chinese fishing boats at the shoal, a group of tiny islands and reefs 124 nautical miles west of the country's main island of Luzon. The Philippines accused the fishermen of being there illegally, asserting the area was Philippine territory because it was within the country's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, as recognised by international law.

Chinese territorial claims in the Southern China Sea.

However China claims all of the South China Sea as its own, even waters up to the coasts of other countries, and Chinese authorities insisted the fishermen were allowed to be at the shoal. Competing claims to the South China Sea have long been regarded as one of Asia's potential flashpoints for military conflict. Aside from the Philippines and China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also have competing claims to the waters. More than 70 Vietnamese sailors were killed in 1988 when China and Vietnam battled for control of the Spratlys, an archipelago south of Scarborough Shoal. The sea holds huge economic and political significance, as it is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas resources, is home to vast fishing grounds and hosts shipping lanes that carry a third of the globe's maritime trade. In the latest flare-up in tensions, the Philippines deployed its navy flagship vessel to Scarborough Shoal immediately after the Chinese fishermen were discovered there.

But the two Chinese surveillance vessels appeared on the scene on Tuesday and blocked the Philippine warship from arresting the fishermen, who had reportedly hauled in corals, live sharks and some endangered species.

"For us, this is illegal fishing, illegal poaching and that is why our navy is there to protect our sovereignty and assert our rights," Hernandez said.

The Chinese embassy in Manila released a statement on Wednesday insisting the waters belonged to China and ordering the Philippine warship to leave immediately. In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin accused the Philippines of "harassing" the Chinese fishermen and said a protest had been lodged.

"We urge the Philippine side... not to make new troubles and create conditions for the friendly relations of the two countries," Liu said.

The Philippines and Vietnam complained last year of increasingly aggressive acts by China in staking its claim to the South China Sea. The Philippines also accused Chinese vessels of firing warning shots at Filipino fishermen, as well as harassing an oil exploration vessel and placing markers on islets within Philippine territory.

However this week's standoff is the highest-profile in recent years.

Source: Yahoo! News


Another day, another load of bullshit from the poltiical sector. This is just fucking ridiculous.

First of all, China already possesses a powerful economy and plenty of territory. Now, they are hungering for even more, going so far as to stake a claim on the ENTIRE South China Sea, meaning they "own the sea up to the coast of other countries". This basically implies they are claiming up to a foot from our shores... how much more greedy can they get?

Secondly, the Chinese ships in question were only around 150 nautical miles from our shores, when the economic and political boundaries of the Philippines end at 200 miles from our shores, as recognized by INTERNATIONAL LAW. Not only is China hungry for more territories, they are even invading other countries for it.

Thirdly, those illegal Chinese fishermen were caught in the act of illegal fishing; this means they were taking OUR fish, OUR corals, and OUR endangered species. What is worse is that China has ordered its surveillance vessels to defend the illegal fishermen.

Fourth, this happened in part because our politicians voted to kick the Americans (who have maintained a military presence in our country since colonial times) out of the Philippines. I know the USA did not exactly treat our people well at times, but the Philippine military is far too incompetent to win a war with the majority of global countries, especially powerful foes like China, and the presence of the Americans here is one thing that would deter potential attackers. Now while our people starve and watch helplessly as other nations intrude into our waters, our fat-ass politicians continue to dine inside their lavish mansions, showering in all the money they earned from corruption. Fucking pigs.

Fifth, all of this for oil, which the Spratlys (a group of islands close to the area in dispute) are rich in. Instead of solving issues like economic crises, overpopulation, and crime, these scumbags and pieces of shit we call "politicians" choose to waste their time feuding with other countries over the oil hidden under the Spratlys.

Again, this is just fucking ridiculous.

If there are any Chinese readers here, I am not against your people, but I am against your government. Do not take my posts the wrong way.

[Leroy_Kolta]

what. the. heck. Why can't people just get along???

[Mikal]

Why do they need that part of the sea, what do they possibly plan to do with it?

[Reece]

Almost like the Americans with this...

Common sense would say give it to canada... but oh no..

http://g.co/maps/8gh53

[SafetyMoose]

Almost like the Americans with this...

Common sense would say give it to canada... but oh no..

http://g.co/maps/8gh53

yeah but, unlike many countries we dont really mind seeing as Canada and the US share the longest unprotected border in the world ^_^


But back on topic. You state that this is a breech of international law, however as we all should really know, when has international law every really been used for its real purpose? most countries just see it as a threat to their own sovereignty and ignore it. Since the UN is a political nightmare that can't get anything done, its no use falling back on "international laws" they create yet can't enforce. I do not condone the actions of the Chinese in this instance, however they are just playing "Big kid on the Block" and understand completely well that they can do what they want.

But lets fact it, China is a world superpower, and they are going to do exactly what the US has been doing to countries in Central and Souther America.

[EliteTerm]

It won't be long before a conflict starts that could slowly progress to World War III.

[Mikal]

It won't be long before a conflict starts that could slowly progress to World War III.

F**k Yeah!

[Exterminator]

Atleast your politicians are thinking for your country one way or another, they are trying to make your country rich.

Imagine India where the politicians would even sell off our land to other countries if offered a high price...

[SafetyMoose]

F**k Yeah!

yes because war is so cool. Go back to playing COD.

This will not erupt in to world war 3. People need to get this notion of world war 3 out of their heads. its going to be a number of factors, not just one incident, that will trigger it (if it even ever happens)

[Sphex]

World War IV is predicted to be fought with sticks and stones for a reason.

[ElMartu]

If anything that North Korea thing is more likely for another big war.

As for this, China's like, just dumb.

[Mikal]

yes because war is so cool. Go back to playing COD.

This will not erupt in to world war 3. People need to get this notion of world war 3 out of their heads. its going to be a number of factors, not just one incident, that will trigger it (if it even ever happens)

First of all, COD MW3 = L33t, second of all, I said f**k yeah as in, I agree with you, although I guess it wasn't the best choice of words...

[JayL]

they are going to do exactly what the US has been doing to countries in Central and Souther America.

Whatever Chinese do in the future, no matter how insane or how violent, to Philippines, isn't even near what the USA did, does and will continue doing to Latin America.

Also - no wonder the PRC is doing such a thing, seeing as how USA had military groups in the country until recently. And they're more than right in doing it.

[battle]

It won't be long before a conflict starts that could slowly progress to World War III.

Regarding that, i gotta agree it's 1 OF THE headstone for WIII but not the main reason for it to errupt on a global scale, the trigger here is syria or iran simply due to russia protecting them. WIII CAN be prevented still but we're soon at point of no return regarding that point. IF isreal strikes iran US will prolly follow suit to hold the straight open then russia will jump into the fray.. Anyway china should gtfo from the philiphine waters as they don't know what they can set in motion by doing what they do atm...

[Mikal]

Didn't America steal Alaska from Canada?