Standoff over Scarborough Shoal between China and the Philippines

[entropy13]

A ranking military official said Wednesday that a Philippine Coast Guard ship is en route to Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea to assist the BRP Gregorio del Pilar in enforcing the country’s maritime laws.

"We have authority to confiscate them and bring the ships here. We've done that in the past," AFP deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara told reporters, according to a Reuters report.

The BRP Gregorio del Pilar, flagship of the Philippine Navy and tasked to protect the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea–including the Malampaya natural gas field–is in a standoff with two surveillance ships of the People’s Republic of China at Panatag Shoal.

A diplomatic solution

President Benigno Aquino III ordered the Armed Forces to follow its rules of engagement and ensure that no violence will happen at Panatag Shoal, 124 nautical miles from Luzon.

The Chinese surveillance ships maneuvered and took positions between the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and Chinese fishing vessels earlier found to have been engaged in illegal fishing in the waters off Panatag Shoal, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Found on board the Chinese fishing vessels were cargo loads of giant clams and other species of marine life.

A statement issued by the Chinese embassy said 12 fishing boats had taken shelter from harsh weather in a lagoon. It said the Philippine "gunboat" blocked the lagoon entrance, preventing the Chinese surveillance vessels from "fulfilling the duties of safeguarding Chinese maritime rights and interests".

It said the embassy immediately contacted the DFA and "reiterated China's sovereignty over Huangyan Island, (and) urged the Philippine side to stop immediately their illegal activities and leave this area".

As of early Wednesday evening, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said there was no breakthrough yet with China. The Department of Foreign Affairs summoned Ambassador Ma Keqing and lodged a diplomatic protest.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said the PROC "launched solemn representations with the Philippine side over the Philippine vessels and patrol boats harassing Chinese fishing boats and fishermen."

Stakes have risen

The dispute is one of a mosaic of conflicting claims over islands, reefs and shoals in the West Philippine Seas (South China Sea) that pit China against the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Some of the claims have drawn the United States to press China over sovereignty.

Tension has risen in the past two years over worries China is becoming more assertive in its claims to the seas, believed to be rich in oil and gas and straddling shipping lanes between East Asia and Europe and the Middle East.

The stakes have risen further since the United States last year began refocusing its military attention on Asia, strengthening ties with the Philippines and Australia.



Original article here.



"Harsh weather"? Well, if you can say very high temperatures constitute "harsh weather", then yes, the Chinese are correct. I mean, who wouldn't "take shelter" from such harsh weather...except the seas are actually quite calm, since if the weather was indeed harsh that they need to "take shelter" in the lagoon, the Philippine fishing boats also in the area should have done so already, and that our Coast Guard and Navy wouldn't have any ships in the open seas in the first place.

They suddenly became more...adventurous. Must be because North Korea's about to launch a missile.

[yogurt_21]

seems like the whole area is getting antsy. Will be interesting to watch.

[entropy13]

Chinese "patriot" hackers just hacked the University of the Philippines website, apparently.



There's just a generic notice now.

http://up.edu.ph

[entropy13]

So the hacking wars continue. The website of one of our major newspapers is the latest major victim.

And that's besides the fact that there are now even more Chinese ships than ever before...even disregarding the territorial issue, the Chinese are still violating international law because they are poaching endangered species of giant clams, and turtles, as well as sharks and corals.

[yogurt_21]

does the philipines have no hackers? I mean it shouldn't be hard to fight fire with fire so to speak.

[entropy13]

Originally Posted by yogurt_21

does the philipines have no hackers? I mean it shouldn't be hard to fight fire with fire so to speak.

It's not really a "war" if one side doesn't fight back, now does it?

And our hackers have a better understanding of English grammar. lol

"We are come from China" LOL

[entropy13]

Japanese media reports: China naval formations across Okinawa advance to the Western Pacific

http://club.6park.com/military/messages/22097.html

Reports now coming in from JSDF (Air recon) 5 heavily armed naval vessels of PRC is approaching North east of Batanes.

4 missile frigates
1 Amphibious transport dock : capacity of one marine battalion, including 500-800 troops, and 15-20 amphibious armoured vehicles.