Chinese Auxiliaries Occupy Reef Within Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone
Here is another example of the Chinese using their auxiliaries to push around a weaker neighbor in the South China Sea. The Philippines is in a tough spot because if they send in Coast Guard and Naval assets to remove the auxiliaries than that gives the Chinese military the excuse to move in and protect them. This is a fight the Philippines cannot win thus why they are turning to the international media:
The Philippine defense chief on Sunday demanded more than 200 Chinese vessels he said were manned by militias leave a South China Sea reef claimed by Manila, saying their presence was a “provocative action of militarizing the area.”
“We call on the Chinese to stop this incursion and immediately recall these boats violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory,” Lorenzana said in a statement, adding without elaborating that the Philippines would uphold its sovereign rights.
A government watchdog overseeing the disputed region said about 220 Chinese vessels were seen moored at Whitsun Reef, which Beijing also claims, on March 7. It released pictures of the vessels side by side in one of the most hotly contested areas of the strategic waterway.
Stars & Stripes
You can read more at the link.
Be a shame if an entire “North Korean minefield” accidently broke loose and drifted into the area. Of course, we know how poorly maintained their stuff can be…
China is going to keep doing this inch-by-inch incursion until they have claimed the entire South China Sea. None of the Southeast Asian nations have the naval power to oppose China. Also, we can count on the US staying out of it now that “Beijing Biden” is in charge, and Xi knows this.
I thought China already had claimed the entire South China Sea. Of course their nonsensical claim has no validity.
Careful, johnhenry… they’rewatching what you type…