China on Tuesday accused the Philippines of deliberately ramming a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel in disregard of China’s repeated warnings, as four Philippine vessels illegally entered the waters adjacent to the Ren’ai Jiao of China’s Nansha Qundao.

CCG spokesman Gan Yu made the remark after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said one of its ships was damaged on Tuesday in a collision with a CCG vessel and four Filipino crew were injured.
China blames Philippines for ship collision in waters near Ren’ai Jiao

Related:

The Philippines has been chartering civilian vessels for their resupply missions.

A Philippine civilian boat, escorted by two navy ships and two coast guard vessels, was on a monthly supply run to a small number of Filipino marines stationed on the ‘Sierra Madre’ – a warship intentionally run aground on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 in order to reinforce The Philippines’ territorial claims in the area.
Source

I suspect that this incident was staged. Powell, from the DoD-funded Stanford GKC’s SeaLight (Project Myoushu), said that it was the same vessel that was damaged last time. FYI, I clipped this video before he started talking about the upcoming US-Philippine-Japan meeting to ‘strengthen military ties’.

Source

Powell whining, on X, for ‘international support’.

Source

PH ignored China’s proposals on sea row

March 10, 2024March 14, 2024 Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Original Source

The Philippine government has not acted upon several concept papers that China submitted almost a year ago that proposed ways to normalize the situation in disputed areas of the South China Sea, a ranking Chinese official said over the weekend.
PH ignored China’s proposals on sea row

Previously:

4 Philippine Sailors Injured, 2 Vessels Damaged in Chinese Attempt to Block Second Thomas Shoal Resupply

March 5, 2024March 25, 2024 Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

4 Philippine Sailors Injured, 2 Vessels Damaged in Chinese Attempt to Block Second Thomas Shoal Resupply

As a result of the incident, Powell thinks that Manila “has the right to expect a more muscular response from its partners and allies.” After last year’s incidents, both the U.S. and Australia held joint maritime and aerial patrols with Philippine military forces in the South China Sea. The Philippines expects to hold more joint patrols with not only American and Australian forces, but also with countries such as France, Canada and Japan.

…

Yesterday, Philippine President BongBong Marcos vowed that the country would “push back” when its sovereignty was ignored in reference to China’s actions in the region during a speech in Australia. He further stressed that the Philippines’ stance on the South China Sea was guided by its interests, not at the “beck and call” of the United States.

BBM was at the Lowy Institute, a think tank funded by the Australian government, etc.

It’s Time to Build Combined Forward Operating Base Sierra Madre

Philippines Game Changer Analysis – Project Myoushu – South China Sea

Indonesia’s feared ex-general Prabowo claims victory in presidential election + Notes

February 14, 2024February 14, 2024 Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Indonesia’s feared ex-general Prabowo claims victory in presidential election

But the likely victory of Prabowo — an ex-general who was kicked out from the army and subjected to a two-decade ban from the U.S. over human rights violations — raises fears of the world’s third-largest democracy sliding backward into authoritarian rule.

Continuity and its risks

Prabowo is expected to largely continue the policies of President Widodo, or “Jokowi,” as Indonesians call him. President Widodo is not up for reelection as he’s serving his final term.

Through his two five-year terms, Indonesia’s economy — Southeast Asia’s largest — has grown at about 5% a year. His infrastructure building, cash and food assistance to the poor and health and education policies have been popular.

Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel, used in making electric vehicle batteries, and Jokowi has barred the export of raw nickel, to help Indonesia move up the value chain from mining to manufacturing.

…

Prabowo is Suharto’s son-in-law. He received training in the 1980s from the U.S. military at Fort Benning, Ga. (now Fort Moore) and Fort Bragg, N.C. (now Fort Liberty).

Indonesia’s presidential election emerges as key battleground in US-China rivalry

Tonto Strikes Again: Preempts Task Force, DFA + and an update (Philippines)

January 22, 2024January 31, 2024 Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

First of Three Parts: Sabotaging Diplomacy at the South China Seas

Four days after the country has barely started recovering from the trauma President Marcos dealt on Philippine-China relations after he made a faux pas recognizing the newly-elected president of Taiwan and infuriating China, Philippine Coast Guard Jay Tarriela again preempted the National Task Force and the Department of Foreign Affairs dishing out fake news to the national media.
Tonto Strikes Again: Preempts Task Force, DFA

I’ve updated my ‘Philippines Game Changer’ document, with a couple of links, regarding the South China Sea and ‘Freedom of Navigation’. I’ve also created a page for all of my working papers, to which I’ll upload future updates. If anyone has any feedback, I’d appreciate it. I can be reached through my contact page, or email at mscat71@dontsp.am, if comments are closed.

Philippines Game Changer – Project Myoushu – South China Sea Analysis Download

There’s an information war going on in the South China Sea (using embedded journalists, civil society activists, and various US think tanks). The Philippines plans on building a military base, on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, to replace the BRP Sierra Madre (which is about to break apart). Marcos is also re-starting oil exploration, in the Reed Bank which is part of the disputed territory.

Philippines to develop islands in South China Sea + More

YouTube Playlist: InfoOp – SCS

Two Royal Navy Minehunters Bump in Bahrain | HMS Chiddingfold & HMS Bangor involved in Allision!

January 21, 2024January 21, 2024 Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Two Royal Navy Minehunters Bump in Bahrain | HMS Chiddingfold & HMS Bangor involved in Allision!

Royal Navy Allision!

What’s Going on With Shipping? Jan. 21, 2024

In this episode, Sal Mercogliano – maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner – discusses the allision between the @RoyalNavy HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Bangor in Manama, Bahrain on January 19, 2024.
What is Going on With Shipping?

Previously:

Two British Warships Collide in Persian Gulf Incident (+Video)

Two British Warships Collide in Persian Gulf Incident (+Video)

January 20, 2024January 21, 2024 Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A collision occurred between two UK Royal Navy minesweeper vessels during docking in Bahrain, resulting in significant damage to one of the ships.
Two British Warships Collide in Persian Gulf Incident (+Video)

Collision at Sea: PBBM Wastes Years of Confidence-Building with China

October 23, 2023October 23, 2023 Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

This the statement by Gan Yu, the spokesman of China Coast Guard, on the collision of a Philippine vessel and Chinese Coast Guard ship near Ren’ai Reef (Ayungin Shoal).
Collision at Sea: PBBM Wastes Years of Confidence-Building with China

US seizes Iranian oil tanker to replenish it’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves?!

April 29, 2023April 29, 2023 Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)1 Comment

The United States seized an Iranian oil tanker just days before Tehran detained a tanker carrying American cargo in the Gulf of Oman, Reuters reported on Saturday.
US seized Iranian tanker days before Tehran captured US ship