Philippines accuses China of damaging its vessel in disputed South China Sea shoal (videos)

Sky News / PCG

BEIJING/MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines on Tuesday accused China’s coast guard of harassment and damaging one of its boats in a disputed area of the South China Sea, and rejected Beijing’s position that it had expelled two vessels from the hotly contested shoal.

The Philippine coast guard said its two vessels stood their ground at the Scarborough Shoal, a key battleground in the South China Sea, but one sustained damage from use of water cannon by two Chinese coast guard ships.

Philippines accuses China of damaging its vessel in disputed South China Sea shoal

This is the second ship that “stood its ground” /s:

Source

PNoy, Del Rosario responsible for PH losing control of Scarborough

The term “lost* Scarborough shoal” is debatable. Security officials deny that. Foreign affairs officials will not say that because that would be detrimental to the claim of the Philippines on the shoal which is included in the case filed by the Philippines against China before the United National Arbitral Court.

*Yet, that’s precisely what Kurt Campbell said in his book, The Pivot (p. 225).

Note: VERA Files is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, Check Global by Meedan, Facebook, Open Society Foundations, and International Media Support.

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Blinken’s Visit to China Confirmed After Call With Chinese FM

The State Department confirmed on Wednesday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be visiting China, making him the highest-level Biden administration official to make the trip.

Blinken’s Visit to China Confirmed After Call With Chinese FM

Global Times:

Blinken visit still ‘opportunity’ amid mutual low expectations

Shortly before Blinken’s visit was confirmed by China, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang had a phone call with Blinken at the latter’s request. During the phone call, Qin expounded on China’s firm stance on core concerns such as the Taiwan question.

US, Canadian War Ships Sail Through Taiwan Strait Shortly After Biden’s Pledge to Go to War with China

By Kyle Anzalone and Connor Freeman | The Libertarian Institute | September 20, 2022

US and Canadian warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait, which China views as its territorial waters, on Tuesday. Since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last month, tensions between Washington and Beijing have soared. The transit occurred just days after President Joe Biden pledged to defend Taiwan with military force against China.

US, Canadian War Ships Sail Through Taiwan Strait Shortly After Biden’s Pledge to Go to War with China

Dunderheaded Diplomacy: Australia’s Funding Offer to the Solomon Islands

What is it about Australian diplomacy that makes it so clumsy and dunderheaded? Is it the harsh delivery, the tactless expression, or the inability to do things with subtle reflection? On September 6, Australian diplomacy gave another display of such form with Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s remarks about the Solomon Islands elections.

Dunderheaded Diplomacy: Australia’s Funding Offer to the Solomon Islands

Previously:

Solomon Islands votes to delay election as opposition cries foul

Is the Solomon Islands an Australian colony?

The Centre of International Insecurity

The Biden administration is no longer in charge of the White House. Relying on a select network of think-tanks and their corporate proxies, the Big Defense is. What it wants, it seems to get.

The Centre of International Insecurity

Related:

Scott [Horton] is joined by Dan Steinbock to discuss an article he wrote about the network of Democratic organizations running American foreign policy. Steinbock has dug deep into the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and WestExec Advisors, two organizations that have allowed top foreign policy officials to make money cycling between government, think tank and advisory roles. Steinbock also takes a step back and examines how these organizations are connected to weapons companies, Wall Street and technology firms.

6/27/22 Dan Steinbock: How Hawkish Democrats Make Money Pushing War

“Partnership in Blue Pacific” to Turn Pacific Islands into Anti-China War Zone

Jun 30, 2022 The US has announced yet another anti-China alliance. This one is called, “Partners in Blue Pacific,” and either includes or soon will include both the UK and France as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

This is about countering China – but if China is attempting to trade, develop, and raise the entire region with its own rise upon the global stage – it means the US and its allies are attempting to counter development and progress for these Pacific island nations.

Many of these nations are approaching China in the first place specifically because of the impoverished, destabilized state they’ve been left in by the US and its allies.

“Partnership in Blue Pacific” to Turn Pacific Islands into Anti-China War Zone (Odysee) via The New Atlas

References:

US and allies launch initiative to help Pacific Island nations

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Biden to pressure ASEAN against Myanmar, Russia, China

U.S. wants ASEAN leaders to play bigger role in Myanmar diplomacy – official

The United States wants Southeast Asian leaders to play a “more deeply engaged role” in efforts to put Myanmar back on a democratic track after a coup last year, the top U.S. official for Asia said on Wednesday ahead of President Joe Biden’s meeting with leaders from the region this week.

Biden to pressure ASEAN against Myanmar, Russia, China