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Read More »Tag: Thitu Island
Updated: Philippines accuses China of ramming vessel near disputed island as tensions soar
WATCH: A China Coast Guard vessel (CCG 21559) fired a water cannon and rammed the BRP Datu Pagbuaya near Pag-asa Island this Sunday morning while the ship was assisting Filipino fishermen under the “Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” program, the PCG reports.
The incident occurred after CCG and Chinese militia vessels made dangerous maneuvers around anchored BFAR ships. CCG 21559 fired at 9:15 AM and rammed the BRP Datu Pagbuaya at 9:18 AM, causing minor damage but no injuries. (Video courtesy of PCG) | via Christine Boton
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Update: I missed this one. Yesterday’s maritime incident happened near Sandy Cay, which is approximately 1.5 nautical miles from Thitu Island.
Read More »Chinese ship runs aground off Philippines-occupied island in the disputed South China Sea + More
Philippine Forces Land on Contested South China Sea Feature
China seizes disputed reef in the South China Sea + More
Financial Times: China seizes disputed reef in the South China Sea (archived)
It comes as the Philippines and its ally the US are conducting Balikatan, their largest annual military exercise, which will include coastal defence and island seizure drills. They will be held from next week on the Philippine territory closest to the Spratlys.
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Less politics more marine diplomacy – a fix for South China Sea?
Territorial wrangling over who owns the South China Sea has strangled local marine life, say scientists, urging China and the Philippines to set aside political differences and work to save the fish, coral and plants that live border-free.
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Since 2013, China has built artificial islands that cover more than 3,000 acres of the Spratlys, according to U.S.-based policy organisation Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.
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A study last December by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative also blamed China’s dredging and clam harvesting for destroying almost 20,000 acres of reefs in the South China Sea.
Less politics more marine diplomacy – a fix for South China Sea?
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) is part of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Gregory Poling is director of the AMTI. The same Poling that told the U.S. government-funded Voice of America that “Vietnam’s use of cutter suction dredgers is much more environmentally destructive than its previous dredging methods.”
According to the CIA’s World Factbook, Vietnam occupies around 50 outposts, The Philippines occupies nine, Malaysia occupies five, and China occupies seven in the disputed Spratly Islands.
Previously:
Experts warn of Philippines scheming for ‘new arbitration’ on South China Sea + More
Vietnamese Poachers using Cyanide and Dynamite Fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ
Philippine Coast Guard clarifies ‘assertive transparency’ tact
China unveils evidences showing Philippine grounded warship at Ren’ai Jiao destroys coral reefs, endangers marine organism
While Manila mulls over filing a case against China with so-called “solid evidence of the damaged coral reefs caused by Chinese actions,” China, on Monday, released a report based on an unprecedentedly extensive and detailed on-site ecosystem survey around Ren’ai Jiao (also known as Ren’ai Reef), with solid evidence showing that the grounded warship has caused damage to the coral reefs and environmental pollution in the South China Sea.
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Experts warn of Philippines scheming for ‘new arbitration’ on South China Sea + More
Philippines rejects China’s accusation of environmental damage in South China Sea
China has in turn dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands in the South China Sea, which it says is normal construction activity on its territory, but which other nations say is aimed at enforcing its claim to the waterway.
A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies last year found China’s construction activity buried more than 4,600 acres (1,861 acres) of reef.
China claims almost all of the vital waterway, where $3 trillion worth of trade passes annually, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Greg Poling, from the front CSIS, claims that Vietnam is also building artificial islands.
South China Sea: Philippines’ anti-ship missile base puts Scarborough Shoal in cross hairs (more information)
What the article left out is; to shoot far, the Philippine military needs to see far. However, the Philippines don’t have any over-the-horizon (OTH) radar, military satellites, AWACS planes or other long-range ISR capabilities, to make use of the full range of the BrahMos missile. Without it the missile is limited to the range of its available ISR assets, which are measured in just dozens of kilometers.
However, if a BrahMos missile is ever launched against a long-range Chinese target, it will be easy to guess who would have supplied the essential Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) information and target identification to the Philippine military.
South China Sea: Philippines’ anti-ship missile base puts Scarborough Shoal in cross hairs
Even if the Philippines lacks the advanced communications, intelligence, and targeting systems needed to maximise the BrahMos’ capabilities, it could still leverage US support in these areas, Koh said, citing the sinking of Russia’s Moskva warship by Ukraine in 2022, which he said was achieved thanks to “targeting support provided by Kyiv’s allies, chiefly the Americans”.
The flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva became the largest warship lost in combat since the second world war when it was hit by two Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles in April 2022. US officials later told the media that the Pentagon had provided intelligence that led to the ship’s sinking.
For the Philippines, the BrahMos missiles are “significant game changers” [🙄], according to security strategist Chester Cabalza, president of the International Development and Security Cooperation think tank in Manila.
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However, Don McLain Gill, an international-studies lecturer at De La Salle University in the Philippines, questioned whether the BrahMos purchase alone would deliver robust deterrence against China.
“It will be crucial for the BrahMos to be supplemented by efficient intelligence, surveillance, target-acquisition and reconnaissance, which is critical to track targets and ensure they can be used by command,” he said, warning Manila must invest further to maximise the missiles’ deterrent value.
Previously:
Philippines Builds First BrahMos Anti-Ship Missile Base Facing South China Sea
Experts warn of Philippines scheming for ‘new arbitration’ on South China Sea + More
While reiterating that the arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration exceeded its jurisdiction and made an illegitimate ruling, Chinese experts warned on Monday that the Philippines is scheming for “new arbitration” on the issue, which would undermine regional peace and stability.
Experts warn of Philippines scheming for ‘new arbitration’ on South China Sea
Related:
Philippines should use legal, moral leverage in West Philippine Sea – expert
Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University, said China is using an “asymmetrical” strategy through military might in asserting its claims in the region.
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He also expressed support for the Philippine government’s plan to file another case against China, this time over the environmental destruction that China has caused in the West Philippine Sea.
PH to complete environmental case vs. China in ‘few weeks’- DOJ
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on May 20, 2024
The Office of Naval Research funded Stanford’s GKC
I’m no expert, but I had a feeling that they would back in April, at least:
Philippine Coast Guard clarifies ‘assertive transparency’ tact
Vietnamese Poachers using Cyanide and Dynamite Fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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