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

January 22, 2024January 31, 2024 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

81 percent of Filipinos worried over US-China tensions

January 12, 2024January 13, 2024 Ms. Cat

POLITICIANS like Jinggoy Estrada and Risa Hontiveros, who think being vehemently against China will make them so popular for a higher position, had better do some hard thinking.
81 percent of Filipinos worried over US-China tensions

US policies pushing China, Philippines to brink of conflict

January 10, 2024January 17, 2024 Ms. Cat

US policies pushing China, Philippines to brink of conflict

The China-Philippines maritime dispute does not, in of itself, reflect anything approaching an existential conflict. It has, however, become an increasingly dangerous proxy and potential flashpoint for underlying China-U.S. tensions in the South China Sea.

FYI, this article is full of disinformation. I’m posting it to point out that 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.

Why the US is Picking a Fight with China in the South China Sea

Beijing rejects tribunal’s ruling in South China Sea case

Paul Reichler, of the law firm Foley Hoag LLP, who who coordinated the Philippines’ legal team, said: “The tribunal’s ruling not only benefits the Philippines, it also benefits other states bordering the South China Sea like Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. If China’s nine-dash line is invalid as to the Philippines, it is equally invalid to those states and, indeed, the rest of the international community.”

Paul S. Reichler

Beijing has ‘a lot of legal weapons’ to challenge Manila’s claims in South China Sea, international law expert says

January 5, 2024January 5, 2024 Ms. Cat

Beijing still has plenty of countermeasures it could use against Manila if tensions between the two countries continue to escalate in the South China Sea, according to a seasoned legal expert who specialises in the region.
Beijing has ‘a lot of legal weapons’ to challenge Manila’s claims in South China Sea, international law expert says

Philippines provoked China’s water cannoning at Ayungin Shoal

December 15, 2023December 19, 2023 Ms. Cat

By Daniel Long

President Bongbong Marcos shocked the nation when he put out a tweet (X post) this weekend on the recent water cannoning incidents at Ayungin and Scarborough Shoal. I would like to highlight this part of his statement: “Let me reiterate what is settled and widely recognized: Ayungin Shoal is within our Exclusive Economic Zone, any foreign claim of sovereignty over it is baseless and absolutely contrary to international law…No one but the Philippines has a legitimate right or legal basis to operate anywhere in the West Philippine Sea.”
PH provoked China’s water cannoning at Ayungin Shoal

Negotiating the Tide: The Vital Role of Bilateral Talks between PH & CN in Steering Through the SCS Dispute

December 2, 2023December 2, 2023 Ms. Cat

The statement of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro just this week, where he said that entering into bilateral negotiations over the dispute in the South China Sea (SCS) between the Philippines and China will just be playing into China’s playbook, is quite perplexing. Teodoro says bilateral talks with China on the issue over the SCS dispute will only hamper and strangle the Philippines’ rights and position. This is one of the reasons why the Philippines is seeking multilateralism.
Negotiating the Tide: The Vital Role of Bilateral Talks between PH & CN in Steering Through the SCS Dispute

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

October 23, 2023October 23, 2023 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

Claims by US over central Pacific now rival those of Beijing in South China Sea

October 1, 2023October 1, 2023 Ms. Cat

Washington’s new pacts with three island states will establish a second island chain of attack as a complete sphere of influence in breach of international law and its own interpretation of freedom of navigation
Claims by US over central Pacific now rival those of Beijing in South China Sea

U.S. Claims to Central Pacific Flout International Law

Indonesia trashes Pentagon’s ‘joint statement’ on China and Russia

September 2, 2023September 2, 2023 Ms. Cat

Jakarta stressed its “non-aligned” status and said it seeks good ties with all countries.
Indonesia trashes Pentagon’s ‘joint statement’ on China and Russia

Related (in English):

No joint statement with US on China’s South China Sea claims: Subianto

Defense Minister Prabowo And US Defense Minister Agree To Strengthen Relations Amid Various Strategic Issues

Chinese Embassy Spokesperson’s Remarks

Former Japanese prime minister provocatively visits Taiwan

August 12, 2023August 12, 2023 Ms. Cat

In another provocative move directed at Beijing, former Japanese prime minister and virulent anti-China hawk Taro Aso recently visited Taiwan for three days. He met with senior government officials, including President Tsai Ing-wen and declared that Japan, the US and Taiwan should ramp up plans for war with mainland China.
Former Japanese prime minister provocatively visits Taiwan

Ms. Cat’s Chronicles

“In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story.” – Walter Cronkite

Tag: UNCLOS