Philippines and China in Standoff–former USCGC Center Stage

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https://i0.wp.com/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Scarborough_Shoal_Landsat.jpg

Photo credit, NASA Landsat 7 image of Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea

The former USCGC Hamilton, now BRP Gregorio del Pilar, is at the center of a standoff with the Chinese over a remote atoll shaped group of rocks and shallows called variously Scarborough (or Panatag) Reef or Shoal.

Both the Chinese and the Philippines claim sovereignty.

A Philippine patrol plane located eight Chinese fishing vessels inside the atoll. With the Gregorio del Pilar now on scene, two Chinese Maritime Surveillance vessels are blocking Philippine fisheries enforcement action against the fishing vessels and the Chinese are demanding the Philippine Navy depart their waters; while the Philippines is asserting it will enforce its sovereignty. Diplomacy is given lip service, but the standoff is ongoing. The US has a treaty obligation to the Philippines (subject to interpretation of course) and there are calls for US assistance.

A long discussion from the Philippine point of view here.

Photo: Philippine flag planted on Scarborough Shoal, Photographed by Adel Rosario, 05:11, 2 May 2010 (UTC)

File:Panatag Shoal.jpg

358 thoughts on “Philippines and China in Standoff–former USCGC Center Stage”

  23. Relatively strong statement of support from the CNO: http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140213/DEFREG03/302130031/Navy-Chief-US-Would-Help-Philippines-South-China-Sea

    Interestingly, Quoting the report,

    “But Greenert said that he wanted to send a ‘clear signal … that aggressive behavior outside of international norms is contrary to good order.'”

    “’You may have seen some statements coming from our policy makers exactly in that direction. You will see more of that from us,’ he added.”

    Reply ↓

  27. Pingback: How to Create Enemies and Make People Hate You–China vs Indonesia | Chuck Hill's CG Blog

  29. Some analysis, proposals (including some about the Coast Guard), and warnings.
    http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140314/DEFREG03/303140016/Analysis-China-Backs-Manila-Into-Corner-Limited-Options-US
    Contrary to the final statement, the US does have a dog in this fight because
    1) We want a world ruled by law rather than the whims of the strong.
    2) The Chinese are attempting to further extend the authority of coastal stats over their adjacent waters in ways that may ultimately come back to bite us.

    Reply ↓

    • I agree that the concept/conclusion that the US “has no dog in this fight” is, let’s say, ‘wrong’ to be polite. The current administration does not appear to understand the lessons of WWI & WWII, let alone the cold war. The author appears to be just parrotting the administration’s weak international position.

      Reply ↓

  31. According to the German Navy blog, Marine Forum, “The Philippines has submitted to the U.N. Arbitral Tribunal a nearly 4,000-page document that details its legal arguments and evidence to prove that China’s massive territorial claims in the South China Sea are “unlawful and invalid”.”
    (No attribution as to the source of the report)

    Reply ↓

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