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)
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More on the Chinese artificial islands, with photos and speculation on their possible use. http://www.marinelink.com/news/artificial-regional386143.aspx
The US is flying P-8 ASW planes out the Philippines. Inevitably these will be referred to as spy planes, even by people who should know better, as they are in this article. The Chinese will not take kindly to this. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/26/15/us-sends-spy-plane-patrol-west-philippine-sea
Another US official expresses concern about Chinese “reclamation” efforts in the South China Sea. http://www.marinelink.com/news/maritime-advances-chinas386765.aspx
Report that Russia claims they helped China design their warships. http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20150305000061
Update: http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2015/02/chinas-island-building-spree-about-more-just-military-might/105786/?oref=defenseone_today_nl
From the German Navy blog Marine Forum:
09 March, CHINA (Territorial Disputes),
•South China Sea: A Chinese Navy admiral calls for radar stations and listening posts to be built on Chinese-controlled islands in the South China Sea,
•South China Sea: China has begun land reclamation work on Mischief Reef, one of the easternmost features in disputed Spratly Islands.
Apparently Com7thFleet has made some interesting comments: http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/us-navy-urges-joint-south-east-asia-patrols-south-china-sea
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair and Ranking Members of both parties has sent a letter to SecDef and SecState asking for a strategy to deal with Chinese aggressiveness in the South China and East China Seas: http://news.usni.org/2015/03/20/document-senate-letter-to-carter-kerry-calling-for-china-strategy
The US seems to be taking a firmer stand. Recent comments by the SecDef. http://news.usni.org/2015/04/08/secdef-carter-u-s-takes-strong-stand-against-militarization-in-south-china-sea-disputes
Philippines is accusing China of doing serious environmental damage to the eco system in the South China Sea. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/asia-pacific/2015/04/13/philippines-says-chinese-reclamation-damaged-reefs/25736569/
Speculation about how the Chinese may use the new islands they are building. (Reclamation is really not the right word.) http://www.marinetechnologynews.com/news/china-could-exclusion-512475
Report China Coast Guard uses water cannon to chase off Philippine fishermen.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/120904/chinese-shoo-away-filipino-fishermens-boats/
And a report the Philippine Coast Guard may start escorting fishermen.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=1&rid=754320
Philippines asking for more aid from the US including amphibious assault vehicles. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/asia-pacific/2015/04/21/philippines-seeks-more-military-aid-to-counter-china/26148525/
Latest confrontation between China and Philippines. Chinese frigate warns Philippine Fokker F-27 twin engine surveillance aircraft away from a disputed area using “powerful light”
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/475414/news/nation/chinese-warship-warns-phl-patrol-plane-in-disputed-sea
From German Navy blog “Marine Forum” dated 23 April:
“A Chinese Navy frigate reportedly fired flare to „tell“ a Philippine air force Fokker patrol aircraft to keep distance to Chinese-occupied Subi Reef in Spratly Archipelago (South China Sea).
“The Philippines accuse the Chinese Coast Guard of robbing Filipino fishermen at gunpoint near disputed Scarborough Shoa in Spratly Archipelago (South China Sea) … already on 11 April, personnel from „three vessels with clear Chinese Coast Guard markings“ boarded two Philippine fishing boats, then took the crew’s catch.
“(rmks: in the past, there have been numerous and credible reports on Chinese Coast Guard actively involved in piracy to better their pay)”
US attempting to gain access to 8 facilities in the Philippines. http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-seeks-access-to-philippine-bases-as-part-of-asia-pivot-20150425-1mt29i.html
Interesting bit of legal argument here: http://westphilippineseablog.blogspot.com/2015/04/chain-of-custody-legal-basis-for-any-us.html?spref=fb
Chinese position relative to dispute with Philippines. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2015/05/mil-150505-pdo01.htm?_m=3n%2e002a%2e1409%2ejj0ao001ud%2e1akr
China warns off Philippine aircraft in seven different incidents in international air space. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/05/07/philippines-alarmed-over-china-aircraft-challenges/70951942/
Apparently the Philippine CG will be getting four C-23s, a small twin engine transport a bit smaller than the C-144. http://www.angmalaya.net/nation/2015/05/11/10871-coast-guard-confirms-negotiating-for-4-c-23-sherpa-from-us-military
Specs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_C-23_Sherpa#C-23A
US is trying to figure out how to demonstrate opposition to the Chinese actions including operating units within 12 miles of the artificial islands. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/asia-pacific/2015/05/13/us-weighs-moves-counter-chinas-wall-sand/27272177/
US is taking a stand against Chinese assertions of sovereignty over virtually all of the South China Sea. http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/20/politics/south-china-sea-navy-flight/index.html
More on this and a second incident involving a US LCS. http://gcaptain.com/china-and-u-s-navy-have-had-two-confrontations-in-south-china-sea-this-week/
Nice survey here of views of how the US can or should react. http://www.eaglespeak.us/2015/05/fun-in-south-china-sea-islands-in-stream.html
Some video taken on US surveillance flights: http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2015/05/navy-unveils-video-manmade-islands-south-china-sea/113443/
The Philippines is following the US example in demonstrating their rejection of Chinese claims of Sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/budget/2015/05/25/aquino-philippines-fly-disputed-south-china-sea/27924321/
A back channel threat against the US. http://tankler.com/war-is-inevitable-china-threatens-united-states/#
SecDef Carter calls for an immediate end to island “reclamation” http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/28/us-asia-usa-pentagon-idUSKBN0OC2L620150528?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
Other news on this front:
Evaluation of Chinese Naval expansion. http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150526000161&cid=1101&MainCatID=11
China’s National Military Strategy:
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2015/05/27/436991/p2/China-will.htm
http://blogs.cfr.org/davidson/2015/05/27/five-takeaways-from-chinas-bold-new-military-strategy/
And another take on the events. http://www.eaglespeak.us/2015/05/china-weaponizes-built-up-islands-in.html
The Congress wants to help arm some of China’s neighbors. http://www.dodbuzz.com/2015/05/28/congress-seeks-to-arm-u-s-allies-in-the-pacific-to-counter-china/
A verbal shot across China’s bow from SECDEF. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/budget/2015/05/29/carter-china-out-of-step-pacific-islands-sovereign-reclamation-shangri-la/28146053/
More analysis of the situation. http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21652348-china-asserts-itself-naval-and-air-power-and-america-responds-risks
Text of SecDef’s speech to ASEAN. Significant how many times he mentions maritime security. http://www.defense.gov/Speeches/Speech.aspx?SpeechID=1945
The Chinese reply: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/t1268781.shtml?utm_content=buffer08c6f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
A commentary, and recommendation: http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2015/06/01/beijing_threatens_the_international_order_107995.html
How China and the US might go to war–when no one wants that.
http://nationalinterest.org/feature/3-ways-china-the-us-could-go-war-the-south-china-sea-13055
Editorial
http://thediplomat.com/2015/06/south-china-sea-its-about-more-than-rocks/
Other nations (other than China) should take their territorial disputes to the international tribunal and settle those disputes. This would establish precedence and leave China odd man out if they did not also accept the tribunals decision. http://www.marinelink.com/news/south-china-boils392542.aspx
An opinion from JapanTimes. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2015/06/09/commentary/japan-commentary/managing-disputes-china/#.VXimJsJFBjo
China tells Japan to stay out of the South China Sea. http://thediplomat.com/2015/06/china-to-japan-stay-out-of-south-china-sea/
China seems to be softening its tone, if not its actions in the South China Sea. http://thediplomat.com/2015/06/chinas-new-south-china-sea-messaging/?utm_content=buffer8d58f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
A similar story from Foreign Policy with a slightly different view. https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/06/23/south_china_sea_beijing_retreat_new_strategy/
Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force’s destroyers Harusame (DD-102) and Amagiri (DD-154 behind Harusame) sail near Philippine warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF 16) as they make a formation during their joint naval drill in the South China Sea, in this handout photo taken May 12, 2015 and released by the Maritime Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan on May 13, 2015. REUTERS/Maritime Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/Handout via Reuters
China suggest the Philippines is “Roping in” other nations into their dispute with China.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/28555622/china-says-manila-trying-to-rope-in-others-to-sea-dispute/
China, says to back down on their claims would shame their ancestors and their children and grandchildren. http://www.marinelink.com/news/ancestors-changing393716.aspx
Status of Philippines case against China before the UNCLOS tribunal. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/04/us-southchinasea-arbitration-idUSKCN0PE0VK20150704
PACOM declares that the Chinese construction in the South China Sea is clearly for Military purposes. This is an uncharacteristically blunt statement. He specifically pointed to the development of port facilities and a 10,000 foot long runway. http://www.eaglespeak.us/2015/07/well-yeah-chinas-new-islands-are.html
Apparently some disagreement about how much we want to push back against the Chinese claims in the South China Sea. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/barack-obama-administration-navy-pentagon-odds-south-china-sea-120865.html
Sec State squaring off against China on this dispute. http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2015/08/05/us_china_clash_over_south_china_sea_108331.html
Another evaluation of the motives, emphasizing the military dimensions of the conflict. http://atimes.com/2015/08/goodbye-honest-broker-hello-anti-submarine-warrior-in-the-south-china-sea/
The Philippines has requested the assistance of the US in maintaining their claim to their EEZ. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/asia-pacific/2015/08/27/philippines-seeks-us-assistance-south-china-sea/71277758/
Nice critique of the “historical” basis for China’s claim.
http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/fact-fiction-south-china-sea/3/