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)
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
Popular Mechanics brings us a little six minute military fantasy that came out of China, with China obviously fighting the US. Not clear who’s idea this was. http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a17220/china-video-attack-us/
Here is the video on Utube:
Commentary on the video. https://news.vice.com/article/chinas-new-video-about-kicking-americas-ass-is-more-than-meets-the-eye
Nice critique of the Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy, “10 Things You May Have Missed in DoD’s Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy” http://cimsec.org/what-you-may-have-missed-in-the-asia-pacific-maritime-security-strategy/18645
A legal rationale for going inside 12 miles of Chinese claimed “islands”. http://amti.csis.org/the-legal-rationale-for-going-inside-12/
More discussion here: http://blog.usni.org/2015/09/14/the-island-imperative-motivations-behind-chinas-artificial-island-building-in-the-south-china-sea
More evidence that China’s claims may be related protecting their SSBNs. http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/china-could-use-island-airstrips-to-hunt-submarines-in-disputed-waters-1218534
On the other hand 10,000 foot runways are not required to operate ASW aircraft but they do permit operation of their cruise missile carrying H-6 bombers (updated, Chinese built TU-16 Badgers).
Opinion piece with recommendations. http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2015/09/time-us-stand-rule-law/121319/
Speculation that China will move its massive dredging/reclamation resources to the Indian Ocean when it completes its current expansion in the South China Sea. http://news.usni.org/2015/09/17/essay-chinas-island-building-campaign-could-hint-toward-further-expansions-in-indian-ocean
Pressure seems to be building for the USN to directly challenge China’s claims. http://news.usni.org/2015/09/18/china-doubles-down-on-south-china-sea-sovereignty-warns-against-risky-and-provocative-u-s-freedom-of-navigation-missions#more-14819
Chinese fighter makes a reportedly unsafe intercept of an American intelligence collection aircraft. http://news.usni.org/2015/09/22/pentagon-chinese-aircraft-conducted-an-unsafe-intercept-of-u-s-surveillance-plane-last-week?utm_source=USNI+News&utm_campaign=ee0208cda4-USNI_NEWS_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0dd4a1450b-ee0208cda4-230448833&mc_cid=ee0208cda4&mc_eid=e873a959e6
A nice overview of the legal situation with recommended course of action for Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. http://cimsec.org/nine-ironies-south-china-sea-mess/18966
Looks like the US may be getting ready to directly challenge China’s Sovereignty claims. http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/10/02/in-south-china-sea-a-tougher-u-s-stance/
Threats from China if US goes inside 12 miles of artificial islands, http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1865414/beijing-alert-us-navy-incursion-near-artificial-islands?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=SCMPSocialNewsfeed
“The navy would issue verbal warnings, demanding the US vessels leave,” Shanghai-based naval expert Ni Lexiong said.
Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, said the navy would send warships to intercept the US vessels if they ignored the warnings.
Another source close to the PLA said Beijing had several more “cost-effective” solutions to such a confrontation.
“We could scramble drones to expel the vessels, or simply order the Second Artillery Corps to fire from distance,” he said.
Note Second Artillery Corps is China’s Strategic Missile Service.
This was apparently in response to reports such as this one. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/10/08/u-s-navy-to-china-well-sail-our-ships-near-your-man-made-islands-whenever-we-want/?ref=yfp
The US is briefing allies and friendly nations in SE Asia about its intention to sail within 12 miles of China’s artificial islands. Even this will not totally challenge the idea of sovereignty since it could also be considered simply innocent passage, but then the Chinese seem to have a different concept of innocent passage. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/13/world/asia/us-asia-south-china-sea-patrols.html?mwrsm=Facebook&_r=1
A shooting in the Philippines at a restaurant resulted in the death of two Chinese diplomatic staff and the wounding of the General Consul to the city of Cebu. Looks like the perpetrators were also associated with the Consular staff. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/two-chinese-diplomats-shot-dead-philippines-091506989.html
Looks like the Chinese have deployed Cyber Warfare in this dispute as well. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-15/chinese-cyber-spies-fish-for-enemies-in-south-china-sea-dispute
New CNO confirms intention to challenge Chinese claim on South China Sea. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/10/22/chief-naval-operations-cno-richardson-navy-china-russia-south-china-sea-yubai-nato-european-union-seapower/74429462/
Looks like a US Navy destroyer has sailed with 12 miles of one or more of China’s artificial islands. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34641131
China is not happy the US is sailing within 12 miles of their artificial islands. http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/27/asia/us-china-south-china-sea/index.html
There is a fairly long and detailed review of the status of the pending case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PAC). http://japanfocus.org/-Alex-Calvo/4391/article.html
The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PAC) has ruled that it does have jurisdiction on at least some aspects of the case the Philippines has brought against China. This is good news. http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/philippines-v-china-court-rules-favorably-on-jurisdiction-case-will-proceed/
pdf of the full ruling here: http://www.pcacases.com/web/sendAttach/1506
This is what the Chinese sent to monitor the Freedom of Navigation Exercise. Note this is a Chinese site. http://en.people.cn/n/2015/1027/c90000-8967676.html
I read the responses on that site, and it looks like the people responding have a over inflated opinion of the Chinese compared to the rest of the world. It was like reading or watching North Korean propaganda films. Was the site monitored and censored by the Chinese govt?
I think there is a good chance that if we made comments critical of the Chinese position on this site they would disappear.
Why the recent “Freedom of Navigation Operation” was not really a Freedom of Navigation Operation. http://cimsec.org/why-the-us-navys-first-south-china-sea-fonop-wasnt-a-fonop/19681
No ASEAN South China Sea Consensus is Telling. http://www.marinelink.com/news/consensus-telling-asean400393.aspx
China builds lighthouses to bolster claims. gcaptain.com/china-argues-light-makes-right-with-south-china-sea-beacons/#.VkjlHTZdFjo
President Obama visits Philippine flagship (former WHEC) http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/11/16/obama-visit-philippine-navy-flagship/75881552/
The Chinese think they are showing great restraint. http://www.marinelink.com/news/restraint-great-china400949.aspx
The president stands in from of a Philippine 378 and promises delivery of another HEC and an oceanographic vessel. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/11/17/signal-china-obama-give-2-ships-philippines.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+militarydotcom%2Fnavynews+%28Military.com+Navy+News%29
The ships are Boutwell and the Research Vessel Melville.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/11/17/fact-sheet-us-building-maritime-capacity-southeast-asia
A look at the basis of the Philippines case against China. Notably they seem to see the features as territory rather than simply features within their EEZ. http://cimsec.org/defends-everything-defends-nothing/19475
Some discussion about the adverse environmental effects of China’s island building. http://breakingdefense.com/2015/11/absolute-nightmare-as-chinese-destroy-south-china-reefs-asian-fish-stocks-at-risk/
Aquino takes the Chinese to task at the ASEAN summit. http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/113694-aquino-china-why-bar-us-waters?utm_content=buffera0cf5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Critique of US efforts in the South China Sea. http://breakingdefense.com/2015/11/us-steadily-retreating-in-south-china-sea-dispute/
A little history, and questions for the presidential candidates. http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2015/12/02/will_guam_be_americas_next_pearl_harbor_108747.html
Looking at the probable consequence of a tribunal decision.
http://gcaptain.com/china-may-pay-international-price-in-south-china-sea/#.VmCPHvmrTIU
US and Chinese positions. http://www.marinelink.com/news/develop-chief-south402248.aspx
An attempt to explain how the Chinese see the world. http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2015/12/15/how_chinas_world_views_are_manifested_in_south_china_sea_108807.html
The Philippine civilians confront China’s military. http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/01/01/1538253/chinese-navy-now-imposing-security-zone-over-spratlys
US Dept of State issues an analysis of China’s “Nine Dash Line” claims. http://cimsec.org/us-department-state-seeks-clarify-meaning-chinas-9-dash-line-iv/19925
Chinese apparently mount AAW missiles on one of their artificial islands. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/02/16/exclusive-china-sends-suface-to-air-missiles-to-contested-island-in-provocative-move.html
since the islands are artificial, couldn’t we just launch a volley of Torpedoes at it to create a underwater quake among other things?
We can always hope for a strong Typhoon to return things to their natural condition, but would not count on it. More probably we would beach a very valuable torpedo with a lot of technology they would love to copy. We don’t seem to have any cheap simple torpedoes.
All you would have to do is drop a Seismic bomb class weapon on the target. And there is nothing special about those
We might be more successful in putting pressure on the Chinese to back down if we started arming Chinese separatist groups.
You may be right about the separatist groups. China has no military, but the Communist party does.
A good piece here on the on-going dynamics. http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2016/02/18/the_animal_house_effect_and_other_observations_on_china_109043.html
Frankly I think the idea that you cannot face down Chinese white ships with gray ships is BS. Essentially many countries, including Britain and France, have no “white ships.” That does not stop them from enforcing laws.
remember color does not define capability. In Vietnam the coast guard boats were repainted navy gray due to white standing out.
China ‘should fire shots at US warships near disputed islands, or even ram them to teach them a lesson’ http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1914071/china-should-fire-shots-us-warships-near-disputed?utm_source&utm_medium&utm_campaign=SCMPSocialNewsfeed
according to an “article posted on the social media account of People’s Daily’s overseas edition.”
A look at Woody Island and the changes China has made, including the recent apparent installation of AAW missile batteries. https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/glimpse-chinas-military-presence-south-china-sea?utm_source=freelist-f&utm_medium=email&utm_term=weekendtest&utm_campaign=20160219&utm_content=bodylink&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=26460452&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_zNi6GrhCwjxI_ikMjs16zFmXSmUeBu1ap_pHaE1DAHmH-gd8XOw8HAIwRktkfn8WLNSS4QpPeKHGWoc2a3BCGQaTs1w&_hsmi=26460452
Looks like the Chinese are improving their surveillance capabilities in the South China Sea as well. They refer to this as an HF radar, which would not be very significant unless they are really talking about an over the horizon radar. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/02/22/satellite-images-show-china-may-be-building-powerful-radar-on-disputed-islands/
More on the Radar here. http://news.usni.org/2016/02/22/new-possible-chinese-radar-installation-on-south-china-sea-artificial-island-could-put-u-s-allied-stealth-aircraft-at-risk
The Chinese occupy another “island” in the Philippine EEZ. http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/03/02/1558682/china-takes-philippine-atoll
“The United States does not want China to use its navy to intimidate fishing vessels from other countries in a disputed area of the South China Sea, the State Department said on Wednesday.” http://www.marinelink.com/news/intimidate-fishing406039.aspx
China claims their vessels were at Jackson Atol only to assist a grounded vessle and had since left. It may be remarkable they bothered to give an explanation at all. ttp://www.marinelink.com/news/disputed-vessels-waters406015.aspx
http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/south-china-sea-coming-chinese-land-reclamation-at-scarborough-shoal/
“…. Speaking to Reuters, Admiral John Richardson, the U.S. Navy’s chief of naval operations, noted that there is increased Chinese “surface ship activity” near Scarborough Shoal. He adds that there is additionally some “survey type of activity” in the area, noting that it was “an area of concern … a next possible area of reclamation.””
The CNO is concerned that Scarborough Shoal, off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, the location this post started with, may be the next target for Chinese “reclaimation.”
This may result in another unsinkable aircraft carrier close to the former and prospective US base at Subic and the former Clark Air Force Base.
I see this a part of a series of moves to isolate Taiwan.
This version of the report is a little more extensive. http://www.marinelink.com/news/activity-chinese-south406871.aspx
A defense agreement between the US and the Philippines. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-philippines-five-locations-defense-pact-south-china-sea/3244760.html
The US and the Philippines try to reshape the environment to be a little less favorable to Chinese bullying. http://www.eaglespeak.us/2016/03/ah-us-bases-on-south-china-sea-okay-in.html
Looks like the Chinese may have also installed 400 kM range anti-ship missiles on Woody Island. http://www.janes.com/article/59003/imagery-suggests-china-has-deployed-yj-62-anti-ship-missiles-to-woody-island
Apparently the administration is shutting down dissent.http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2016/04/06/4-star-admiral-wants-confront-china-white-house-says-not-so-fast/82472290/