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© Thomson Reuters 2023.Philippines, Japan, allies kick off naval drills amid Asia-Pacific tension
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Reginald Bok
Ah, the self important alliance of bullies.
Anyone else trying to do what they do get condemned, yet they do the same thing. Seemingly all the time.
Enjoy
isabelle
No, it's the Philippines getting some much-needed back-up in the face of China's constant belligerence.
China doesn't respect international law (cf. the UNCLOS ruling against it, and many other examples), so other than the Philippines ceding its country's sovereignty (like Duterte's failed policies), alliances and military strength are one of its few options.
China has stolen Philippine territory, blocked its fisherman from fishing in their own waters, rammed its ships and left its sailors to die (rescued by a Vietnamese crew), fished illegally in its waters, severely degraded its marine ecosystem, and perpetrated many more heinous acts.
The Philippines has tried to be nice to China. But China only wants to dominate, so opposing it is just about the only option left. I sincerely hope the Philippines succeeds.
Reginald Bok
They're all as bad as each other, @isabelle
All greedy, all self important. Oh look at me, I have a massive boat and loads of allies.
They all need to grow tf up.
elephant200
Nine dash lines!
Nothing worth to discuss without recognizing that boundary. The nine dash lines was not drawn by the People's Republic of China. Instead it was drawn by the Nationalist party under "Generalismo Chiang Kai Shek"(C.K.S.) in 1946 soon after the defeat of Imperial Japan and he resume the ruling power in China. Four years after he drawn that boundary m, the Nationalist party defeated and leave to Taiwan. The PRC as the sole and rightful regime representing China and Chinese people inherited that "Nine dash lines". Why it was not an issue in 1946 when CKS made that announcement? WHY it was a problem right now? A plot from the West against China and Chinese, don't try to fool us!
WA4TKG
Good, keep it up.
I felt robbed when we never went on that Live Fire Exercise we were supposed to have in the Philippines 1986-1987 : Camp Foster
isabelle
Wrong. The Philippines hasn't stolen Chinese territory, or done any of the things I mention above. The aggressor in this situation is unquestionably China, and the Philippines is in no way "as bad as" it.
Which has been ruled unlawful by the UNCLOS tribunal (which China has ratified). China has no legal basis whatsoever for this spurious claim.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines_v._China#Award
Oh, and it's apparently a ten dash line now, so even more ludicrous. If you're going to parrot CCP propaganda, at least try to parrot the latest version:
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/09/new-chinese-10-dash-map-sparks-furor-across-indo-pacific-vietnam-india-philippines-malaysia/
WiseOneIn Kansai
Go SAMA SAMA❗
Show the bully in the neighborhood that the Philippines has support if there is any ridiculous retaliation for cutting the floating barrier last week.
If China wants respect, it has to earn it❗
Peter14
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/03/asia/us-philippines-naval-exercise-sama-sama-intl-hnk-ml/index.html
There are more participating nations than indicated in this article. It is important to mention who is involved to show it is not just one or two nations, but eight and possibly others sending observers, which seems to be a common occurrence during drills like this. This shows there are many nations from different regions coming together for the same reason. To show unity in the face of a hostile nation, no need to mention that nation as everyone knows who it is.
This type of exercise where many nations attend, shows the comman desire to face down any hostile nations attempting to wrest control of others territory and resources. Failure to do this in Europe has seen Russia begin a dangerous conflict for territorial expansion. Such a thing is to be discouraged from happening elsewhere, and these training maneuvers build personal relationships while also gaining a familiarity with the capabilities of other friendly nations to know what they are all able to do when working in unison.
The other side also conducts such cooperative exercises with its allies and other nations sharing similar values,(or lack of values), it is not limited to one side.
It is good to see these friendly nations work together for peace and security, and we must all hope they are successful in ensuring peace and stability for all nations, even for those who dont want peace.
Peter14
It hardly matters who's fantasy created the dashes, it is the CCP that has tried to make it reality without any recognized legal basis. And it has been rejected by the international body UNCLOS. It is illegal and will not be accepted by any nation in the region or beyond except those nations in China's pocket.
iluvyokohama
The Phillipines is one of the most impovorished countries in the world with millions of people living in miserable conditions but yet their main concern is an attack by China, give me a break! How about improving the living standards of your people first!!
nukkuheddo
When I was a kid...I got beaten up alot...I was not a big kid...but I did have a big mouth...hence the frequency of being beaten up...my dad got tired of it and enrolled me in boxing lessons...some time later - I got into a fight with a much bigger guy...and he did kick my ass...but he sure as hell didn't have a good time doing it...loads of people saw the fight...no one ever messed with me again...
There's only one way to stop a bully...and that's to stand up to them...
Desert Tortoise
Philippine fishermen are being deprived of their livelihood, and the Philippine people being deprived of food, by illegal Chinese territorial grabs. Stopping that is about the most important thing the Philippine government can do for its people. The Chinese are stealing the Philippines centuries old fishing grounds.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The Phillipines is 117 out of 193 countries in the world in terms of gdp per capita. Hardly one of the most impoverished. They also benefit from a lot of overseas workers.
You honestly think a country should just ignore their national security and borders?!?! The attack has happened: criminal China is preventing the Phillipines from using their fishing grounds every day.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Nine daggers being waved at all peace loving people.
More like nothing to discuss until that ridiculous claim is withdrawn.
Could it be that only now criminal China has had the capability to try to enforce its ridiculous claim? Your lovely story about the the ROC is a popular one, repeated at many social gatherings, but unfortunately has no bearing whatsoever in regards to criminal CCP actions. CCP criminals could correct their borders today and Taiwan would likely follow suit.
But not on Taiwan! Oh that has got to hurt! The Mandate of Moscow does not extend over the whole of the Middle Kingdom!
isabelle
And today we have this: "Philippines says three fishermen killed after boat struck by ‘foreign’ vessel in South China Sea":
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/03/asia/philippines-south-china-sea-scarborough-shoal-fishermen-dead-intl-hnk/index.html
I wonder whether that "foreign" country just might turn out to be China. What a shock that would be...
Peter14
Not correct. Taiwan is not ruled by the CCP and never has been. Those Chinese that have emigrated to other nations are now represented by their new homes, not by the CCP.
The CCP was created by an uprising of communist followers and never voted into power by the people of China. The only legitimate regime representing Chinese people (apart from immigrants to other nations), who have been voted to do so by Chinese people is actually the government of Taiwan. The CCP holds power from the barrels of guns, not through popular support of its people. The CCP would lose power in any free and fair election imho, and it would be a landslide.