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© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Philippines accuses China's forces of harassing fisheries vessels in the South China Sea
By JIM GOMEZ MANILA, Philippines©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
39 Comments
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JJE
And it's important to observe non-UN recognized Taiwan has an 11-dash line in the SCS and has a claim that, by coincidence, is practically mirrors (actually larger) as Beijing's.
How odd.
OssanAmerica
The use of a PLA Navy copter could potentially raise the stakes here. Not very grey zone, is it?
isabelle
Oh, look everyone: it's China's famous "peaceful rise" and "win-win cooperation" again.
China has zero claim to this area, as proven by the UNCLOS tribunal. China is a rogue state that does not abide by international law.
The Philippines will be bringing a second case soon too: this time for environmental destruction. China will, of course, ignore that too, but these rulings are still vital as they prove that the Philippines is right, and China is dead wrong.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/philippines-pick-venue-second-south-china-sea-case-beijing-4891766
JJE
Notice the article doesn't mention the hallowed (and disputed by several actors) UNCLOS ruling...
That's because, if you look at a map, this is in an entirely different area than say, the South Thomas Shoal.
You really need to read the article thoroughly, consult a map along with some background research before making sweeping - and false - statements.
The plot thickens - the Philippines-occupied island mentioned in the article was invaded by said country in 1971 and forcibly seized from Taiwan province. The former annexed it that year.
JJE
clarification - annexed it by presidential decree in 1978.
isabelle
I see you're still going to bat for the CCP, doing your bit as the junior partner. Good that you know your place.
And it's important to observe that Taiwan's historical claim does not excuse China's behavior in any way.
Several countries have claims, but they don't resort to state-sponsored piracy like China.
China "disputes" the ruling because it doesn't respect international law. The decision is binding upon China (which has ratified the treaty), no matter what lies it spouts.
...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_China_Sea_Arbitration#Award
China's claims to historic rights, or other sovereign rights or jurisdiction, with respect to the maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the relevant part of the 'nine-dash line' are contrary to the Convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China's maritime entitlements under the Convention. The Convention superseded any historic rights or other sovereign rights or jurisdiction in excess of the limits imposed therein.
JJE
Objective truth - the UNCLOS ruling doesn't 'apply' to the islands mentioned in this article.
Indeed, examination of it, including the unprovoked invasion by Manila and subsequent annexation of mentioned island - which in effect becomes a US staging post - exposes the whole rotten show of encroachment by proxy. Indeed, it was annexed by Bongbong's father, Ferdinand.
TaiwanIsNotChina
It's important to observe that Taiwan has more recognition than russia's disgraces and the PRC has to fit that huge badonkadonk under Taiwan's skirt apparently.
JJE
They will get UN recognition before the province! Watch.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Because Peking just disregards it. Not much point in reminding people that Peking has never been operating within the realm of UNCLOS.
You are right: it is a different island also nowhere near China.
All you have to do is look at a map to see that China is a ridiculous country.
It's not an inhabited island and the Chinese should be no where near the area, let alone harassing ships.
TaiwanIsNotChina
You are right: it applies to all of the waters around the islands where the incident occurred.
None of which makes China illegal activities legal.
TaiwanIsNotChina
In my lifetime you think?
JJE
Just south (repeat south) of where the activity reported in article occurred, happens to be an island administered by Taiwan province.
How odd. Surely those activities are completely legal and above board. Anyone?
TaiwanIsNotChina
At what point do you realize you are trying to hide behind a country with low UN recognition and convince us this is an argument?
JJE
Not hiding behind a country but a province, for clarification.
The incident happened north of Taiping Island, administered by the authorities of that province.
Thitu Island is the Philippine occupied island mentioned in the article.
Important to consult a map.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Important to consult a map to reveal these are international waters all of them.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The country of Taiwan is not free to change several things about its territory because it has a gun to its head.
Fos
Simply not credible. Let’s put thing into context:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-deploys-typhon-missile-launchers-new-location-philippines-2025-01-23/
Only few days ago the US deployed Typhon missile launchers to a new location in the Philippines, promising investments for few billions of dollars (of weapons) to threaten China.
GuruMick
Trump cancelling aid will draw China in to fill the void.
Probably a safer partner than the USA under Trump.
Agreements and treaties now meaningless.
deanzaZZR
@GuruMick It certainly would benefit the Filipino people, long suffering and still poor, if the PH government focused on the needs of the people.
ian
China enforcing it's claims.
As a forceful response the US will remind the Philippines and China of its ironclad commitment to it's defense treaty with the Philippines.
ian
Marcos agreeing to the deployment makes a Philippines a prime target for China.
But marcos wasn't even invited to trump's inauguration and xi was?
GuruMick
Ian above ..."ironclad " and Trump as POTUS dont jell well in any sentence nor scenario.
Trump will make decisions based on his personal stake....and I think China is "trumps "
ian
If Marcos isn't important enough to be invited you think the us will go to war with china over the south china sea disputes?
Fos
ian
You mean more signing of US military investments in Manila in exchange of America made weapons orders from the Philippines as a sign of gratitude, to increase the warmongering campaign of the US big industrial military complex? Sure, that is the plan
TaiwanIsNotChina
Allowing them to fish their rightful waters free from piracy is taking care of their people. Also China is closer to the Philippines than the US in wealth.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Don't harass your neighbors and they might not turn to others for protection.
ian
Hahaha the emphasis should be on remind
GuruMick
I cant see any country going to war on anothers behalf over fishing rights.
Rare minerals maybe, but not fish.
Unless the campaign was sold as "Operation Freedom Fishy " or similar....then the American people might get on board.
Fos
The US administration did it before, in the same area: 1964
The Gulf of Tonkin incident based on fabricated lies which started the Vietnam War:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident
As we all know the US State department has a track record of promoting manipulative narratives
isabelle
You use this phrase every day, often multiple times.
If we already "all know" whatever it is you're posting, why repeatedly post it?
Peter14
deanzaZZRToday 05:01 pm JST
I am quite sure that Philippines defending the rights of Philippines fishermen to fish in their EEZ is doing exactly that. Looking out for the little guys trying to make a living.
China acting like modern day pirates.
ian
If china are like modern day pirates to you based on skirmishes like one in this article how would you characterize Australia, the US and the rest of the gang invading Iraq and murdering hundreds of thousands of its people based on nothing but lies.
Fos
Truth is the US has almost 800 overseas bases including in Guam, Diego Garcia, ROK and Japan that ring China. The US fleet, with Australian, Japanese and South Korean support, regularly patrols off the China coast.
That America holding war games in those waters halfway around the world from it is miraculously not threatening, but China holding war games practically in sight of Chinese territory is seems rather an illogical proposition.
isabelle
Slightly different wording; usual tu quoque. Yawn.
The US did not make China illegally occupy and militarize the SCS, or harass law-abiding ships, or threaten Taiwan, or commit any of the other aggression it is committing.
China did.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The China apologist expects us to believe that Filipinos go out to ram China ships and have their digits amputated by their compatriots to complete the story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxpONENEaWI
The important thing to note is that the China ships shouldn't even be there.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Truth is, this is completely irrelevant to China's piracy in the SCS.
theFu
Taiwan has nothing to do with this AND they aren't harassing ships of other countries.
Same old, incorrect, talking, points, as usual.
China is raping the world's oceans. They have fishing ships around the world that sit outside the EEZ of countries until night, then they turn off their beacons, run into the EEZ and illegally fish in waters they shouldn't be anywhere near. I fear that until 50+ Chinese fishing vessels are sunk for this behavior, they will continue. Or the vessels need to be captured, crews shipped back to China and the ships converted into Coast Guard vessels to protect the EEZ waters for countries around the world.
https://usa.oceana.org/press-releases/oceana-analysis-shows-chinas-fishing-fleet-swarms-galapagos-then-disappears-from-sight/ Peru, Chile and Argentina all got together.
South Africa seems to be the new "hot spot" for illegal Chinese fishing. Fines in 2020 for illegal fishing: https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/environmental-affairs-fines-chinese-fishing-trawlers-being-south-african
and https://www.dw.com/en/chinese-fishing-fleets-in-indian-ocean-accused-of-abuses/a-68977775
Fines for illegal commercial fishing need to match the cost of the ship doing the fishing.
Peter14
I would call that a huge exaggeration.
*"Iraqi combatant dead (invasion period): 7,600–45,000[67][68]*
*Insurgents** (post-Saddam)*
*Killed**: 26,544+ killed by Coalition and ISF forces (2003–11), excludes inter-insurgent fighting and noncombat losses[f]*
(4,000 foreign fighters killed by Sep. 2006, all causes)[72]"
"Documented deaths from violence:
Iraq Body Count (2003 – 14 December 2011): 103,160–113,728 civilian deaths recorded[75] and 12,438 new deaths added from the Iraq War Logs[76]
Associated Press (March 2003 – April 2009): 110,600 Iraqi deaths in total[77]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War
These figures include sectarian violence related deaths of Iraqi v Iraqi over 8 years. Combatant deaths during combat is not murder.