Philippines says warship removed from China standoff

It's amusing how China wants to claim to be an element of stability in Asia when none of the other Asian nations (save North Korea) sees it that way...

Mr. del Rosario.... we both know Philippines ships are no match with Chinese Naval. Sad to say too that Philippines have no ability and resources to fight China. Yes..the disputed islands actually are belong to the Philippines according to areas and boundaries. Look at Japan how the chinese fishermen bullied one of their Coastal ship. They even paid the captain of the chinese fishing boat for the repair of his ship that hit Japan Coastal Guard boat.

Clearly The Philippines can not take on the Chinese Navy. They need to ask the US Navy for help but they will get no help from the Americans. Being defenseless against a know danger is a sin that generates its own punishment. Only thing they can do is negotiate but with what? The Chinese are not going to leave and the Philippines can do nothing to make them leave.

From the news in Manila yesterday, they said the Philippjne ship left because they needed food and water (which I do not believe). The Philippines wants diplomacy and China's diplomacy style is by sending a third ship. ( Who's bad now?)I I also read and article yesterday about the standoff of Vietnam with China few decades ago and the Chinese side killed 70 Vietnamese at the standoff. I hope this won't happen again.

Just because people love to hate China does not make their claims illegitimate.

Look at the map of claims. Everybody's claims overlap with everyone elses. China can't be only one wrong here, even if China is even wrong at all! In fact, its more likely they are all wrong!

I can't speak specifically of the issue between the Philippines and China though. I just think its backward of people to automatically take the side against China. If China behaved like so many other countries, this issue would have been resolved a long time ago because they would have taken the area by force of arms and then wait for everybody to forget about it. Instead, China has actually tolerated some fisherman getting arrested. And as yet, no shots have been fired. Yet, China is instantly the bad guy?

Teflon I think you're forgetting that many people actually do like China, but don't like the Chinese government. The Chinese government has been known to pull nasty tactics such as land grabbing (Tibet, Taiwan and other disputed areas) when they get the chance. Very few people trust the Chinese government.

The Phillipines and Japan should unite military forces to protect themselves from Chinese invasion. Like I said before, China is building up their military and is trying to rule all the South East countries.

Michael Schiffer, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, has filed a report that says the pace and scope of China's military buildup is potentially destabilizing in the Pacific, as the Pentagon released an annual report cataloging China's cruise missiles, fighter jets and growing, modernizing army. China's People's Liberation Army with some 1.25 million ground troops, the largest in the world is on track to achieve its goal of building a modern, regionally focused force by 2020. The Chinese military remains focused on Taiwan, which it claims as part of its sovereign territory, and it has deployed as many as 1,200 short-range missiles aimed in its direction. Moreover, it is developing antiship ballistic missiles, potentially capable of attacking American aircraft carriers. China is also developing its own aircraft carriers, and is already in sea trials with a refitted Soviet-era carrier from Ukraine a development the report anticipated, but which occurred after it was printed. Finally, China is developing a new-generation stealth jet fighter, the J-20, which it boldly tested in Beijing in January during a visit by Robert M. Gates, then the defense secretary. The report also said that numerous intrusions into computer systems around the world in 2010 appeared to have originated in China, and that developing capabilities for cyberwarfare is consistent with authoritative Chinese military writing. The report said that two Chinese military doctrinal writings Science of Strategy and Science of Campaigns identified information warfare as integral to achieving information superiority and an effective means for countering a stronger foe.

Why does China have to build up it's military when all the countries surrounding China, with the exception of Japan and the U.S., has absolutely no chance of attacking and invading China? The answer is obvious, China will build up it's military might to invade other nearby countries.

Peanut - I don't actually believe that China has any intentions to invade any country. It needs it's military power because it's a big country

Teflon

We don't hate China and the Chinese people. We just don't like how aggressive China's military is to neighboring countries. It tends to claim everything even the islands are closer to other countries and that are deemed legitimate by International law and not just historical facts. But of course, I am no expert to decide which one is right. About "no fires" were shot, it happened already with Vietnam during the 1970s and to Filipino Fishermen in Spratlys. I think it was the Philippines that actually never fired anything.

I think the best thing here is to end the standoff, leave the islands and start the diplomacy. It has been happening for decades (including the case of Korea and Japan) and the international court should decide whose islands are those. That's the most peaceful way to do.

teflon.gloves, China just invaded and took possession of this island. They will never give them up and diplomatic protests are worthless. The Philippines needs to take action now before China sends in some real warships. It is either now or never, though perhaps China threatened to nuke them if they resist? I am beginning to believe war with China is inevitable.

Maybe the check arrived.

Everyone knows the Philippines are gutless, they can't even sort out their internal issue in Mindanao, they put their tail between their legs and ran as soon as they saw the third boat turn up and the biggest war ship is a WWII coast gaurd ship from the US, what can they do with that pile of junk??

If people really take a serious study on this issue, they should have no doubt about the fact that the islands sovereignty belongs to China.

China just invaded and took possession of this island.

What island yuri? No island is mentioned in the article.

The Chinese government has been known to pull nasty tactics such as land grabbing (Tibet, Taiwan and other disputed areas)

Who doesn't dictator?

Tibet was 50 years ago. Taiwan is to China what the Confederacy was to the U.S. And China does not have Taiwan. What other disputed areas? Who do you accuse of making land grabs among this group: Russia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan.

It just looks to me like you have at least two standards here, maybe more, and its China that you give the poopy end of the stick.

We just don't like how aggressive China's military is to neighboring countries.

omicron, I appreciate that you don't like the Chinese military. I don't like them either, right along with the U.S. military. Peas in a pod in my book, except I don't have to dig into ancient history to find the last time the U.S. invaded without proper cause.

All I can say is that unlike most here, I have not chosen a side. And no one but yuri has made even an attempt at a reason why I should, and that attempt was horribly incomplete. Sorry, but ancient history and testimonies as to the attitude of the Chinese does indicate who is right in this dispute. It requires specifics I don't see here.

Teflon - actually this story isn't about America and China. It's about China and it's neighboring countries. I bet America committed that in the past and some countries too, but that doesnt give any country to do so in the 21st century. I hope it won't happen now in the modern time where people are more civil than centuries ago. About ancient histories and testimonies, please consider readIng the claims of other countries too and the International law. Again, I am no expert to know but of course we are all entitled to our own opinions. As I have said before, this is about aggression, and all counties should avoid this at all cost. Whoever islands are those, no one needs to die in there here again. After all, I don't think the ordinary people will benefit from the wealth of those islands but only some rich businessmen.

Why does China have to build up it's military when all the countries surrounding China, with the exception of Japan and the U.S., has absolutely no chance of attacking and invading China? The answer is obvious, China will build up it's military might to invade other nearby countries.

you should spend a few bucks to get yourself a map because you obviously have never heard of russia. also, after the devastation caused by being invaded in ww2, china has a right to build up it's defense force. as a percentage of gdp, it's military spending is lower than france. you should also ask "why does france have to build up it's military, when all the countries surrounding france, with NO EXCEPTIONS, has absolutely no chance of attacking and invading france?".

maglev101, China is going after territory within the Philippines 200 mile EEZ. If the PI gives this up, China will just move forward and gobble up some more. Oh I do take sides! I stand behind both Nippon 日本 and the United States of America. May not agree with them a lot of the time but am with them when it counts.

actually this story isn't about America and China.

Do you find it odd that the country that has the world by the balls always comes into the conversation? If war broke out between China and the Philippines, do you think that country would sit on the sidelines, but cheer for the Philippines?

And yeah, given America's behavior in the 21st century (think the WMD malarkey), which is setting the tone, China is showing amazing restraint.

As I have said before, this is about aggression, and all counties should avoid this at all cost.

I believe this round of aggression began with the Philippines arresting Chinese fishermen.

And maglev101, thanks for injecting some facts into the debate. I can tell right now, you are not going to be popular for that!

teflon.gloves - Just because people love to hate China does not make its claims illegitimate.

I couldn't agree more.

teflon.gloves, the Chinese are in the Philippines EEZ, 150 miles from their shore. It is over 500 miles to China. China has invaded the Philippines. While not "military", they are doing it by force of arms. Think only force will remove them now. They almost had me fooled. China is taking all of the islands around Taiwan and Okinawa is next. The purpose behind this is to invade Taiwan.

YuriOtani : the Chinese are in the Philippines EEZ, 150 miles from their shore. It is over 500 miles to China. China has invaded the Philippines.

Distance alone doesn't determine the sovereignty.

efisher, then as long as a country has enough military force they can claim anything. If China gets away with this, next will be Okinawa. First the Islands right off of Taiwan, then the rest. After all the Ryukyu kingdom was a tributary member of China. Maybe I will get the chance to wear my uniform again after all.

China is a bully, China is a bully! That's about all that's going to happen.

the Chinese are in the Philippines EEZ, 150 miles from their shore. It is over 500 miles to China.

China claims islands in the area. If any one claim to any one island is legit, then its not "500 miles to China" The EEZ would be directly between that island and the Phillippines.

And I tell you what, every time I look for info on these claims of all these countries, I get different stories. Its a big reason why I am not going to declare anyone as right or wrong in this. Its chaos.

Until 1997, the Philippines has never put dispute on China's juristiction and development on Huangyan Island, while it repeatedly stated that the Huangyan Island was outside the Philippine territory.

Teflon - you must read the news or checkout Wikipedia. The Philippines didn't arrest anyone but please do check when the Chinese military killed some Vietnense in the 70's and 1988; including the Filipinos that they fired at in Spratlys. Have you heard Vietnam and the Philippines shooting each other? It has never happened. Check China's record with South Korea, Japan and other. SE Asian countries, it might help enlighten you. Then again, this is not about hating China, it's about aggression to neighboring countries.

The Treaty of Paris(1898), The Treaty of Washington(1900) and the Treaty with Great Britain (1930) state clearly that west limit of the Philippines territory is 118th degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, while the Huangyan Island is obviously outside this limits(15º08'-15º14'N, 117º 44'-117º48'E).

efisher, does not matter the Sovereign Philippines did not sign those treaties. You might as well site the The Treaty of Tordesillas.

The 1935 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the 1946 Treaty of General Relations between the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines, the 1952 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, the 1961 Repbulic Act No.3046 and the 1968 Republic Act. No. 5446 have reaffirmed the legal effects of the above-mentioned three treaties and once again expressively defined the Philippine territorial limits, the baseline points and baseline of the territorial waters, which had not included the Huangyan Island.

Signed during duress while the Americans occupied the Philippines. If their government said no the Americans would remove them and place a new obedient puppet.

Look at the map at how far China tries to claim, way up to the borders of the other countries, across all of the South China Sea:

http://www.japantoday.com/images/size/x420/2012/04/photo_1334109333631-5-0.jpg

That is imperialistically ludicrous!

In fact, those area in South China Sea belongs to China for a long long time already. There is no complaint from other Asian countries until the recent decades. If lostrune2's logic is followed, all countries in the world should share equally all the territories and seas.

First, let's get some facts straight. This island is not called Huangyan Island. That is a Chinese name. Using the Chinese name to sway people into thinking it is a Chinese island is subversive and sneaky.

It is officially known on on world maps in the rest of the world as Scarborough Shoal or Scarborough reef.

The internationally agreed treaty is historically based. The Philippines were once the colony of Spain. The Spanish-American war developed treaties and agreements that are internationally observed. Even today.

The Scarborough Shoal is included within the territorial lines defined in the Treaty of Paris - 1898 between the United States, Treaty of Washington -1900 between Spain and the United States, Convention Between the United States and Great Britain - 1930, Constitution of the Philippines -1935, or Republic Act No. 3046 "Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the Philippines" -1961.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs asserts that the basis of Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction over the rock features of Scarborough Shoal is not premised on the cession by Spain of the Philippine archipelago to the United States under the Treaty of Paris, and argues that the matter that the rock features of Scarborough Shoal are not included or within the limits of the Treaty of Paris as alleged by China is therefore immaterial and of no consequence.

Thus the Philippines have the right to that island.