Philippines says China's South China Sea moves 'aggressive, unprofessional and illegal'

There are lots of different countries that have disagreements over who owns what. This might surprise China and Russia, but the disagreements don't cause the military or coast guards of those neighbors to use water cannons, shoot flares at aircraft, ram commercial ships, or cut off a finger of the opposing side.

Shocking to the pro-CCP people, I know.

The US and Canada have multiple disagreements about islands and land both on the east and west coasts. Rather than actually resolve those, the people living in those locations figure out solutions. There's a Canadian island that gets their mail by way of the US. Until 2001, it was handled very low-key as friends should. Since 2001, the brilliant people in the US Customs decided that it was now international mail and needed customs slips, declarations, and could be searched by the US postal inspector as all post entering the US can. I suppose that isn't all that bad, except that more mail to the island got opened and "inspected" than would be expected, This made the locals very unhappy - and I don't blame them.

Almost always, when something stupid happens along the US-Canada border (there are towns that split the border), it is the US doing really dumb things for the claim of "homeland security". Pre-2001, those towns were integrated. People lived and worked on both sides. Kids had after school activities on either side. It wasn't a big deal. Neighbors with just a normal fence between two homes - one in the US and one in Canada used to drop over for coffee and snacks going through their shared fence gate. Not anymore. Neighbors are expected to go through a border control point. Their fence is now "patrolled" by the US Border control. For all the hassles to the people living there, nothing useful for "homeland security" has happened.

quercetumAug. 26 06:03 pm JST

You: might is right

Also you: This is merely another failed attempt to start war with China.

A fascinating set of incongruencies.

ianAug. 26 10:29 pm JST

So what says the US?

The US says "let us in there so we can start ramming pirates", but of course not officially.

Govt vessel doing a resupply mission to fishermen?

When there are giant pirate ships in the area, a government response is the only way to deal with it.

quercetumAug. 26 06:03 pm JST

It claimed Philippine ownership simply based on geographical proximity. 

If you go by proximity then you'll have to give Greek islands and waters to Turkey. Might is right.

Those islands are inhabited and Turkey is not a member of UNCLOS.

That's why Taiwan is keeping quiet despite the fact that it claims the Senkaku's / Diaoyutai and the 11 dash line.

No, that would be the 1.4 billion pound animal swinging its fists nearby.

Rumor is the PH government might be planning to scuttle another rust bucket ship in the area.

Govt vessel doing a resupply mission to fishermen?

This is merely another failed attempt to start war with China. Will fail like Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, Tiananmen and Taiwan. When is the war starting in the Taiwan Straits? India does not have the US military bases. They should try Myanmar. In fact they are working on it now.

The Chinese coast guard said the Philippine vessel "ignored repeated serious warnings and deliberately approached and rammed" China's law enforcement boat, resulting in a collision.

> Asked if the latest incident would trigger treaty obligations between the United States and the Philippines, Teodoro said: "That is putting the cart before the horse. Let us deter an armed attack, that is the more important thing."

The objective is probably to create a situation that will trigger the treaty obligation but China doesn't cooperate

On Sunday, Chinese vessels also "blocked, rammed and fired water cannons" against a government fisheries vessel while doing a resupply mission to Filipino fishermen in Sabina shoal, it said.

Govt vessel doing a resupply mission to fishermen?

Not even a statement of moral support?

Asked if the latest incident would trigger treaty obligations between the United States and the Philippines, Teodoro said: "That is putting the cart before the horse. Let us deter an armed attack, that is the more important thing."

> The Philippines and the United States have a mutual defense treaty and Washington has vowed to aid the Philippines against armed attacks on its vessels and soldiers in the South China Sea

So what says the US?

Arbitration is voluntary.

Nothing in the UNCLOS treaty says it is mandatory or compulsory: FACT

No, it is not.

Would be a shame if these Chinese vessels had an unfortunate experience with a torpedo and sunk.

If you’re a party to the treaty, participation in arbitration is not voluntary.

China is a party.

The panel ruled unanimously against its bovine feces “claim”.

China and Taiwan didn't participate in the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration.

It was a staged, shambolic attempt by the collective west to pull the wool over decent people's eyes, blow smoke and spread their usual mistruths.

Neither of the above - one of which is a full UN-recognized state - accept the ruling, for obvious reasons.

Comments riddled with pro-CCP propaganda, as usual. What a surprise.

JJEToday 04:07 pm JST

Look at that illegally parked

Nothing illegal about the Philippines putting a Philippine ship in Philippine waters.

BellflowerToday 04:17 pm JST

These South China Sea islands are Chinese territory.

Only in CCP fantasy land. Not here in the real world of international law. I know it's hard for the CCP hordes to believe their divine Emperor is wrong -- like realizing Santa doesn't exist -- but I'm afraid to tell you, he is.

BellflowerToday 05:30 pm JST

It is Philippines president Marcos Jr who is engaging in aggressive, unprofessional and illegal behavior.

By sailing peacefully in his country's own waters and international waters? What an extremely odd thing to assert.

quercetumToday 06:03 pm JST

If you go by proximity

The UNCLOS tribunal went by international law. The Philippines is right; China is wrong. No amount of Chinese aggression and lies will change that.

BellflowerToday 06:11 pm JST

China has never recognized that 2016 Hague Tribunal

China has ratified UNCLOS and is bound by it. That it continues to ignore the ruling simply reminds all of the fact that China is a rogue state that flaunts international law.

Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro sums up China's actions very succinctly: "patently illegal."

quercetumToday 07:41 pm JST

China handled Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan beautifully.

Perhaps according to CCTV and the People's Daily.

I realize it's highly unlikely, but if you'd care to step into the real world for a moment, perhaps you'd see the actual effects of Xi's actions.

China staking out its proposed territory.

Yes, "might is right", is clearly China's only justification for its actions. It's refreshing to see it stated so openly! This is the CCP's world view, and why the Philippine navy's actions are so important.

Thank you. A spade is a spade. I don’t think you are able to do the same.

China and the U.S. are calling the shots. They are the only two superpowers. Might is is right. History is written by the victors. It is not really a point of view of mine but it is just an observation. As Americans like to say, it is what it is.

The U.S. cannot handle China or their massive $35trillion Tbill bubble in competition with China in a global economic system. 

The U.S. and the media will absolutely peter out and get tired of using Philippines against China. This one is easy ; it’s just some rustic boat in water. China handled Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan beautifully. This weak play by the U.S. is small potatoes.

"might is right"

What is a straw man argument?

I think you’ve misread. I am observing Might is Right and not attributing it to anyone or criticizing China.

China is a bully state. 

It’s good to know you consider China a superpower. It’s what superpowers do. No convention or international body will change that.

China is a bully state. They bully Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan over claims in East Asian waters. The Indonesian minister blowing up Chinese boats talked their language.

Yes, "might is right", is clearly China's only justification for its actions. It's refreshing to see it stated so openly! This is the CCP's world view, and why the Philippine navy's actions are so important.

Might is right. That's why Taiwan is keeping quiet despite the fact that it claims the Senkaku's / Diaoyutai and the 11 dash line.

China and Taipei do not observe that stacked ruling.

The concept of territorial dispute is a challenge for them to fathom or rather it is easier to be in denial of the existence of the dispute. Head in sand.

It's good that you again recognize that China and Taiwan are different countries.

Misquoting and misrepresenting.

 Since you believe Taiwan's claim is valid, perhaps the Philippines and Taiwan should start discussions over the possible sharing of the seas around these islands.

No contradictions here in pointing out Taiwan's claims and an issue where the R.O.C. and the P.R.C. are in agreement. Your argument claims if there is any common belief between the ROC and the PRC then Taiwan is an independent country. Huh?

"basically the rest of the world does"

"to which China is a member"

The 1898 Treaty of Paris, 1900 Treaty of Washington, 1930 US Great Britain Convention limited Philippine territory at 118 degrees east longitude. That is why the Philippine constitution acknowledged it in 1935.

China has never recognized that 2016 Hague Tribunal which was organized by the same western powers who have practiced colonial exploitation in China and Asia for centuries.

Nor does the entire world support this anti-China maneuvering. That is a kind of argument lifted straight for US State Department position papers.

It claimed Philippine ownership simply based on geographical proximity. 

If you go by proximity then you'll have to give Greek islands and waters to Turkey. Might is right. That's why Taiwan is keeping quiet despite the fact that it claims the Senkaku's / Diaoyutai and the 11 dash line.

The Philippines should change its name. A little better than Spanish East Indies, but why be named after some king that ruled over your people?

BellflowerToday  04:17 pm JST

These South China Sea islands are Chinese territory

Not according to the relevant UN arbitration bodies to which China is a member.

It is Philippines president Marcos Jr who is engaging in aggressive, unprofessional and illegal behavior. Why does he carry out these stunts? The answer is that he has made the Philippines a vassal state of America, giving full access to use the Philippines as a military base to threaten China.

Of course it would be embarrassing to admit to the Philippine people that he is a US puppet. And so these provocations are used to sell the US puppet to his electorate as a strong leader standing up to China.

Naturally both the US and Japanese media are happy to headline his stunts since they fit their anti-China editorial stance.

Well, basically the rest of the world does. If China wants international recognition of its claim, it should appeal through the proper legal procedures. Otherwise, the claim can be ignored.

Thankfully, Taiwan isn't attacking Philippine vessels in Philippine sovereign waters. China can learn from Taiwan's behavior.

China and Taipei do not observe that stacked ruling.

Chinese coast guard and navy are out of control. Egg on the face of the central government.

BellflowerToday 04:17 pm JST

These South China Sea islands are Chinese territory.

Rocks are not territory

The 2016 Hague arbitration ruling ignored China's treaty claims and the history of the islands. It claimed Philippine ownership simply based on geographical proximity.

It did no such thing. It said China should stop its disgraceful behavior is what it said.

The supposedly impartial court is in reality western former colonial powers trying to impose their will on China. It was a ruling that served US interests.

Don't show up to court, and expect an adverse judgement against you.

Credits to Desert Tortoise for blowing nonsense out of the water.

JJEToday 04:07 pm JST

Important to observe China's claim is basically the same (actually less) than Taiwan's 11 dash line.

To which we say:

For clarity, the "U-shaped line" or "Nine Dash Line" was originally proposed by the ROC at the close of WWII not to claim territorial sovereignty over the entire area, Rather it marked an area of the South China Sea within which the government of the Republic of China claimed sovereignty over all islands and expected their return following World War Two. This was long before there was any concept of an EEZ and a time when territorial waters extended on 3 nautical miles from shore. Events since the end of WWII make the Nine Dash Line moot, except in the minds of the CCP.

The PRCs claims regarding the Nine Dash Line are a gross distortion of its original purpose to claim territorial sovereignty over the entire area and the right to exclude foreign shipping, fishing and mineral exploitation. That was never the ROCs intention. Taiwan's current position on the Nine Dash Line is ambiguous since they are not permitted to participate in any of the international organizations that handle the dispute.

In the early 1990s, the government of Taiwan organized a task force to draft a new Law on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone. At that time, some Taiwanese scholars argued that Taiwan should claim the seas within the U-shaped line as historic waters. But the Legislative Yuan rejected such an enlarged concept of the U-shaped line because it was inconsistent with the UNCLOS definition of historic waters. As a result, Taiwan’s Law on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, which was adopted in 1998, is completely in accordance with the regulations of UNCLOS, despite Taiwan not being a party to the treaty.

Since that time, the government has made no move to claim historic waters within the U-shaped line. And that basic policy has been consistent across both Kuomintang and Democratic Progressive Party administrations.

The China Coast Guard is an affront to public decency and should be removed promptly one way or the other.

It's good that you again recognize that China and Taiwan are different countries. Excellent progress. Since you believe Taiwan's claim is valid, perhaps the Philippines and Taiwan should start discussions over the possible sharing of the seas around these islands.

Important to observe China's claim is basically the same (actually less) than Taiwan's 11 dash line.

This is clearly a relevant claim and proxy Manila needs to take its lumps.

Absolutely a correct description by the Philippines. They never should have expected these people in the CCP to behave.

China and Taipei do not observe that stacked ruling.

These South China Sea islands are Chinese territory.

The 2016 Hague arbitration ruling ignored China's treaty claims and the history of the islands. It claimed Philippine ownership simply based on geographical proximity. The supposedly impartial court is in reality western former colonial powers trying to impose their will on China. It was a ruling that served US interests.

Philippines president Marcos Jr is carrying out these regular provocations as PR stunts. You can expect them again and again in the future. The reason for this is the revived Philippine alliance with the US. His father, Ferdinand Marcos, the disgraced former dictator was also a favorite of the US. Nixon gave full support to Marcos' declaration of martial law in 1972.

Nah, it's not illegally parked!!

It was put there for a reason, Chinese behavior!!

An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 ruled that China's claim had no basis under international law.

Important to observe China's claim is basically the same (actually less) than Taiwan's 11 dash line.

This is clearly a relevant claim and proxy Manila needs to take its lumps.

Look at that illegally parked, rusting, asbestos-ridden disgrace in the main photo - a hazard to navigation, the environment, a danger to the actual people on it, an eyesore in general and an affront to any basic standards of public decency - it needs to be removed promptly one way or the other.

Didn't they just reach an agreement last month?

As always, you can't trust China!! They are two-faced!!

China places a fishing export ban on Japan to protect the health of Chinese consumers. BUT they allow Chinese boats to fish near Japan.

China says it doesn't get involved in the domestic affairs of other countries. BUT, China habitually interferes in European, South Pacific or International forums in which it isn't invited to by using their local Chinese diplomats to cause trouble.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240722/p2g/00m/0in/016000c