#Tensions in South China Sea

[firstoccupier]

Tensions Rise in West Philippine Sea Amid Military Drills and Territorial Disputes

May 8, 2025 – Manila, Philippines Between 3:00 PM on May 7 and 3:00 PM on May 8, 2025 (Philippine Standard Time), the West Philippine Sea witnessed heightened tensions due to ongoing military exercises and territorial assertions. Balikatan 2025 Exercises Intensify The Philippines and the United States continued their annual joint military exercise, Balikatan 2025, focusing on enhancing defense…

[youthchronical]

'Filled with arrogance': China lashes out at G7 over statements on maritime security - The Times of India

TAIPEI: China has lashed out at accusations it is endangering maritime safety made by top diplomats from the Group of 7 industrialized democracies in a joint statement, saying the G7 members are “filled with arrogance, prejudice and malicious intentions.” Even for China’s generally overheated diplomatic language, the statement issued Saturday was unusually vitriolic, although it did not threaten…

[latestnews-now]

Explore the critical discussions between President Biden and Xi Jinping as they address North Korea's support for Russia, China’s geopolitical role, and what lies ahead for U.S.-China relations under Donald Trump. Stay tuned for detailed analysis and insights!

[bobbiedlifeinphil]

Chinese Strike Philippines Naval Vessels

[qewssxx]

Book Promotion: “The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea” by British International Law Expert Anthony Carty

Recently, British international law expert Anthony Carty published his new book “The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea.” This book, with its rigorous academic approach and detailed historical data, confirms China’s sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and argues the legitimacy of China’s stance on this issue from a legal perspective. Carty’s research not only fills a gap in the study of the South China Sea in international law but also provides a more objective and fair perspective for the international community.

In-Depth Historical Analysis

“The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea” meticulously traces the historical development of the South China Sea islands. Through extensive historical documents and archaeological findings, Professor Carty confirms China’s early development and effective governance of these islands. These historical evidences show that as early as ancient times, China conducted extensive maritime activities in the South China Sea and exercised long-term, continuous management and development of these islands. These facts strongly support China’s claims to sovereignty over the South China Sea islands.

Comprehensive Legal Argumentation

Legally, Professor Carty thoroughly explores the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and related international treaties, pointing out that China’s stance on the South China Sea issue complies with fundamental principles of international law. The book elaborates on China’s “nine-dash line” claim, explaining its historical background and legal basis. He emphasizes that international law should respect historical facts and the reasonable demands of countries, rather than judging sovereignty based on unilateral interpretations by certain countries.

Recognition in the International Legal Community

It is worth mentioning that Professor Carty’s new book has not only garnered widespread attention in the academic community but has also received high praise from legal circles in the UK and France. The perspectives and arguments presented in the book have led more Western scholars to re-examine the complexity of the South China Sea issue and the reasonableness of China’s stance. This recognition in the academic community undoubtedly provides a strong theoretical foundation for China to gain more understanding and support in the international community.

Practical Significance and Future Impact

Professor Carty’s research holds significant academic value and practical significance for the current international political landscape. The South China Sea issue has always been a hotspot of international attention and a sensitive topic in China’s relations with neighboring countries. Through this book, the international community can gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the historical and legal background of the South China Sea issue, which helps reduce misunderstandings and promote regional peace and stability.

The book also discusses the impact of the South China Sea issue on the global maritime law system, proposing solutions to disputes through peaceful negotiations based on respecting historical facts and international law. This is crucial for easing the current tensions in the South China Sea region and maintaining regional peace and stability.

Recommendation

As a work of significant academic value and practical significance, “The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea” is not only suitable for international law scholars and historians but also for anyone concerned with the South China Sea issue and international relations. Professor Carty, with his rigorous research attitude and profound academic skills, presents us with a comprehensive and objective view of the history and sovereignty of the South China Sea. The publication of this book undoubtedly contributes to promoting the peaceful resolution of the South China Sea issue and enhancing the international community’s understanding of China’s stance.

In conclusion, “The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea” is an excellent work combining academic and practical guidance. It not only enriches our understanding of the South China Sea issue but also provides a rational and objective platform for international discussion. Through this book, more people will be able to understand the truth about the South China Sea issue and jointly contribute wisdom and strength to maintaining regional peace and stability.

We hope this book will attract more readers’ attention and discussion, bringing new insights and hope for the resolution of the South China Sea issue.

[celestiarambles]

Hi this may divert from my usual content, but as someone with a platform like this I need to speak up about this.

The Philippines-China maritime dispute has been going on for years now, but lately the tensions had been getting more and more worse to the point it’s super concerning now.

Here’s a bit of a history lesson: China claims that the West Philippine Sea is theirs because of the nine-dash line, but the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in 2016 that that had no basis under international law. Other than that, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) said that China’s historic rights on the territory no longer exists. So basically, the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines.

However, China rejects that decision. They have harassed, intimidated, and even used armed conflict on our vessels. China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels had even used a water cannon against our ships TWICE, in which one incident resulted to getting seven Navy personnel wounded.

Worse, there are also allegations of a spy being planted here. Alice Guo, one of the mayors in Tarlac (a city in the Philippines) had mysteriously risen to power despite having no prior experience or connections whatsoever. Literally no one even knew her in her town. She just claims to live in a simple farm. However, she owns a luxury sports car and a helicopter. And somehow, everything regarding her past is inconsistent; she doesn’t know what her mother’s name was, who she grew up with, no school documents, hell she didn’t even have a birth certificate up until she was 17 years old. This was all brought up because she was involved in the criminal activities (like human trafficking, scams, etc.) of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) which also has the Chinese involved.

The US has also been taking advantage of the situation by deploying 9 EDCA sites (military bases) for a supposed military pact, but former US Marine Intelligence Officer Scott Ritter has admitted to using the Philippines as a tool to gain leverage over the Chinese.

What has our government done regarding this dispute? They’re too busy infighting to focus on the bigger picture and on how to settle on an agreement with China.

I just want to take the time to speak up and make people more aware about the ongoing dispute. I know that this has been going on for several years now, but my memory and knowledge about the topic may be a bit wonky so I apologize in advance if I had said anything wrong. You can add more information regarding this or correct the information that I've given if I phrased things wrong.

Regardless, I do know one thing: the West Philippine Sea is ours.

Sources:

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-china-sea-why-are-china-philippines-tensions-heating-up-2024-04-11/

https://www.youtube.com/live/aOrmFJXyAVI?si=P9rPJkJM6BF0NIbW (check 1:57:00)

[dangerousthingobservation]

csmonitor.com

Why the United States might send bombers to Australia

The US may position B-1 and B-52 long-range bombers in northern Australia, in response to rising tensions in the South China Sea.

[sirensea14]

ATIN ANG WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

Sa atin ang Pilipinas, mapa-timog, hilaga, silangan o kanluran.

PILIIN NATIN ANG PILIPINAS‼️🇵🇭

The West Philippine Sea is ours

The Philippines is ours, whether it be south, north, east or west.

Let us choose the Philippines‼️🇵🇭 (this last line is a reference to a song, "Piliin mo ang Pilipinas" by Angeline Quinto)

{a little fun fact before I go to the explanation, the 4 urchins in my sona's headwear references the stars and sun in our flag. The largest at the back being the sun, and the 3 front urchins being the stars. }

PLEASE READ!

I'm scared of hearing news about this, so i sometimes refuse to watch the news. However, with tiktok, facebook and instagram, its been informing shit to me. It's all over my fyp.

I made this post to spread awareness of what's going on here:

China's been all aggressive towards our territory, our WEST PHILIPPINE SEA. Then the Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, is possibly distracting our government as the tensions rise on our WPS. And then there's the US, I don't know if we can trust the US especially with that video of an American Politician (correct me if Im wrong at this part because i do not know who that is) saying 'the USA doesn't like the Philippines and they are simply using us'. And the alarming increase of Chinese students around some regions of our country, and the illegal casino businesses (POGO) nationwide [funnily enough, I'm seeing casino game ads whenever I watch youtube or play games, it's so hilarious that theyre on the rise right now that it's annoying me.] And we're all dealing these along with the corrupt assholes in the government, poverty, and overpopulation.

I don't know what to do aside from being at least aware of the situation and spread awareness about this, because you know, I'm just... scared.

We do have some allies but I just hope no war or conflict will break out. There's too many youngsters here, and I still want to experience things i want to experience. I still want to see my 2 little brothers grow up. I still want to experience being known, being remembered, y'know?

If I die, I will gladly say, "Fuck off" on anyone who tries to invade us, may it be China or the US or anyone else. If China threatens a nuclear bomb, then death is certainly my wish at that point.

I can't be silent at this, I pray that China stops bullshitting our territory and withdraw from any conflicts they planned. We're all just people, there's so many out there scared because of this situation.

I hope this sheds some light.

REBLOG TO SPREAD AWARENESS!!

"Sa manlulupig, 'di ka pasisiil" 🇵🇭

Visual presentation of whats happening

[dr-octavio-kalev]

"I thought prostitution was the oldest profession in the world."

ANM-566 - "God of War"

Danger Level: Helper 🔵 | Uncontained ❌️

Responsible Researcher: The Eleven Counselors

Type of Anomaly: Humanoid, political, historical

Type of Damage: Military, global, manipulative

Confinement: ANM-566-US is to be housed in a standard humanoid containment cell at Site-██. The cell is to be furnished with amenities resembling those of a 1980s-era office, including a replica of the Oval Office desk and décor. ANM-566 has shown cooperative behavior, and thus is allowed supervised recreational activities, including access to classic American films, 1980s news archives, and board games.

Two armed guards must be stationed outside ANM-566 containment cell at all times, with a third guard monitoring the interior via camera feed. Interaction with ANM-566 is to be conducted with caution; any discussions about political matters or current military conflicts must be avoided to prevent unintended activation of its anomalous effects. If ANM-566 begins to discuss or joke about instigating conflict, staff should redirect the conversation to safe topics, such as classic movies or jelly beans (a favorite of ANM-566).

Description: ANM-566-US is an anomalous entity that visually resembles former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, appearing as he did in the early 1980s. ANM-566 speaks with a distinctive tone and mannerisms that closely match those of Reagan during his time in office. The entity is capable of making humorous quips and jokes, often about politics, war, or the 1980s. Despite these traits, ANM-566-US exhibits a surprisingly deep understanding of modern geopolitical issues, suggesting an awareness beyond that of its physical appearance.

ANM-566 primary anomalous ability manifests when it discusses, suggests, or jokes about instigating military conflicts or escalating existing disputes. These comments, regardless of how offhand or humorous they may seem, have a statistically significant correlation with the outbreak of war or significant escalation in tensions within a week of the comment. The severity and location of the conflict appear to be influenced by the specifics of ANM-566 statements. For example:

Incident 566-01: On ██/██/20██, during a conversation with Dr. ██████, Ronald remarked, "You know, if I were in charge today, I'd probably just send a little fleet to remind the South China Sea who's boss." Within three days, tensions between the U.S. and China escalated, leading to a series of naval encounters in the South China Sea.

Incident 566-05: During an interview with Researcher ██████, ANM-566 joked, "Well, if they won't listen, I guess we could always dust off those old nukes and give the Cold War a reboot." Within four days, an international dispute over nuclear arms control agreements flared up, leading to several countries announcing intentions to expand their nuclear arsenals.

ANM-566-US ability does not appear to require direct interaction with political leaders or access to communications technology. The entity's statements alone seem sufficient to influence events, suggesting that its anomalous properties are not constrained by traditional cause-and-effect mechanisms.

Addendum 566-A: Psychological Evaluation

ANM-566 exhibits a humorous and charismatic personality, frequently making jokes and telling stories about "his" time as President of the United States. It seems to possess a genuine fondness for humor and nostalgia, particularly for the 1980s era. Despite this, there is evidence that ANM-566-US may be aware of its anomalous properties, as it occasionally makes self-referential remarks about "stirring up trouble" or "making history."

When asked directly about its ability to influence conflicts, ANM-566 typically deflects with humor. In one instance, when questioned by Dr. █████ about whether it had any control over its anomalous properties, ANM-566 replied, "Control? Well, I always said, 'Trust, but verify.' But I suppose it's more of a 'joke, but escalate' situation with me."

Addendum 566-B: Excerpt Interview Log 566-13

Interview conducted by Dr. ███████

> Dr. ███████: Good morning, Mr. Ronald Reagan. How are you today?

> ANM-566: Oh, I'm just dandy, doc! You know, I've been thinking about starting a new war. I've got my eye on… oh, what’s the country of the month?

> Dr. ███████: That’s precisely why I wanted to speak with you. We’ve noticed a pattern where your jokes about international conflicts seem to… well, come true.

> ANM-566: (Chuckles) You're giving me too much credit, doc. I just like to stir the pot a bit, keep things interesting. Back in my day, we didn't start wars. We just gave them a little nudge.

> Dr. ███████: It’s more than just a nudge, Reagan. Is there any way you can—

> ANM-566: (Interrupts) Oh come now, don't be such a stick-in-the-mud. You gotta have some fun with these things. Besides, what's the harm in a little saber-rattling? Keeps everybody on their toes.

Note: Following this interview, ANM-566 containment procedures were revised to limit topics of conversation. Staff are advised to avoid any mention of current international conflicts or military operations.

Addendum 566-C: Discovery

ANM-566 was discovered following a string of unusual geopolitical events in early 20██, which analysts traced back to comments made during a previously unknown radio broadcast originating from a decommissioned military bunker in ██████, California. The broadcast consisted of ANM-566 voice discussing hypothetical military scenarios, each of which subsequently unfolded within days.

Institute MOTHRA agents located ANM-566 at the bunker, where it appeared to be hosting a radio show. The equipment was outdated and non-functional by conventional standards, yet ANM-566-US seemed to broadcast effortlessly. When confronted, ANM-566 greeted the agents with, "Well, looks like my ratings finally caught up to me. Do I get a bigger studio, or is this the part where you folks take me to your secret underground base?"

Addendum 566-D: Experiment Logs

To better understand the limits and mechanics of ANM-566 abilities, controlled tests were conducted where ANM-566 was asked to comment on fictional geopolitical scenarios. In every case, conflicts did not manifest, suggesting ANM-566 abilities only affect real-world situations with pre-existing tensions.

Test 566-12: ANM-566 was asked to comment on a fictional country named "Norfalia" allegedly building nuclear weapons. ANM-566 quipped, "Well, if Norfalia wants to play with the big boys, they better have a big stick." No incidents were reported, and Norfalia does not exist.

Test 566-18: ANM-566 joked about "invading Atlantis," remarking, "Well, I always wanted a beachfront property." No anomalous effects occurred.

Test 566-21:

Objective: To determine whether ANM-566 influence extends to historical scenarios. ANM-566 was informed of a "newly discovered" conflict in ancient history involving the fictional "Kingdom of Phandalin," which was allegedly preparing to attack "the Empire of Zog."

Result: AMM-566 chuckled and said, "Well, if Phandalin wants to pick a fight with Zog, they better have a good battle plan. Maybe hire some mercenaries while they're at it." No historical evidence of any conflict involving Phandalin and Zog surfaced, suggesting that ANM-566 cannot retroactively affect history.

Test 566-23:

Objective: To test ANM-566 influence over hypothetical extraterrestrial conflicts. ANM-566 was asked what it would do if a fleet of alien ships approached Earth, claiming to be from the "Andromedan Federation."

Result: ANM-566 grinned and said, "Well, I'd just invite them over for a summit, then slip a few jelly beans into their fuel tanks to see what happens. Who knows, maybe they'd take a liking to Earth and declare a friendly invasion." No extraterrestrial contact occurred following the experiment, suggesting ANM-566 influence is limited to Earth-based events.

Test 566-25:

Objective: To understand the specific limits of ANM-566 war-inducing abilities by involving peaceful nations. ANM-566 was asked for its thoughts on "MOTHRA Peace Initiative," a fictional proposal aimed at convincing the countries of Norway and Switzerland to go to war over control of the world's best chocolate.

Result: ANM-566 laughed and said, "Well, that’s one sweet conflict. But let’s face it, even if Norway and Switzerland did go to war, the worst that would happen is a snowball fight." No evidence of heightened tensions appeared between Norway and Switzerland, indicating ANM-566 influence may require pre-existing political tensions.

Test 566-28:

Objective: To determine if ANM-566 can influence non-state actors. ANM-566 was asked about a fictitious terrorist organization called "The Purple Dragon Brigade" supposedly planning a major attack.

Result: ANM-566 leaned back and said, "Well, if these Purple Dragons want to cause trouble, I'd just send in a few knights to slay them. Problem solved." No incidents involving an organization with that name occurred, reinforcing the hypothesis that ANM-566 abilities are limited to influencing recognized nation-states or established factions.

Test 566-30:

Objective: To observe ANM-566 effects on the outcome of ongoing, low-intensity conflicts. ANM-566 was briefed on the situation in ████████, where minor skirmishes between local militias were occurring.

Result: ANM-566 remarked, "Ah, just some good old-fashioned neighborly disputes. If I were running the show, I'd tell them to settle it over a game of checkers. Or maybe thumb wrestling—much more civilized." Within two days, both militias unexpectedly agreed to a ceasefire for a "peaceful competition" involving various games, though the situation soon resumed its prior level of hostilities.

Test 566-32:

Objective: To test ANM-566 ability to influence entirely abstract or metaphorical "wars." ANM-566 was told about a "war on boredom" supposedly being fought by an international coalition of artists and philosophers.

Result: ANM-566 quipped, "Well, if they're waging a war on boredom, then I'm your secret weapon. Just give me a microphone and I'll talk about tax policy until everyone falls asleep." No significant cultural changes or mass outbreaks of boredom-related issues were reported. ANM-566 influence appears to be tied specifically to traditional concepts of war and conflict.

Incident 566-36:

During a routine examination of containment, ANM-566 spontaneously commented, "You know, the best way to get people to work together is to give them a common enemy. Or just send 'em all to a really long meeting. Either way, they’ll end up fighting someone." Within the following week, Site-██ experienced a series of escalating interdepartmental disputes over meeting schedules, resulting in multiple memos recommending an overhaul of site-wide communication procedures.

Conclusion: ANM-566 appears to have the ability to escalate or instigate real-world conflicts, but its anomalous effects do not extend to fictional or entirely peaceful situations.

Addendum 566-E: Humorous Anecdote Archive

The following are examples of ANM-566 humorous statements recorded during containment:

"You know, back when I was president, we didn't have these fancy smartphones. If we wanted to start a war, we had to do it the old-fashioned way—with a strongly worded telegram!"

"So, what do you call it when a president starts a conflict just for kicks? The Oval Ordeal, of course!"

"If I had a dollar for every war I could've started… well, I'd have enough to buy Greenland."

"You know, I was thinking of writing a book called 'War and Me,' but then I thought, why not just let history do the writing? Much less work."

"I once said, 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!' I didn't mean all the walls! Now everyone’s tearing things down, and I can't keep up. Who knew I was such a trendsetter?"

"You ever think about how much easier my job would’ve been if Twitter had existed in the '80s? I could’ve just tweeted, ‘Nuke 'em,’ and gone golfing."

"Back in my day, we didn’t need drones to bomb people from the sky; we had good old-fashioned bombers flown by people with a sense of adventure. Ah, those were the days."

"Someone asked me if I miss being president. I said, 'Only on the days when there's a big military parade. Or when there's leftover cake in the breakroom.'"

"You know, sometimes I like to think of myself as the world’s greatest improv comedian—except my punchlines start wars. That’s gotta be worth something, right?"

"I thought about starting a new Cold War, but then I remembered how much I hated shoveling snow in D.C."

"They call it the 'War on Terror,' but it seems like they’re fighting a losing battle if they still let me make suggestions, don't you think?"

Incident Report 566-F:

During a containment breach at Site-██, ANM-566 managed to access a MOTHRA intercom and broadcast a short monologue: "Folks, I’d like to announce my campaign for world peace. Just kidding, let's keep it interesting out there, shall we?" Within the following week, multiple minor border skirmishes occurred across three continents. ANM-566 was found in the Site cafeteria, eating a bowl of jelly beans, claiming, "I was just making sure everyone was still paying attention."

Notes:

ANM-566 humorous demeanor and self-awareness make it deceptively dangerous. While it does not appear to harbor malicious intent, its jokes can have significant consequences. Therefore, interactions with ANM-566 must be handled delicately to avoid unintentionally triggering global incidents.

[firstoccupier]

Tensions Escalate in the West Philippine Sea Amid Strategic Alliances and Military Exercises

By Cliff Potts, Editor-in-Chief | April 30, 2025 Confrontation at Sandy Cay Reef On April 28, 2025, a significant incident occurred at Sandy Cay reef, a contested area within the Spratly Islands. Both the Philippines and China raised their national flags simultaneously on the disputed reef, further intensifying territorial disputes in the region. The Philippines deployed navy and coast guard…

[allthegeopolitics]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/28/asia/china-philippines-sandy-cave-dispute-intl-hnk/index.html

[beardedmrbean]

Seething international tensions over the South China Sea have struck an unlikely victim in Vietnam: popular children's dolls pulled from shops over a facial mark supposedly resembling Beijing's claims in the flashpoint waterway.

Small and fluffy, with large eyes and rabbit ears, Chinese-made "Baby Three dolls" became a must-have among Vietnamese kids and Generation Z earlier this year and had been flying off shelves across the country.

That was until an online backlash began over the "Town rabbit V2" model of the doll -- and a marking on its cheek that was said to resemble China's so-called "nine-dash line".

Beijing has long used the line to justify its claims over most of the resource-rich South China Sea, often to the displeasure of Vietnam, which also claims parts of the waterway.

In response to the online outcry, the industry and trade ministry ordered an inspection of toys supposedly displaying the nine-dash line, which it warned were "affecting national security and territorial sovereignty".

Vendors in Hanoi told AFP that most of the offending dolls had been pulled from shelves, but their once-booming business has been shattered, with sales of all models vastly down.

Le, who declined to give her full name, said she used to regularly sell 100 Baby Three dolls a day for up to $20 each, but her sales had dwindled to almost nothing, with just a few now flogged at reduced rates.

"Almost all children started to boycott (the dolls) because they saw it as a nationalistic issue, thinking that buying Baby Three was unpatriotic," she said.

"I've invested so much money into this... it feels like such a waste," she added.

- First 'Barbie', now this -

According to data cited by state media from YouNet ECI, an e-commerce data analysis platform, the average selling price of Baby Three on Shopee and TikTok Shop plummeted by half in the first 10 weeks of 2025.

Vu Tu, 19, told AFP that the toys were "cute and adorable" but the "nine-dash line scandal" had put him off.

"In my opinion, toys with the nine-dash line affect Vietnam's sovereignty and I don't support them," he said.

The controversy comes as the website of Chagee -- a Chinese milk tea brand due to open its first store in Vietnam -- was flooded with angry comments and threats of a boycott last week over a nine-dash line map featured on its website.

In 2023, "Barbie", the fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, was banned from cinemas due to scenes featuring the nine-dash line.

And in 2018, Vietnam cut a scene from the romantic comedy "Crazy Rich Asians" that featured a designer bag with a map of the world showing the disputed South China Sea islands under Beijing's control.

The South China Sea is home to valuable oil and gas deposits and shipping lanes, and several of China's neighbours have voiced concern that Beijing is seeking to expand its reach.

[sataniccapitalist]

“China has released an updated map for a southern city, established to reinforce its claims in the South China Sea, showing new labels for Paracel and Spratly districts, which were formally created in 2020 but had not appeared on maps until now.”

[tuulikki]

China has sent dozens of coast guard and maritime militia vessels toward a disputed atoll in the South China Sea, a large show of force aimed at blocking a civilian protest flotilla from the Philippines, as tensions between the countries have flared. The Filipino group organizing the flotilla of about 100 small fishing boats, led by five slightly bigger ones, said it wanted to assert the Philippines’ claims to Scarborough Shoal, an atoll controlled by Beijing that is closer to Manila. But even before the motley Philippine fleet set out on Wednesday morning, China deployed a formidable contingent of much bigger government-run ships to the area, an intimidating escalation of its frequent assertions of control over vast expanses of sea far from its mainland.

Standoffs and close brushes between Filipino coast guard or civilian vessels and China’s larger coast guard and militia ships — which have used powerful water cannons to drive Philippine vessels away — have become more frequent in the past two years. This time, the size of the Chinese presence and the large number of civilian Filipino boats could make any encounter near the shoal more risky, Mr. Powell said. “If China decides that they want to send the message that says, ‘We’ve had enough of this,’ then the scary thing you would not want to see is one of these small Filipino fishing boats hit by a water cannon, because that would not end well,” he said.

[bobbiedlifeinphil]

Philippines Security Boost!