Tensions surge in S. China Sea as Philippines seizes Chinese boat

MANILA/BEIJING (Reuters) - Philippines police seized a Chinese fishing boat in the disputed South China Sea on Wednesday, an official told Reuters, the latest flare-up of tensions in the oil and gas-rich waters that are claimed wholly or in part by six Asian nations.

Chief Superintendent Niel Vargas of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group said a maritime police patrol apprehended a Chinese fishing boat around 7 a.m. on Tuesday off Half Moon Shoal.

On Tuesday, China warned Vietnam not to disturb activities of Chinese companies operating near disputed islands in another part of the South China Sea, after Hanoi condemned as illegal the movement of a giant Chinese oil rig into what it says is its territorial waters.

Tensions surge in S. China Sea as Philippines seizes Chinese boat

This should make life more interesting in that neck of the world.

Vietnam has fought a war with China in the past and their relationship has never been more than toleration of each other. I was wondering how long it was going to take for a nation to seize a Chinese vessel.

The question now is what will be China's response.


ETA -

originally posted by: stumason
Link to a map of Chinese claims - totally rediculous

a reply to: Yusomad

Is there any chance you can act like an adult and not drag your petty issues into other threads?

Do you have anything on the topic or?

Btw if you have been following the situation in the SCS you would know military vessels have been deployed by various nations with regards to Chinese vessels violating territorial waters of several nations. Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, S. Korea to name a few.

Now, please remain on topic if you are going to participate. If not, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

a reply to: Xcathdra

Indeed, for anyone following the goings on in the SCS, your mention of Vietnam is quite pertinent and on topic:

Vietnam and China clash over Exploration rig

Another link

a reply to: Yusomad

BTW your mention of vietnam? You mention it as if it had anything to do in this particular event, they did not...

The article itself had mentioned Vietnam
Also, Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, which is in dispute from Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

On Tuesday, China warned Vietnam not to disturb activities of Chinese companies operating near disputed islands in another part of the South China Sea, after Hanoi condemned as illegal the movement of a giant Chinese oil rig into what it says is its territorial waters.

There are frequent tensions in the South China Sea between China and the other claimant nations, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines, both of which say Beijing has harassed their ships in the waters there.

China confuses me at time...

They get upset with Vietnams actions yet when they seized a Japanese vessel over a WWII debt they acted as if they did nothing wrong.

The Philippines signed a new defense treaty with the US a few weeks ago and I believe the US and several other nations in that area are conducting / just finished conducting naval training / war-games.

Russia and China are scheduled for their war games near the end of this month I believe.

China and the Philippines have been going back and forth over a small chunk of land. China pretty much has blockaded it. Its cat and mouse when trying to resupply them. they have had to air supply the Philippines forces a few times now.

China has a backwards view of EEZ - Exclusive Economic Zone. While territorial waters extend out about 12 miles, an EEZ can extend out to 200 miles. It creates issues when nations are close together with overlapping EEZ. Chinese takes the view the EEZ is territorial waters, which it is not. It only deals with resources under the water - Fish / gas / oil / etc.

The other issue are treaties these nations signed long ago resolving the disputes. China recently has made claims to those areas.

Idiocy by philippines .. not the smartest move seizing a chinese ship .. guess they figure amerika will save them after they piss off china ..

a reply to: Expat888

Vietnam - not Philippines.

I don't think we have an agreement with Vietnam in that area. However I think India has an agreement with Vietnam. A year or 2 back an Indian Naval vessel was challenged by Chinese naval vessels in Vietnamese territorial waters.

Curious -
if the Chinese vessel violated Vietnamese territorial waters why should Vietnam not seize it? The same would occur if a Vietnamese vessel was in Chinese waters.

a reply to: Xcathdra

As far as I understand it, China is claiming the whole South China Sea, stretching many thousands of Km from it's own shores and in many case, right through the EEZ of it's neighbours and up to the territorial limit.

They apparently base their claims on the fact in the 16th/17th centuries their ships plied these seas unchallenged so therefore it's theirs. They seem to wilfully ignore all the previous treaties and conventions when it comes to maritime territory.

So, in response to Expat888, no this isn't the Philippines being idiots, but just defending their territory against blatant resource grabbing by the Chinese in waters they have no legal right to.

Link to a map of Chinese claims - totally rediculous

a reply to: stumason

Since the Ming Dynasty is no longer in existence im not sure how they are going to support that claim. Even more so since the current government of China has absolutely no links to that era.

I think a massive mistake was made when the ROC was booted from their permanent seat at the UN and given to ChiCom.


ETA - Thanks for the map. Added it to the OP.

a reply to: Xcathdra

Quite - using that logic, the UK should be able to claim the whole world, as in the 18th, 19th and early 20th we were THE dominant Naval power by a mile.

And yes, I agree, the legitimate Government of China at the time was the one the Communists chased off the mainland in '47. However, I think a much bigger mistake was allowing their to permanent, veto wielding members of the UNSC at all.

a reply to: stumason

The world seemed calmer in those days...

The sun never sets on the British Empire..... because God never trusted the British in the dark.

Now that its been downsized, those areas in the dark have gone to hell in a hand basket.

a reply to: Xcathdra

Haha, quite - don't trust us silver tongued Brits

While there has and always will be war, the world did seem a quieter place in the 19th century.

Whilst not an advocate of imperialism, I believe had the World Wars not happened, we would be a very different place today. Prior to 1914, the British were seriously considering an "Imperial Parliament" with a Federation of independent states bound by a common bond - what a World that would have been, 1/4 of the planet under a single banner....

Oh well.....

a reply to: stumason

I agree, its their right.
but china doesnt mess around. could turn out to be the wrong move

` a reply to: stumason

The making of historical claims to seas and land is ridiculous in today's world. I suspect the Brits would claim half the ocean with their seafaring antics of the past along with other seafaring nations - so I don't see the claims of past usage of seas etc as a relevant claim whatsoever.

Its interesting how 'colonial' any nation can become when it boils down to resources it wants. I think the Philipines are taking on rather a large dragon, but its their choice and I suppose they see the need to make a stand.

Perhaps its time for that region to sit round the table and draw up new lines and agreements rather than all out challenges and a situation there is no going back from

What everyone seems to forget here is what happened after WW2.

China were in no state to do anything much. The US carved up the South China Sea to benefit it's puppets.

It is not the South China Sea that is in dispute, it is the huge number of tiny Islands that then give their owner's the ability to claim the surrounding sea.

China has a pre WW2 claim to these islands and she wants them back. This problem is the same as many others on a global scale where America, Great Britain and Russia just carved up the world as they saw fit. This has lead to many disputes and this is just another balls-up coming home to roost.

You do not need to go back hundreds of years to get the history.

Obviously China wants the resources in the South China Sea. She will exert her might to get them. Interesting times ahead for that area of the world.

P

originally posted by: Shiloh7


Perhaps its time for that region to sit round the table and draw up new lines and agreements rather than all out challenges and a situation there is no going back from

China did draw up new lines...

The problem is China dew up new lines on their own.

lets be honest here..

China is the Asian Superpower. Who's going to risk global nuclear war if China decides to take a few small nations on its borders?

The USA & Saudi team will take the middle east, Russia will take Europe and China will take Asia.

With or without approval!

a reply to: Xcathdra

so the Philippines seized a Chinese boat,
and Vietnam has gone to war with China
and they only tolerate each other.

makes sense to me, does it make sense to you.

originally posted by: Agit8dChop
lets be honest here..

China is the Asian Superpower. Who's going to risk global nuclear war if China decides to take a few small nations on its borders?

China is incapable of invading it's neighbours, much less conquering them. Not to mention that the vast majority of the world will not stand by while they gobble up land. They've already had a War with Vietnam before and despite being vastly larger, did not do so well - as did the USA I might add. Chances are if China did start on one of it's neighbours, they'll all pile in, Japan and Korea included with the USA to boot.

originally posted by: Agit8dChop
The USA & Saudi team will take the middle east,

Lol, like that'll be possible or even work. You seem to assume everyone will just roll over in all cases.

originally posted by: Agit8dChop
Russia will take Europe

Not even remotely possible - Russia is out gunned by Europe by a wide margin, not to mention the population of Europe being some 6 times larger.

Again, total fantasy on your part with no consideration as to the "how" and assuming everyone will simply allow themselves to be rolled over.