Posted on 03/01/2016 6:17:32 PM PST by ch.man
MANILA, Philippines The Chinese have taken over another traditional Filipino fishing ground near Palawan where they have stationed up to five ships to keep local fishermen at bay, sources said.
Now effectively under Chinese control is Quirino or Jackson Atoll, which has been a rich source of catch for a long time for fishermen from Palawan, Southern Luzon, Western Visayas and even Manila.
Gray and white Chinese vessels have not left the atoll, which Filipino fishermen also call Jackson Five, because of the existence of five lagoons in the area.
The Chinese are claiming almost the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. Manila is contesting Beijings claim before an international arbitral court based in The Hague.
Filipino fishermen lamented the Chinese vessels would not allow them to come near or linger in the Quirino Atoll.
(Excerpt) Read more at philstar.com ...
"War [with the United States] is inevitable; we cannot avoid it," said Chinese Defense Minister General Chi Haotian in 2000. "The issue is that the Chinese armed forces must control the initiative in this war."
Gosh, that never made the Nightly News. Why not? Ranking Chinese official, topical, within his sphere of competence .... where was Dan Rather? Peter Jennings?
Why doesn’t the Philippines fight them on this reef?
They may get their butt kicked (or maybe not) but the World will support them and China has A LOT more to lose.
Imagine what an unexpected battle there would do to perceptions about China’s economy?
Yep, you are all knowing.
That's true. However the Japanese also did not really include anyone in the co- part. It was just for the Japanese. And China is doing the same.
Fighting the MILF and Muslim separatist's in the south is the real priority with the limited military resources they have.
Make no mistake this provocation by the Chinese is aimed squarely at the United States. The Chinese are clearly telling the US they intend to take over the entire South China Sea and its strategic assets and they don't believe the United States can or will do anything about it.
Canned Huma?
Yes. Fortunately, I see them striking blue strongholds: Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Manhattan.
Sink the bastards and let them swim back to Red China.
Otherwise, kiss your atoll goodby.
I’ve seen it. even wearing stupid garb from other countries.
####ing f...t
I’m watching The Wire. Good series but Obama’s favorite character is the gay gangster who is tough as nails from the hood. He stated so.
that says it all.
Sink them with WHAT?
Unlike the USS Cole, the Chinese are unlikely to let a dinghy motor up to them and detonate.
The Philippines has good destroyers and I’m pretty sure they have some kind of ship to ship missile, or even heavier cruise missiles.
From what I heard on the John Batchelor Show the other night, all the nations that ring Red China down to Australia and New Zealand are concentrating on ship-destroying vessels, particularly newer types of destroyers and getting (German?) attack subs to counter Red China’s growing sub fleet (I think the speaker said that they had 70 of them).
If you give Red China one inch, one atoll, one island, you’ve lost.
White Mosque: We do not enable allies’ expansionist designs. The Chinese used military force, so that clearly indicates the guilt of the Filipinos.
There’s no question China has to be opposed, but:
Philippine Navy:
24,000 active duty personnel[2]
103 ships
3 frigates
11 corvettes
11 amphibious landing ships
80+ patrol vessels
15,000 reserve duty personnel
And as pointed out above, barely any money to operate what they have.
PLA Navy:
255,000 personnel (2012)[2]
485 ships (excl. auxiliaries)
Approx. 710+ aircraft[3][4]
Fleet
1 aircraft carrier
4 amphibious transport docks
29 landing ship tanks
31 landing ship medium
26 destroyers
47 frigates
25 corvettes
109 missile boats
94 submarine chasers
17 gunboats
29 mine countermeasure vessels
69 submarines
11 replenishment ships
(232 auxiliaries)
Figures are from Wikipedia.
Fighting is one thing, suicide is another. RP needs allies with some real punch, and the determination to use it.
RP also has a very modest Air Force.
OTOH, most of RP’s forces are tied up with insurgents, already.
I swear I thought this said “Cruz Takes Philippine Atoll”....
I need more coffee!
LOL!
Betcha they will be soon, if not already.
The wannabe bar girls are
Harbor freight is opening a new store here as I post
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