Posted on 02/14/2023 9:15:22 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The Biden administration has denounced the actions of China's military after a new significant incident involving the Philippine and Chinese Coast Guards. It happened on Feb.6, but has only this week been revealed.
State Department spokesman Ned Price in a Tuesday briefing blasted China’s "provocative and unsafe" interference aimed at disrupting Philippine vessels' "lawful operations" in the South China Sea. "More broadly, the PRC’s dangerous operational behavior directly threatens regional peace and stability, infringes upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law, and undermines the rules-based international order," Price said.
Specifically, the allegation is that a Chinese Coast Guard ship used a laser device to "temporarily blind" the crew of the rival Philippine ship, according to the US, citing its Philippine ally.
The US said it happened in an area where Beijing has "no lawful maritime claims" as it occurred as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sailed around Second Thomas Shoal.
That's when, according to an official PCG statement—
The Chinese ship illuminated the green laser light twice toward the BRP MALAPASCUA, causing temporary blindness to her crew at the bridge. The Chinese vessel also made dangerous maneuvers by approaching about 150 yards from the vessel's starboard quarter.
The PCG further called it "a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights."
The State Dept.'s Price agreed, saying "The United States stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order and reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard in the South China Sea, would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments," while referencing a 1951 mutual defense treaty.
It's certainly not the first time the US made such a pledge; however, clearly Beijing is challenging the US stance with such brazen provocations in the South China Sea, especially when disputed territory is at play.
Beijing has acknowledged the incident, but blamed the Philippine Coast Guard for entering claimed Chinese waters...
Chinese MOFA on laser pointing incident:
The Ren’ai Reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands. On February 6, a Philippine Coast Guard vessel intruded into the waters off the Ren’ai Reef without Chinese permission. https://t.co/wGAOrrNVeq — Frances Mangosing 🇵🇭 (@FMangosingINQ) February 13, 2023
Last summer Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged and spelled out: "We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty."
Testing and probing, probing and testing.
I am skeptical that the United States has the military capability to wage much of any kind of War in the South China Sea.
We have seriously run down our munitions shipping them off to Ukraine and Biden is well on the way to draining the Strategic petroleum Reserve into worthlessness.
Both of which, I believe, are being done (in part at least) to damage our military readiness. Possibly at the bidding of this Chinese Masters.
If it’s mounted on a shark, that could spell big trouble.
Defend every other countries boarders…..
Except our own….
Makes perfect sense
Almost none of the material shipped to Ukraine is relevant to a sea and air war in East Asia.
If you wish to dispute this, it would help if you got specific on which weapons you are concerned about.
Waiting for someone to blame Putin.
Too bad week-kneed Americans gave up the MASSIVE Subic Bay military base. It was so MASSIVE, the local economy took a significant hit when it closed. If an aircraft carrier group is an example of force projection, the force projection of Subic Bay would have been a great counter to the Chicoms.
Aren’t there middle systems that can easily target the laser’s point of emission ?
“I shall return.”
[If it’s mounted on a shark, that could spell big trouble.]
MI6 is significantly worried.
I will not defend foreign countries from invasions by other foreign countries.
I could be wrong, but wasn’t that base evacuated due to a volcano?
If they were smart the countries of East,and Southeast,Asia would be pooping their pants right now. China will not be stopped...they will take Hong Kong (*completely*),Taiwan,South Korea,the Philippines and other countries as well. It’s just a question of when.
Just raise up mirrors
Oh wow. Wasn’t there reports just the other day of something similar happening near the United States?
Mysterious Green Lasers Over Hawaii Were Likely From Chinese Satellite
https://www.newsweek.com/mysterious-green-lasers-hawaii-chinese-satellite-nasa-1780468
No, that was Clark Air Base.
We have seriously run down our munitions shipping them off to Ukraine
—
Ukraine is a land war. Any war in the Pacific will be primarily Naval and Air, land assets need not apply.
Point taken. You’re the second person here to correct me on that.
I’m still extremely skeptical nonetheless that we have the capability of carrying on a serious war anywhere, but particularly that far out. I can’t say who but I did recall some general saying that we did not have the capability of carrying a war with China for more than a week or two. I’m sure we could go longer than that. But I think that point is still valid.
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