China, Philippines locked in naval standoff

[Monseratto]

Di pa rin lumayas yung mga Chinese ships, nagpapalitan lang at dumadami pa, practically surrounding one lone Philippine CG SAR boat...

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

THERE are now 14 Chinese vessels compared to the two Filipino ships in the Panatag (Scarborough) shoal patrolling the area, a top official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Wednesday.

Northern Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Anthony Alcantara said that as of Tuesday morning, the Chinese presence in the shoal consisted of CMS 71, which is 13.6 nautical miles east to the relative position of BRP EDSA DOS (SAR-002); CMS 75, which is 3.3 nautical miles north of the Coast Guard ship; CMS 81, which is 11.9 nautical miles from east from BRP EDSA DOS; and FLEC 310, which is 8.3 nautical miles east of the Philippine vessel.

The Northern Luzon Command chief said the present position of BRP EDSA DOS is 1.4 nautical miles north east of Panatag Shoal's South Rock.

[pop3corn]

If the bullets start flying, the US would be willing to sacrifice the banana republic. China is too important to the world economy compared to the world's second exporter of cheap labor. What is the Philippines to the US compared to China...

Example: a blind chinese dissident escapes from house arrest to the US embassy in the eve of a strategic meeting between China and US, including talks concerning Iran and North Korea. Does the US help this blind dissident escape and sacrifice its relationship with China?

china too singlehandedly put less value to worldwide goods and commodities dahil sa cheap products nya. Im sure there are factions in the US right now who knows this, lalo na yun mga nagalit kumbakit nilipat lahat ng factories ng US sa China, just as there is campaign against offshore BPOs.

so if ever i-neutralize ang China, meron pa din panalo and benefit. maybe US and NATO and Japan can do an Iraq style invasion, hindi kalaban ang people but only the govt. for example, if the US promises lahat ng underpaid Chinese laborers ngaun yun tamang salaries and benefits. The US automatically gets internal allies.

ano kaya kumasa kaya ang Chinese military, yun lang naman ang inaantay ng lahat eh para magakarun na ng gyera sa region natin. if the Chinese suddenly pursues expansionism

[Ry_Tower]

^Ayan na conspiracy theory ni OB!

[oliver1013]

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan at Pilipinas buffer ng US sa China at North Korea. Ayaw nila lumawak ang sphere ng China to the Pacific. Di papayag ang US na ma feel ng isa sa apat na yan na pinababayaan sila. Nilalaro lang ng US ang kanilang mga bininibitawang salita para di mag escalate.

Pero in the event nga na nagka banatan diyan at di talaga tayo sinaklolohan ng US, eh wala tayong magagawa diyan, bumukaka nalang tayo at ipikit nalang natin mga mata natin..or lets just enlist in the nearest guerrilla force in our neighborhood. Bring your own weapons daw for you to serve your country

[boybi]

china too singlehandedly put less value to worldwide goods and commodities dahil sa cheap products nya. Im sure there are factions in the US right now who knows this, lalo na yun mga nagalit kumbakit nilipat lahat ng factories ng US sa China, just as there is campaign against offshore BPOs.

so if ever i-neutralize ang China, meron pa din panalo and benefit. maybe US and NATO and Japan can do an Iraq style invasion, hindi kalaban ang people but only the govt. for example, if the US promises lahat ng underpaid Chinese laborers ngaun yun tamang salaries and benefits. The US automatically gets internal allies.

ano kaya kumasa kaya ang Chinese military, yun lang naman ang inaantay ng lahat eh para magakarun na ng gyera sa region natin. if the Chinese suddenly pursues expansionism

This won't happen, the Chinese people are too nationalistic to agree to a US led government. Tapos ipagsasama mo pa Japan and the US? Two of the most hated countries of China.

[Monseratto]

Yep, the Chinese are more nationalistic than people from the banana republic. It was carved up and suffered under one sided treaties by the Europeans. And outright invasion by the Japanese. The Chinese aren't Iraqi pushovers, they have nukes and they won't hesitate to use it on Taiwan and Japan if a shooting war start with the US.

China is estimated by the Federation of American Scientists to have an arsenal of about 180 active nuclear weapon warheads and 240 total warheads as of 2009, which would make it the second smallest nuclear arsenal amongst the five major nuclear weapon states. According to some estimates, the country could "more than double" the "number of warheads on missiles that could threaten the United States by the mid-2020s".

[boybi]

Yep, the Chinese are more nationalistic than people from the banana republic. It was carved up and suffered under foreign domination, especially under the Europeans, and the Japanese. The Chinese aren't Iraqi pushovers, they have nukes and they won't hesitate to use it on Taiwan and Japan if a shooting war start with the US.

China is very secretive. No one really knows their military &/or nuclear capability.

[pop3corn]

China is very secretive. No one really knows their military &/or nuclear capability.

US doesn't need to know the secrets. they just have to learn how to circumvent the Art of War heheh

[Monseratto]

Let's just wait for these two to blow each other out... Too bad di natin pwede patulan si Taiwan, lalong magagalit si China.

MANILA, Philippines - Even as the Philippines and China remain locked in a standoff at Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, Taiwan joined the fray, staking its claim on the disputed territory and saying Manila’s deployment of vessels there was illegal, Radyo Singko reported.

The program Punto Asintado cited a report from Focus Taiwan News Channel in which Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang called the Philippines’ claim and deployment of vessels illegal.

Yang also said that history, international laws and geography prove Taiwan’s ownership of the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Macclesfield Bank and Pratas Island.

But Malacanang ignored Taiwan’s claim.

Presidential Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said the Philippines is ready to protect its sovereignty.

[111prez]

now taiwan, later on vietnam will get into the fray

lets get readdddddyyyyyyy to rummmmmmmmmmble!

too bad, ang unang ma tapon sa labas ng ring ay ang pilipinas kung hindi tutulungan ni uncle sam

[Ry_Tower]

hehehe, tayo sa words na lang puwede, actual fights ulats na. Manonood na lang.

[randybm]

Eto sila o.



Mga sira ulo talaga.

really ashamed bec of this ,,my good neighbor American frnd saw this 2 f****ng bastard

[hein]

“Mutual in Mutual Defense Treaty means BOTH ways, not just one-way.
”Why US will not help the Philippines:

Clintons to Aquinos: “Mutual in Mutual Defense Treaty means BOTH ways, not just one-way.”

State Secretary Hillary Clinton told the Philippines the US is taking a “neutral” position on the current China / Philippines head butting contest but “will sell the Philippines arms to upgrade its defense capabilities”. In diplomat-speak, that means, “Here’s a paddle. Start paddling, buddy. Stop bothering me”.

I hope Defense Sec. Gazmin and Foreign Affairs Sec. Del Rosario got to visit their relatives in America and got to buy plenty of Chinese-made Nikes because those are the only things they will get out of Washington these days. The Philippines is like the Octomom – its relevance and market value to America just isn’t worth as much as it used to be anymore. Gazmin and Del Rosario did not have a “Chinaman’s chance” (pun intended) of getting Pres. Obama to commit sending the mighty US 7th Fleet steaming into the South China Sea (or West Philippine Sea, or Southwest Caloocan Ocean, or Northwest Charice Pempengco Beach, or whatever silly, presumably patriotic name they are calling it this week).

We had the snub coming

No one should be shocked at being snubbed by Obama. Apart from him being busy trying desperately to keep his job, his rejection of Pres. Benigno “Pnoy” Aquino III’s 9-1-1 call had been forthcoming for the past 20 years.

When the Philippine Senate voted in September 1991 to eject Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base, they practically put up a giant sign with klieg lights proclaiming to the world, “Welcome to the Philippines. We are rich in natural resources. Our people are educated, skilled, hard-working and are English speakers. We are strategically located as the Gateway to Asia. And oh, by the way, we just kicked out the powerful American military – the only ones with enough fire power and juevos to DEFEND us. Well, we HAVE juevos – but you may as well fry them for ‘tapsilog’ as our enemies will eat us for breakfast since we are totally WEAPONLESS now. Helpless as naked toddlers, really. So, please, have your military do target practice on our hapless, token, paddle boat- equipped Navy and the museum-vintage, propeller-driven bi-planes of our Air Force. Come and enjoy our beaches – after you invade us, of course! – Dept of Tourism”

What surprises me more is that it took 20 years for anyone to even hassle the Philippines. We basically have had our pants around our ankles since November 1992 when the last American forces left! Don’t get me wrong. It gives me no pleasure pondering the prospect of the BRP (Burp? As in sinking?) Gregorio del Pilar being pulverized into fish food by powerful Chinese warships, much like the HMS Thunderchild was melted into worthless goop by the heat-rays of Martian fighting machines in HG Welles’s War of the Worlds. (No. Not the Tom Cruise movie. That was pure rubbish. The classic 1898 novel).

And the fact that the Philippines even wasted money sending people to beg the White House for support – was mind-boggling. WHY? America had been waiting all this time for PHI to realize the folly of its ways since 1991. I saw this a long time coming, myself. So, at the risk of sounding arrogant saying I told you so, I TOLD YOU SO!

Reasons why America will NOT help the Philippines

One only needs to look at events from the point of view of US administrations – both Democratic and Republican – to understand the recent ‘diplomatic GTFO’ Hillary just gave Del Rosario and Gazmin.

America had always come to the rescue of the Philippines in recent history. Yet, the Philippines had often betrayed Uncle Sam. And now it is time for Manila to ‘pay the piper’.

When Mutual Defense is not mutual for the Aquinos, Arroyo

So, for those with early-onset “Political Alzheimers”, or those too young to know, allow me:

1980 - Marcos had already imprisoned Ninoy Aquino for seven years. Pres. Carter lobbied the then-dictator to permit Ninoy medical treatment in America with his family. Aquino was not only treated but, in exile, was able to organize the Philippine Opposition from Boston for the next three years, protected by America from Marcos’s reach.

1986 – Defense Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile and Lt. Col. Gregorio Honasan plotted against Marcos. This, coupled with Ninoy’s assassination in 1983, ignited the People Power revolution. Marcos was in a quandary, remain in power “by all costs”, or relinquish grip quietly without bloodshed? Again, the US – through Pres. Reagan, this time – helped Enrile, Honasan, the Aquinos and averted the potential slaughter of many Filipino lives by pressuring Marcos into exile in Hawaii. This allowed for Cory Aquino to become President.

1989 - Now-Col. Honasan led 3,000 mutineers, including elite Philippine Scout Rangers and Marines, in a coup attempt against Pres. Cory. Rebel vintage T-28 trainer planes dive-bombed Camps Crame and Aguinaldo, Villamor Air Base, Fort Bonifacio, etc and Malacanang. Shaken but unhurt, Cory fired an S.O.S. Pres. George HW Bush (41), through advice of Defense Sec. Dick Cheney, immediately dispatched two Carrier Strike Groups from the fearsome US 7th Fleet (Pacific) to the Philippines. The armada consisted of two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, 4 Guided Missile Cruisers, 4 Anti-Aircraft warships, 4 submarine destroyers (or Frigates), supply ships, cruisers and others for a total of close to 40 warships, more than 150 fighter bomber jets, radar jammers, reconnaissance planes, AWACS, and helicopter attack and gunships, and a classified number of nuclear-powered Ballistic and conventional “fast attack” submarines.

The legendary USS Enterprise launched Operation Classic Resolve, in conjunction with the USAF’s Vietnam War-hardened 5th Tactical Fighter Wing already stationed at Clark Air Base in Angeles, Pampanga – Pres. Cory’s hometown. On Dec 1, 1989, US F-4 Phantom fighter-bombers from Clark buzzed PAF rebel planes with orders to shoot them down if they engage. Quickly, the rebellion was suppressed and security restored. F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet fighter-bombers from the carriers off Manila Bay – together with 100 combat-ready US Marines on the ground – continued to protect the US Embassy, Malacanang, and vital power and water installations around the country from further dive-bombing by the insurgents.

1991 - For 14 gruelling months, the US and the Philippines were in heated deadlock regarding the future of Subic, the largest US naval base, and Clark, the largest Air Force base outside the mainland. The Communists and a handful of Philippine senators wanted the bases out. The US wanted to stay to keep protecting the Philippines and US interests. This time, the US asked support from Cory, politely reminding her of past US diplomatic goodwill towards the Philippines, in general, and her family, in particular, such as: Carter granting them exile from Marcos in Boston; Reagan pressuring Marcos out (allowing her to become president); and the elder Bush saving her presidency and possibly her’s and her family’s lives with overwhelming and expedient US military firepower from Clark, Subic and the Pacific Fleet.

Sadly, despite these – including numerous disaster rescue assistance and other past favors from Uncle Sugar, and her campaigning for the bases, she still let America down – the bases were ejected during her watch.

More embarrassing is that one of the senators who closed Clark and Subic is Cory’s brother-in-law – Sen. Agapito “Butz” Aquino – Ninoy’s brother and Pres. Benigno “Pnoy” Aquino III’s uncle! What gratitude!

2004 – Pres. George W. Bush (43) assembled a Coalition of the Willing for Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2011). Bush was initially fond of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is a child of a former president, just like Dubya. However, despite repeated requests from Washington to keep a Philippine presence in Baghdad as a symbol of solidarity with America, Arroyo caved to local leftist pressure and withdrew the 51-man Philippine Contingent – a move that greatly disappointed the younger Bush. To add insult to injury, this snub of America by GMA was publicly and loudly celebrated by detained former President Joseph Estrada who – as a senator in 1991 – went against Dubya’s father by ejecting the bases, then – as President in 2000 – unabashedly begged Pres. Clinton for economic assistance, like nothing happened.

Payback’s a (rhymes with itch)

2012 - Well, fast forward to today. The world has come full-circle. The current US Secretary of State – and basically, in-charge of international rescue operations – is now Hillary Clinton, and the President of the Philippines is now “Pnoy” Aquino, Cory’s son. Hillary must have recalled that it was just before her husband Bill’s first term as President that the Philippines arrogantly told America, “Take your military (Clark and Subic) and shove it”.

The Philippines may have the Mutual Defense Treaty in hand. But US administrations – Republican or Democratic – do not easily forgive – nor forget– supposed allies that betray them. So, today – specially with China being America’s foremost business partner – it is laughable for the Philippines to expect the White House to even lift a finger in the Scarborough affair. America could not count on PHI, so – as Hillary probably sees it – Manila can just “talk to the proverbial hand”.

Washington just does not give a spit anymore. You want a divorce? You want me to LEAVE? Ya got it. Don’t call me up in the middle of the night when an intruder breaks in at your apartment. .

“Mutual in Mutual Defense Treaty means BOTH ways, not just one-way� | Global Balita

[Monseratto]

Nice read. Reap what you sow...

[pop3corn]

oh shucks! did the clintons and the obamas wrote that? ayan na, war in this region is looming. we will be like Kuwait. sa una we will be under attack until such time na medyo pulverized na tayo to elicit world sympathy from the superpowers. we are officially collateral damage for this decade's war front. after the cold war (1989), then gulf war, then war on terror, then the asian war. kailangan na kasi ang war dito coz nandito ang talaga ang pera sa region natin. hoarded by all asians from europe and usa.



or we can just bow down to China and become it's 51st province of whatever hehe

[chua_riwap]

....or we can just bow down to China and become it's 51st province of whatever hehe

OB, maging chinese citizen na tayo?

[miked]

may nabasa ako last time na yung spratlys was occupied by the chinese before and then nilagyan ni Marcos ng mga Marines (halos 1 battalion). that time eh tag-hirap din ang China gaya sa Pinas ngayon...dun na kinonsider as a Philippine territory "by occupation" as per international law (daw). the times are changing!

[Monseratto]

Don't worry OB, you may get what you wish for... Almost two years na and wala pa tayong Ambassador to China. Charge d'affairs lang ng Philippine Embassy parating sinermon... Big stick diplomacy gusto ng China.

By Bloomberg News - May 8, 2012 6:12 PM GMT+0800 .

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying summoned a Beijing-based Philippine diplomat over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea, telling the envoy that the Philippines is escalating the issue.

“I have summoned you twice last month, urging the Philippines to calm down, and to stop any actions that will expand and complicate the issues,” Fu told the Philippine charge d’affairs, according to a statement on the Foreign Ministry website dated yesterday. “But it’s obvious that the Philippines hasn’t realized they are committing a serious mistake.”

“The Chinese side has also made all preparations to respond to any escalation of the situation by the Philippine side,” Fu told the charge d’affairs, whom the Xinhua News Agency identified as Alex Chua.

The Philippines has sought arbitration at the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei reiterated what he called China’s “indisputable sovereignty” over the island during a daily briefing today.

“Whatever the Philippine side says or does about Huangyan island, it will not change the fact that Huangyan island belongs to China,” Hong said.

[timrev]

sana kasi makapagpatayo ng airport, infrastructure sa spartlys island at base sa sa scarbourough shoal...maglagay sana sila tauhan natin dun damihan nila...palagyan natin natin ng resorts sa spartlys hehehehe at sana soon maipatayo na oil refinery natin sa sparlys island..

[barako ba ma]

hehehe we always had too much pride. pride cheeken, pride rice, pride fish. now what the country can do is pull the pants down and bend over in front of the chinese proudly