China, Philippines locked in naval standoff

[Monseratto]

The Chinese could hold a party on the Shoal and all the PHL can do is watch.

MANILA, Philippines - The standoff at Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal entered its first month Tuesday with as many as 30 Chinese boats facing two Philippine vessels, the Armed Forces' Northern Luzon Command said.

In its report, the Nolcom said as of Sunday, among the Chinese vessels at Scarbrough were the surveillance vessels CMS 75 and 81 and the armed fisheries patrol vessel FLEC 310.

On the Philippine side are the Coast Guard vessel "Sarangani" and a Bureau of Fisheries ship.

[Monseratto]

Wise decision...

PH junks plan to buy 'ageing' F16s
09-May-12, 2:39 PM | Abigail Kwok, Interaksyon.com


MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines has abandoned plans to purchase “ageing” F16 fighter jets from the United States after deciding repairing and refurbishing the aircraft would cost too much.

“F16 is an ageing air asset that will be given to us. It’s mothballed and if you’re going to refurbish it, we have to evaluate because it will cost too much,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told a news briefing.

Even after refurbishing, he added, the jets would only have three to four years of flying time left.

“Lugi ka (You lose),” Gazmin said.

The defense chief said the fighter jets were not brought up during the 2+2 meeting with US officials in Washington.

However, the Philippine government has lined up the purchase of several air assets,
including 21 Vietnam War-vintage UH1H helicopters, 10 attack helicopters and two C130 cargo planes.

The Philippines is also expecting four additional SoKol choppers within the year.

[ghosthunter]

That's a new twist.... LOL!!!

China TV 'claims' Philippines as Chinese territory
May 9, 2012 2:32pm

Beijing — An anchor on China's state-run television network has accidentally declared the Philippines a part of China, in an embarrassing gaffe as tensions between the two nations run high.

He Jia, anchor for China Central Television's (CCTV) nationally televised news broadcast, made the claim during a late Monday broadcast that has been repeatedly replayed on the Internet.

The presenter apparently meant to say that the Huangyan islands – known in the Philippines as the Scarborough Shoal, and claimed by both nations – is China's territory.

"We all know that the Philippines is China's inherent territory and the Philippines belongs to Chinese sovereignty, this is an indisputable fact," He said in the broadcast, which has since disappeared from the CCTV website but is available elsewhere on the web.

Viewers joked in online postings that the presenter's nationalistic fervour led to her mistake.

"This anchor woman is great, a good patriot, she has announced to the world the the Philippines belongs to China," said a microblogger named helenjhuang.

"We should attack directly, send (Philippine President Benigno) Aquino packing and take back our inherent territory."

Another microblogger named kongdehua said, "the Philippines have basically been making irrational trouble, if they want to start a war then we will strike, no one fears them.

"If every Chinese spat once, we could drown (the Philippines)."

CCTV officials refused comment on He's gaff when contacted by AFP and would not say whether the station had apologised.

When commenting on territorial disputes and separatist movements in Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and neighbouring sea areas, Chinese diplomats and media routinely claim all such areas as an "indisputable part of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said late Monday Beijing was ready for "any escalation" of the maritime standoff with the Philippines that has become one of the most high-profile flare ups over the South China Seas and its vast oil and gas deposits in years. — AFP

source; China TV 'claims' Philippines as Chinese territory | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere

[Altis6453]

^ Not surprised by the news regarding the F-16s, although the remaining shelf life of the aircraft itself is questionable. 4 years? There are fighter jets a lot older than that which are still being flown today.

You really need money and political will to build up the competency of the PAF, particularly the training of its pilots, the ground/maintenance crew, the airbases that will host the fighter wings, then the planes and weapons. It's likely that any modernization effort will span the terms of at least three (3) presidents in order to get back to jet fighter capability.

[timrev]

pwede siguro nila iconsider yun russian figther jets mas mura kesa sa US made...kelangan din natin surveillance plane at drone aircraft!!!! prepare for battle...

[mykpogi]

padala natin si AiAi (aka Volta), at si Bong Revilla (aka Panday).. Halimaw nga napapatay nila, eh yung warships pa kaya?

[miso_honi]

the filipino communists' prayers have been answered. this time is for real and this time they're not going to be filipinos anymore

[renzo_d10]

Now China REALLY wants the island. They're showing force & throwing threats left & right.

[chua_riwap]

Now China REALLY wants the island. They're showing force & throwing threats left & right.

kawawa naman tayo.........:sad:

[yapoy86]

popcorn mode muna tayo mga pinoys... what are we gonna throw on them Chinese...

PH really never progressed after world war II, were stuck in mac arthur era...

[renzo_d10]

kawawa naman tayo.........:sad:

Sa Scarborough Shoal, it's now 11 against 2. And yet, China kept on insisting na tayo ang nagsshow ng aggression.

What they want? Those 2 non-modern boats that we have leave the area and let their fishermen do their thing. Or else, they are ready to engage in war if the situation requires such. Nagsasabi na nga sila na mag-ingat ang Chinese community dito.

I should have my passport and things prepared na pala if ever...

Goodluck Philippines :sad:

[marg]

kawawa naman tayo.........:sad:

Tell that to the 12 Senators who got rid of the US bases.

US is laughing at us right now. BWAHAHAHA!!!

[111prez]

time to send the squatters of silverio compound to panatag shoal

tignan natin kung hindi aatras ang china pag hinagisan na sila ng weapon of mass destruction, annoyance and smell ng mga iskwaters na yan

[rollyic]

Tell that to the 12 Senators who got rid of the US bases.

US is laughing at us right now. BWAHAHAHA!!!

meron po bang US bases sa Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore?
o may political will lang sila kaya may mga fighter planes, aircraft carrier, submarines, etc. sila?

[marg]

meron po bang US bases sa Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore?
o may political will lang sila kaya may mga fighter planes, aircraft carrier, submarines, etc. sila?

Marami kang hindi alam. May US Bases sa Singapore, right in the vicinity of Sentosa Island and near Changi airport.

The Singaporeans are smarter than Filipinos.

Dati hindi makalapit ang mga Chinese boats when the Americans were here. Now China has Permanent installations in Spratleys and are taking all the resources in Scarbotough.

All the Pinoys could do is watch.

[pop3corn]

padala na lang ng mga Generals and soldiers natin yun mga FX saka Edsa buses at jeepneys nila, sila naman mayari ng mga yan kaya hindi matanggal tanggal sa kalsada

[pop3corn]

Sa Scarborough Shoal, it's now 11 against 2. And yet, China kept on insisting na tayo ang nagsshow ng aggression.

What they want? Those 2 non-modern boats that we have leave the area and let their fishermen do their thing. Or else, they are ready to engage in war if the situation requires such. Nagsasabi na nga sila na mag-ingat ang Chinese community dito.

I should have my passport and things prepared na pala if ever...

Goodluck Philippines :sad:

that's weird. kung ako ng General ng China isang destroyer lng nila 2 match our inferior boats, bakit 11? something's happening in that region folks. and it's not what we are reading in the media.

[rollyic]

Marami kang hindi alam. May US Bases sa Singapore, right in the vicinity of Sentosa Island and near Changi airport.

The Singaporeans are smarter than Filipinos.

Dati hindi makalapit ang mga Chinese boats when the Americans were here. Now China has Permanent installations in Spratleys and are taking all the resources in Scarbotough.

All the Pinoys could do is watch.

ito po ba yung sinasabi nyo? Changi Naval Base - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

paki basa na lang po kung ano ang participation ng US dyan.

[Harangody]

OB, baka may entrance ng Hollow Earth sa Scarsborough kaya sobra sobra ang pinala ng China?

[marg]

ito po ba yung sinasabi nyo? Changi Naval Base - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

paki basa na lang po kung ano ang participation ng US dyan.

Marami ka ngang hindi alam. Hangang Wikipedia ka lang.

My American cousin is a US Air Force pilot stationed in Singapore. He has been assigned there since 2008.

The Americans know very well what China is doing to the DEFENSELESS Philippines