Related story:US protests ‘harrassment’of Chinese vessels in South China Sea
By Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Wednesday the Philippine Archipelagic Baseline law that excludes the disputed Kalayaan Island Group and Scarborough Shoal from the archipelagic baseline. The new law, Republic Act 9522, instead classifies them as “regimes of islands.” (Download a copy of RA 9522)
A regime of islands is defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as islands or naturally formed areas of land surrounded by water that remain above water during high tide.
The enactment of the law immediately drew “strong opposition and solemn protest” from China.
Please click here (VERA Files) for the complete article.
Huh, si Trillanes lang ang consistent at persistent sa laban!
Sell out talaga ang final version ng Baseline bill kung classified na regime of islands lang ang Kalayaan at Scarborough Shoal at hindi kasama sa ating archipelagic baseline. Sa madaling salita, hindi sila atin!
Mabuhay ka Sonny!
The People’s Republic of China can still occupy and exploit its minerals resources in the South China Sea’s disputed territories with or without Philippine Archipelagic Baseline law. She can bully small claimant-nations with her naval and economic power. Lately, a Chinese intelligence ship and other vessels surrounded the USNS Impeccable, an unarmed vessel with a civilian merchant marine crew, as the craft conducted ocean surveys in international waters in the South China Sea.
The Senate and House approval of the baselines of the country’s territorial boundaries in the archipelagic baselines bill is a prudent decision. It’s amazing that Ate Glue, for once, did something good for the nation. Had she vetoed or sat on the bill, we could have lost some rights under UNCLOS. My take is based on prevailing geopolitics: The China Sea potential conflicts is policed by the U.S. Navy, but Obama and Democrats are pacifists. Besides, GMA is not favored by the Dems (she was snubbed thrice by Obama). We are in no position to challenge anyone on the Spratlys claim, not Malaysia, not even Brunei, certainly not China. If there’s oil under those sandbars, we can jointly develop the area with the other claimants, but not during a GMA regime, as there is no telling what she will give away.
The best thing that we can do to remove any outrageous claim of China is to change its map. Lets ask China to include us in its map.
Kaninong regime of islands ang Marianas? Atin siguro yon dahil lahat ay maganak natin ang nadoon panahon pa ni Mabini.
Filipino soldiers among us, GMA is giving away our islands as she has been giving away Sabah, our agricultural lands, our information technology national network, our electric power resources and our military secrets and assets to foreigners.
She has been holding so much monetary power, and was able to manipulate the election and congress to facilitate her way to hold presidential powers. Now that she has stolen presidential powers, she has now been stealing away our assets and giving them to foreigners.
What are we doing now? What are we waiting? What do we see in this situation? Political issues? Constitutional issues? Our elder warriors like Gen Ricarte, Gen Luna, Gen Lukban or Gen Sakay fought and died to recover our nation from the American invaders and all foreigner opportunists. They are our heroes. They are the roots of our nation. They are the reason why we are Filipinos. Their blood is the cause of why we Filipinos of this generation are brothers. They are the tradition of our Filipino soldiers. They are, the Filipino warrior tradition.
What then are we here for if we are not defending the sovereignty of our nation?
I’ve posted the link on the Associated Press story of US protest against the harrassment of Chinese in South China Sea.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090309/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_china_incident
I think the US will not engage in this disputes of Kalayaan Island Group and Scarborough Shoal between the Philippines and China. The US neutrality in this dispute is consistent with it’s policy of supporting the SEA (Southeast Asia) countries effort to stand on their own feet and not to depend on USA for as long the conflict does not endanger freedom of navigation and no American lives or interest are directly involve. US will not issue calls for the need of settlement and will give moral or power support to the Philippines to stop the intrusion of Chinese.
At one point during the incident Sunday the unarmed USNS Impeccable turned fire hoses on an approaching Chinese ship in self defense, the Pentagon said.
Ano ba iyan birthday ni San Juan Bautista.Hahahahahaha!
I like the Chinese response to being hosed. It shows tenacity.
It also shows amazing restraint, They outnumbered the American Ship 5 to one, surely they could have won a water fight, had they chosen to escalate to a full water battle.Man your water balloons and super soakers, man the hoses, bucket brigade form up!This degree of restraint actually encourages me that there is hope for humanity.
Good way to show you have style China!
China’s answer on US protest,China reiterated that a U.S. navy vessel, which conducted activities in China’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, violated the international and Chinese laws.China has lodged a solemn representation to the United States as the USNS Impeccable conducted activities in China’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea without China’s permission,
Naloko na,hindi na bahag ang buntot ng mga singkit sa matatangos ang ilong.Ano pa kaya kung pango ka?
pareng cocoy,
dagdagan natin.
pango ka na nga, bansot pa. bukod sa roon ay baong ka sa utang at nasusuhulan, kagugulatan ka ba?
ano’ng ipanlalaban mo? batuhan ng garapata?
Know this – China’s greed has no bounds. Take the case of Tibet and its people. China will not hesitate to use brute force to get what it wants even if its as far as the Kalayaan group of islands (KIG). The greed of China is only matched by the greed of GMA. Both greedy ones feed on each other, hence GMA has surrendered to China a lot of concession to the disadvantage of the Philippines. In return GMA has lined her pockets with lots of ill-gotten wealth courtesy of China. The bully China can with ease grind us to a pulp till we virtually give up our claim to the KIG. China for sure won’t relent in its claim of the KIG if it where only the Philippines fighting for its claims. Without the support of other countries especially the U.S., the Philippines will lose the KIG. This is not a pessimistic view. It is a reality view what with the kind of people running our government.
kinakabahan ako dito sa china… wala akong tiwala… pagtinoyo leader nito, kayang kaya tayong kainin ng buo!
China is a real threat to the global peace! nagpapalakas ng military forces… walang binatbat issue sa north korea at mga war sa middle east… yan ang tingin kong dahilan ng mga US surveillance and war games sa southeast asian countries and teritories…
China is testing Obama, like it did when GW Bush was freshly-sworn to his office. Remember the F16 that was forced to land in China? It was a diplomatic nightmare and dragged on dangerously for weeks. China held all the cards.
Maraming utang ang US ngayon sa China kaya mayabang ang China ngayon.
kailan matitigil kayabangan ng China? tuloy tuloy na to, hanggat may Globalization, maraming bansa o lahat ng bansa umaasa sa China… khit sinong bansa kaya nilang duruin, brasuhin, takutin… ginagawa na nga nila eh!
The Philippine Archipelagic Baseline law will most likely be accepted by the western dominated UN where the US rules over. US oil reserves is estimated to deplete in 8 years. One of its priorities is to look for oil in every corner of the globe including the Spratlys, and the Philippines is one country that can open its door to these oil rich islands.
Conversely, China whose oil reserves is estimated to be depleted in 10 years is likewise eyeing to explore oil in the Spratlys.
Lately, the US is notably moving to oust GMA since he has been too friendly with China. It started with the WB – DPWH bid rigging and followed by the State Department alleging GMA of corruption, human rights violations, illegal drugs and etc. The US needs a more US friendly Philippine President. One who will pave way to the likings of the US, e.g., oil in the Spratlys and in Mindanao, establishment of US military base, more business for WB G7 countries, and etc.
Even while the US has nurtured an economic alliance with China (simultaneously engaging and containing the emerging superpower), it has continuously supported Philippine defense programs with military and intelligence aid and training, and a variety of diplomatic measures aimed at sending a “strong message” to Beijing. The message sent by the current US intervention, and the Operation Balikatan-related military buildup has no doubt registered in Beijing.
The total potential of the Spratly and Paracel Islands run as high as 213 billion barrels. Saudi Arabia, has the largest oil deposit in the world at 267 billion brrels.
Put it this way, these two folks playing cards and the filipino gambler can see that the chinese has an extra card up his sleeve but he can’t do nothing, someone holding a nanchaku standing behind him…with so much outstanding loan with China, when time to make a call, I’m not sure if the Philippines Authorities will just either fold or go for it and take a beating…
Hillary has even sacrificed Dems policy on human rights when she said that China’s human rights issues will have to be set aside while she ‘begged’ for China to buy more US treasury that caused a roar from the international human rights groups.
Ha! Uncle Sam is now tiptoeng so as not to hurt China, baka hindi na siya pautangin.
On the forefront, Gloria is very much ahead on the China game seeling out to China the Kalayaan Island Group and the Scaborough Shoal. No doubt, when worse comes to worst, Gloria will even take the beating….
Noong bata pa si Sabel..China was known as the Sleeping Giant..ngayon nagising na at hindi ako magtataka kung bilhin nila ang buong mundo..ang balita ko dito sa North East marami ng mga Chinese investors buying foreclosed houses..sila ang may pera..and today money talks and How! How Long is a Chinese man.
..noong araw..you will find clothes with labels..Made in the Philippines; Made in India..etc. ngayon wala na..halos lahat ay Made in China..kahit na ata si Barbie ay sa China na lumipat ng tirahan…wala ng Made In Japan or Made in USA..the Sleeping Giant has indeed awaken and How!
Between China and the United States. When all things are considered, China has a long way to go before it can catch up to the U.S. in order to become a world hegemon. However, when all things are considered, China still has great potential to become the hegemon of Asia, especially South East Asia where countries are weak economically and militarily.
China is relatively weak when compared to the U.S. is still overwhelming strength when compared to any of the other Southeast Asian countries. It is for this very reason that while ASEAN countries must be willing to cooperate with China economically, they must also form a strong union in order to counter against China’s charm offensive which may literally result in their lands and waters being taken out beneath their feet, as in the case of the Spratly islands dispute, as well as in the Paracel archipelago which China took from Vietnam by force in 1974. The good news is that China is not as strong as it’s been made out to be. But the bad news is, it’s still strong enough to control the South China Sea, which it is well on the way of doing.
Tama ng duda ko noon pa. Matagal na naming alam na ginawa nang collateral ni Gloria Dorobo ang Pilipinas nang unang mangutang siya sa Tsina. Maski nga mga hapon kinabahan sa mga magiging epekto ng ginawa ni Dorobo. Sa totoo lang, iyong asawa ko mismo ang nagturo sa akin ng ginawang kabalbalan ng bobong nagdudunung-dunungan. Taragis, may kumontra pa nga sa akin when I mentioned it in some blog e ang intensyon ko lang naman ay maki-share ng alam ko. O loko, binebenta na ang bansa nila, tuod pa rin ang mga tanga!!!
Sabi nga ng isang cartoon character sa kung ano bang pelikula iyon? “I give up!”
Tangnanay nila! Sinabing patalsikin na, ngayon na, maghintay na lang daw ng 2010! Susmaryosep!
Tongue: China held all the cards.
*****
Sinabi mo pa. Hindi na puedeng magmataas ang mga kano as a matter of fact. CNN just recently reported that China has made a provision that it will have control of all US finances or something of the sort if the US fails to meet its financial obligations to China. Kawawang mundo pag nagkataon!
Sabi nga ng mga intsik, all the islands, including the Philippines and the Marianas, situated within the seas bearing the name “China,” actually belong to China.
Buti na lang naisahan sila ng mga hapon when the Japanese named the body of water between China/Korea and Japan as “Japan Sea.”
Delikado ang Pilipinas because it is within the South China Sea! 😛
Lagot pa iyan pag naghalughog ng archives nila ang mga intsik at bigyan diin ang isang historical fact that once upon a time in fact, Luzon was a vassal state of China. Iyong pangalan ng isla nga in fact has some Chinese tint. Ni hao! 😛
I am just doing a follow up google research on cocoy’s Paracel group of islands. The situation between Paracel and Spratly group of islands are eerily the same.
http://www.mevietnam.org/lanhtho-lanhhai/feer-dispute.html
Paracel was owned by the whole Vietnam. It not owned by the North Vietnam alone or South Vietnam alone.
The leader of North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, wants to invade South Vietnam. To do that, he needs colossal aids from Beijing. This Ho Chi Minh was so indebted to China so he acquiesced to China’s invasion of Paracel.
Ho Chi Minh did not even sign any document giving the Paracel to China. He merely issued a statement through an intermediary that his government recognizes and supports the invasion of China on Paracel.
How much more Spratly Islands? That bansot and fatboy pidal personally received billions of dollars from China? All China has to do is to invade or forcefully occupy Spratly Islands just like what they did to Paracel since North Vietnam has a colossal debt to China.
Take note that China’s aircraft carrier is coming very soon.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h7i1so3EPxByMVNR-a9JPNeiB6vwD96OGIA80
So far I havent found anything that sez all good men of he U.S. would come to the aid of a ravished Philippines, not even on any toilet paper. And lets forget we were praying for our soldiers even to come to our aid. Its just that they are not capable. They cannot carry out functions under two constitutions at the same time, the written one and the unwritten which Reyes followed.
Take note that China’s aircraft carrier is coming very soon.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h7i1so3EPxByMVNR-a9JPNeiB6vwD96OGIA80——-etcetera
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China could be a threat to it neighboring countries and the Philippines but not to the United States or get a world dominance power.China’s unprecedented industrial growth over the last two decades has raised the question of whether it now poses a threat to the security of the United States economically, militarily, or both. Economically, the extent to which China truly threatens the US depends at least in part on the chauvinistic assumption that any potential challenge to absolute US global economic dominance is threatening.
On the military question, the answer is much clearer. China is not a military threat to the US. Only those who believe that Fu Manchu is alive and well in the Middle Kingdom and fulfilling his dreams of world domination through a large and aggressive army, air force, and navy still subscribe to a notion that China poses a global military threat.
China’s weakest link is naval. It has no blue ocean navy, and it is difficult to imagine how it could dream of building one. Of the 21 large aircraft carriers operational in the world right now, 12 are American, with a total landing space of 75 acres. The carriers belonging to the rest of the world have 15 acres altogether. None of the other aircraft carriers belongs to China. So, the score is rather lopsided on the naval front: the United States 12, China 0.
The picture is similar for submarines. China will be a more formidable adversary than Russia ever was. The Chinese are investing in both diesel-powered and nuclear-powered submarines – a clear signal that they intend not only to protect their coasts but also to expand their influence far out into the Pacific.
In the first place, the Chinese might have a hard time expanding their influence far out into the Pacific because so many US soldiers, sailors, marines, and air force personnel are already stationed in the region. There are 18,000 troops stationed in Alaska, 60,000 in Hawaii, 37,000 in Japan, 5,000 on Guam, and 30,000 in South Korea. Again, the Chinese number is zero. The United States has over 700 military installations outside its borders overall, while the Chinese have none at present.
The fact that the Chinese already have 55 submarines, and have a few more under construction. But 50 of these are diesel-powered and hence must surface or near-surface every few days to take in oxygen. This makes them more vulnerable to detection and destruction (by US reconnaissance satellites and missile launchers) than nuclear submarines. Although formidable vessels, these diesel submarines are in the end not even a secure defense against the highly sophisticated technology of the world’s sole superpower, let alone a military threat to it. Strictly in terms of deterrence, then, it is unsurprising that the Chinese would like more nuclear-powered submarines than the five that are currently operational for protecting their shores.
If we are talking naval warfare then there is a strong basis of truth in what Cocoy says. The numbers are correct. If one can envisage a naval war between the USA and China then put your money on the USA.
BUT for me this is inconceivable in the modern world. China has enough force to allow her to go anywhere she wants in the world and also enough force (naval, air force, space and soldiers) to protect her ships, trade and interests against all comers, except perhaps the USA, although I am not even sure about this last point bearing in mind the status of the Middle East. (They already “control” a great deal of “saveable” regions in Africa in terms of economics and are also present in South America, eg., Amazon…)
The challenge to the USA from China is economic. China’s trade with the USA is enormous and any disruption will have a very major effect on life in the US of A. China’s ownership of US$ deposits is vast and any serious selling would break the greenback.
She does not need aircraft carriers to “combat” the USA and assert her right to be a serious player in the world.
But the Chinese have already landed.
China’s navy is weaker than the US. But the Chinese are known to be secretive. They may have some of the things hidden that other countries don’t have. That’s the reason why a US surveillance ship was confronted recently. When one has the power, you don’t just show it. In any battle, it’s sometimes won by surprise. Why should you let your enemy know what you have?
AdeBrux made a very good point by saying that the US has stationed many of her soldiers around the world ready for combat on a short notice while China has zero. That only shows the control the US wants over other countries. Is it to protect the countries where her soldiers are based or for Uncle Sam’s protection and interest alone? China was more a a victim in the past than being the aggressor. It’s for this reason that China is not militarily active in other countries. However, China has already invaded most of the counties economically. Which is better? To have control militarily or economically? I say both. The US uses military more than economy because she makes money out of wars. America has large surplus of military hardware and weapons. She makes money by selling them to countries that are now at war. Quite often, America instigates and encourages wars for business. And that’s a fact.
Take note that China’s aircraft carrier is coming very soon.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h7i1so3EPxByMVNR-a9JPNeiB6vwD96OGIA80
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The author of the above piece ( the above link) does not even claim that by building ONE aircraft carrier will dominate the world, militarily.
The Chinese is looking at it – the chinese built, one aircraft carrier – as a symbol of national strength.
So, What is the purpose of building of ONE Chinese air carrier?
Strategically, a carrier is seen mainly as a deterrent to U.S. intervention in a conflict over Taiwan, although Chinese experts say it would mainly serve to police the 1.16 million square miles (3 million square kilometers) of sea claimed by Beijing as its maritime territory.
A carrier would also provide vital air cover in the event of a conflict farther from China’s shores, either in the South China Sea, where it has feuding territorial claims with other nations, or in the crucial sea lanes of the Indian Ocean.
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Let’s go back to Paracel group of islands. The North Vietnamese leader, Ho Chi Minh – who is not even the leader of the whole Vietnam at the time, was in a colossal debt from the Chinese, in exchange the Chinese invaded Paracel islands. Ho Chi Minh did not even sign any document to give away the Paracel islands, he just issued a statement through a third party, supporting the illegitimate claims of Chinese.
As I stated before, that bansot and fatboy pidal received billion of dollars from Chinese. What the Chinese did to Paracel can be easily duplicated to Spratly islands. With ONE aircraft Chinese carrier coming very soon, it will be easier for them to invade Spratly. The Chinese can even invade Spratly right now without aircraft carrier but it will be easier of course with having ONE.
I’m waiting for news, in fact, re Obama’s reaction to this harrassment. I wonder if he will be strong enough to do a Kennedy, not like what Bush did, not really bowing to but worse, cajoling the Chinese when they did a similar act.
Yuko,
I don’t really think Obama should get involved or say anything.
These things happen more often than you realise — American vessels do the same thing once in a while. Anyway, we don’t know if USNS Impeccable came in too close to something Chinese.
Besides, Obama has got a Sec of State to protest Chinese action if it really comes down to that. It’s likely that a note verbale has left State Dept for all we know.
Anna:
I have my reservations regarding the appointment of Hilary Clinton to the State Department. Sure, the Chinese and the Japanese, for instance, may try to be courteous in dealing with her, but let’s face it, these are cultures that are basically male chauvinists! 😛
I still think Obama should do a Kennedy.
Are you referring to the Bay of Pigs incident?
But why? Do you realise how many lives were lost in that business? And for what? I
This USNS Impeccable insicent is not at all like the Cuban missile crisis in the first place — and even during that very volatile business, diplomacy won the day for Kennedy, so why should Obama get involved.
Tough on the Japanese and on the Chinese if they are basically male chauvinists (and I believe they can be, similar to countless male iddle Easterners) — they had better learn to adjust now.
Whether they like it or not, they’ve got to contend with a female Sec of State and there’s nothing, nada, zilch, nul, etc., they can do about it.
I also know that they can be quite colour xenophobes (vis-a-vis blacks) but like everyone else, they have to learn to swallow their “prejudices” because they will be dealing with a coloured US president whether they like it or not. Tough!
OOoops, …. “similar to countless male Middle Easterners”
I know the Chinese think of their country as the center of the universe, and still think that Chinese should marry only Chinese so as not to contaminate their race, but as for the Japanese being discriminatory to blacks, this is no longer true. In fact, children are taught not to use discriminatory terms as “kurombo” (nigger), etc., and you should see the number of Japanese women now getting married to Nigerians, and other natives of Africa.
But discrimination against women, Anna, is definitely not yet a thing of the past. Yes, I agree, these male chauvinists should change, but not now, not yet!
I guess Russian men are the same. Just look at how Hilary was made to look like an idiot there recently! 😛
Yes, Anna, I was referring to how Kennedy dealt with that incident known as the “La Batalla de Girón in Cuba” that though it may differ in appearance from the Chinese harrassment of a US naval ship, it surely created a diplomatic friction between the US and Cuba because there was the actual invasion of the beach in Giron.
For me, the harrassment of the US naval ship is no different with the Chinese actually kind of taunting and challenging the Americans to a fight. Sure, they can file complaints, etc. through diplomacy, but I’d rather want to see the Americans showing their usual guts than act like the lame ducks Bush have made of them, even make them look at the mercy of the Chinese economically speaking.
On the other hand, at least, Kennedy had a definite and sure excuse with Cuba at US border. It cannot say the same regarding US naval activity in what the Chinese claim as their own sea.
Yuko,
One thing you must remember is that Kennedy went nationwhide broadcast fter the Bay of Pigs fiasco and apologised, in other words, it was a total failure.
Why should Obama risk somethig like that? And for what? You do that sort of thing when you are sure you win hands down. There will be other occasions and other incidents — I have every bit of confidence that America will know what to do next time around. And when that time comes, they will do it right!!!
But I understand where you are coming from — “For me, the harrassment of the US naval ship is no different with the Chinese actually kind of taunting and challenging the Americans to a fight.” — but think of it this way, did the Chinese succeed? No! They simply showed how stupidly childish they were.
Easy to provoke an armed clash but one must think of the end game; the objective is to succeed, not to fail. (See where un-thought of and ill-preparedness illegal war on Iraq got Bush and the Republicans?)
In geopolitical powerplay in that region of the world, America cannot afford to react with its biceps; America must think and act not only tactically but also strategically. Success is the name of the game.
Let the Chinese froth at the mouth for all we care! Let them wallow in their own miserable froth… My advice is, don’t let it bother you.
I wonder if you guys see the connection between the extradition of Mancao and Obama’s phone call to the Evil Bitch regarding the VFA agreement. It looks like a give and take deal.
BE,
Who is Mancao?
Mancao is the guy from Macao…ooops. He’s among the three former Lacson aides now in the US, prime suspects in the murder of PR executive Dacer and his driver Corbito. The three police officers were under then PNP Chief Ping Lacson. Mancao is returning next week to act as state witness against those who masterminded the killing. The timing is suspicious…since Lacson and Erap are both strong contenders for the 2010 presidency.
Si Mang Cow asawa ni Aleng Dog. Anak nila si Totoy Horse, Junior Piglet, at Neneng Worm. Nakatira sila sa Zoo ng Enchanted Kingdom.
Mang Cow…he, he…that’s a good one. When he arrives at the airport, a rope would be placed on his nose and the NBI agents would pull him to wherever they want him to be.
Thanks Be.
That was a truly funny identification of the man, Tongue! Hihihih!