MwRYum
Major
Think the Chinese can rebut the Philippines about all the cases that the latter detain Chinese fishermen...
South China Sea dispute
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Think the Chinese can rebut the Philippines about all the cases that the latter detain Chinese fishermen...
Geographer
Junior Member
I have a long-standing interest in the Spratly Islands dispute and try to stay on top of the latest news. The overwhelming majority of English-language news regarding the Spratly Islands, that which shows up on a Google news search, is from the Philippines. The Philippines seems to be the most active and most interested in the Spratly Islands of all the claimants. I read many op-eds encouraging Manila to do more, to take the dispute international, to stand up to China, and always worrying about China. After the Philippines is Vietnam in level of media coverage. I barely hear a peep out of Chinese English newspapers about the Spratly Islands. I wonder why. Where are the Chinese nationalists going nuts about territorial infringement like the Vietnamese and Filipinos?
Here are some pictures of alleged Chinese forts in the Spratly Islands published on a Philippine online newspaper. They purport to be new photos but look similar to one that have been visible on Google Earth for years.
Here are some pictures of alleged Chinese forts in the Spratly Islands published on a Philippine online newspaper. They purport to be new photos but look similar to one that have been visible on Google Earth for years.
MwRYum
Major
I have a long-standing interest in the Spratly Islands dispute and try to stay on top of the latest news. The overwhelming majority of English-language news regarding the Spratly Islands, that which shows up on a Google news search, is from the Philippines. The Philippines seems to be the most active and most interested in the Spratly Islands of all the claimants. I read many op-eds encouraging Manila to do more, to take the dispute international, to stand up to China, and always worrying about China. After the Philippines is Vietnam in level of media coverage. I barely hear a peep out of Chinese English newspapers about the Spratly Islands. I wonder why. Where are the Chinese nationalists going nuts about territorial infringement like the Vietnamese and Filipinos?
Here are some pictures of alleged Chinese forts in the Spratly Islands published on a Philippine online newspaper. They purport to be new photos but look similar to one that have been visible on Google Earth for years.
The reasons for Philippines are quite obvious - just think about the mining rights, if the oil reserves purported all these years materialized it'd very well elevate Philippines from rags to riches, but their military is too feeble to be regarded as contender for the area.
Same for Vietnam, though back in the Soviet-backed days its navy grew into something better than the South Sea Fleet has but they always wary about China coming from the north...besides Hanoi isn't that far from the border, not far enough from the reach of 2nd Artillery's ballistic missiles.
So those 2 really lacks the military capital to go serious with China, they could only rely on China's self-restraint (so not to be aggressor in the world's opinion) to carve out from the pie bit by bit. While China still held true to that stand overall but changes come slowly, and with the South Sea Fleet truly modernize over the last decade and still ongoing they definitely feel the heat.
And right now their best bet is to get US intervene while it still cost US little to do so.
As for China's lack of "voice" in this matter...we all know China still officially avoiding "muscle flexing" and "tough talks", you'd hear far more nationalistic talks on the civilian front, though.
An article about Indonesia test-firing a Yakhont supersonic missile from one of its frigates:
The growth of naval capabilities in South East Asia will also crimp the style of the 7th Fleet. Remember how USS Stark was hit by a mere Exocet. When long range supersonic anti ship missiles have to be considered it will find it more difficult to interfere in the South China Sea.
The growth of naval capabilities in South East Asia will also crimp the style of the 7th Fleet. Remember how USS Stark was hit by a mere Exocet. When long range supersonic anti ship missiles have to be considered it will find it more difficult to interfere in the South China Sea.
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Spartan95
Junior Member
Here's a Youtube clip showing the firing:
[video=youtube;YKGg1faRuxU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKGg1faRuxU[/video]
Regarding the Spratlys dispute, some of the observations I have made are as follows:
1. The Philippines made a lot of noise in public media. This is probably a way of raising awareness of the issue since they do not have the military capability to do much. Their economy is also increasingly dependent on PRC's, which also limits what they can do politically.
2. Vietnam has actually been rather aggressive in recent years. They had a joint submission with Malaysia in 2009 to stake their claim officially to UN. And as the previous chairman of ASEAN, they used that opportunity to push their position at the official level between government-to-government interactions.
3. RoC has been rather silent on this issue following Ma's election as President. They are probably quite happy to let PRC do what needs to be done.
4. Malaysia had a joint submission with Vietnam. Beyond that, they haven't done too much since they probably don't want to sour relations with PRC. They also have other territorial disputes to think about, such as the oil and gas rich Ambalat bloc in East Kalimantan.
--- EDIT ---
Latest statement by PRC's Defence Minister to work for peace and stability in South China Seas:
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