China Flexes Muscles in the South China Sea

Good analysis by NIGHTWATCH of some events taking place in the South China Sea.

Philippines-China: The Philippine military on 2 March sent two military aircraft to patrol the ocean and air space near Reed Bank, a long time Philippine-occupied territory in the South China Sea. The Philippines took the action in response to the behavior of two Chinese patrol boats which harassed a Philippine ship searching for oil, according to Philippine military commander Lieutenant General Juancho Sabban.

A Philippine OV-10 aircraft and an Islander light patrol aircraft were deployed after the incident was reported, Sablan said. The Chinese boats appeared ready to ram the Philippine vessel on two occasions before turning away, a military official said. No warning shots were fired and the ships later left, officials said. A Philippine navy patrol vessel was sent to secure oil exploration activities at the Reed Bank, and the Chinese Embassy would not immediately respond to Philippine requests for an explanation.

Comment: The significance of this incident is that it shows that China intends to assert its claims to sovereignty of the South China Sea to the shores of the Philippines. Incidents involving the Japanese are neither unique nor isolated. Ship ramming appears to be an approved Chinese tactic.

Prior to this incident, the Japanese complaints about Chinese behavior appeared anecdotal, idiosyncratic and racial. This incident shows the Chinese claim everything in the South China Sea, regardless of race, color, creed or national sovereignty.

The AP has an article on the initial incident. The Philippines Star reports there was a protest, and China has not responded to the protest in a very productive way, by namely claiming the area as their territory.

As if pushing around the Philippines in the South China Sea was just an appetizer, today Hanoi filed a protest regarding a Chinese naval exercises in their maritime territory.

2011 is starting in much the same way 2010 did, with China pushing their neighbors around over territorial claims. This did many good things for US relations in the region in 2010, and with more of this it is sure to do good things for US relations with the region in 2011 as well.