In 1999 the Philippine Marines ran this former U.S. Navy ship aground on a coral reef named Second Thomas Shoal within the South China Sea’s Spratly Islands archipelago. Essentially the ship acts as an ocean-going sport of squatter’s rights over the not-quite-island ‘maritime feature’, and the Philippines continues re-supplying the ailing ship and the seamen who dwell aboard. As of late, the Chinese Coast Guard has been making an attempt to intervene with these provide deliveries. If this dispute escalates additional might attract U.S. naval forces to direct battle with China in assist of long-time Pinoy strategic allies.
The boat, now dubbed the BRP Sierra Madre, began life because the USS Harnett County, serving in World War II and the Vietnam War earlier than transferring to the Republic of Vietnam Navy in 1970 because the RVNS My Tho. After transferring 3,000 Vietnamese refugees to Subic Bay within the Philippines throughout the fall of Saigon, the ship was then transferred to Philippine possession. Again the ship was renamed, first the BRP Dumagat, then the BRP Sierra Madre. From 1976 to 1999 it served as transport for the Philippine navy, earlier than being run aground.
China has been making an attempt to exert its may over the area for many years, going through opposition from not solely the Philippines, but additionally Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei. The dispute is basically in a state of diplomatic stalemate in the meanwhile, with not one of the international locations escalating to violence but. China has not too long ago been an aggressor within the area, constructing a navy airstrip out of the Fiery Cross Reef, dredging and relocating sufficient grime to create an enormous island with a large enough seaport to obtain tankers.
According to studies from the Philippines, China is making an attempt to get the nation to desert its declare on Second Thomas Shoal. In latest weeks it has attacked provide ships heading there with navy lasers and water canons. Over the weekend a Chinese coast guard ship collided with a Philippine resupply vessel. China’s objective, it appears, is to do what it will possibly to even stop repairs to the ailing 80-year-old ship. If the ship begins to disintegrate and decay additional, China will achieve management over the reef.
As reported by the Wall Street Journal the transfer might put stress on the U.S. to reply.
Any transfer by China to grab Second Thomas Shoal would put stress on the U.S. to again up its ally—not simply diplomatically but additionally militarily. That might carry the U.S. into direct battle with China, carrying large dangers for each powers. Beijing may see a window of alternative whereas the U.S. is preoccupied with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, safety analysts mentioned.
The U.S. response to developments within the South China Sea are underneath better scrutiny due to occasions in 2012 that scarred the alliance and brought about lasting nationwide trauma within the Philippines. That yr, after a weekslong standoff between Chinese and Philippine forces, China seized a coral atoll known as Scarborough Shoal. Officials in Manila mentioned later the U.S. hadn’t finished sufficient to help its ally, permitting Beijing to wrest management with few repercussions.
Thus far the U.S. response has been weak to non-existent. During the ramming occasion on Sunday, Navy destroyer USS Dewey was over the horizon “present, though keeping its distance.”
When requested concerning the land reclamation efforts by the Chinese, Fox News studies:
A U.S. navy spokesman mentioned Friday the land reclamation undertaking on Fiery Cross Reef is certainly one of a number of pursued by China however the first that might accommodate an airstrip.
“It appears that’s what they’re working towards,” Lt. Colonel Jeffery Pool instructed Agence France-Presse.
The U.S. opposes the Chinese land-grab and desires different governments to chorus from doing the identical.
“We urge China to stop its land reclamation program, and engage in diplomatic initiatives to encourage all sides to restrain themselves in these sorts of activities,” Pool instructed the French wire service.
While many have sided with the Philippines on this argument, Beijing fastidiously maintains it has close to complete sovereignty over the South China Sea, and might basically do no matter it needs. International arbitration decided China has no authorized foundation for this assertion.
Source: jalopnik.com