China rams Philippine ship while 60 Minutes on board; South China Sea tensions could draw U.S. in
China rams Philippine ship while 60 Minutes on board; South China Sea tensions could draw U.S. in
Chinese ships have repeatedly rammed Philippine ships in the South China Sea. The U.S. has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, which could lead to American intervention.
An escalating series of clashes in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China could draw the U.S., which has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, into the conflict.
A 60 Minutes crew got a close look at the tense situation when traveling on a Philippine Coast Guard ship that was rammed by the Chinese Coast Guard.
China has repeatedly rammed Philippine ships and blasted them with water cannons over the last two years. There are ongoing conversations between Washington and Manila about which scenarios would trigger U.S. involvement, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro said in an interview.
"I really don't know the end state," Teodoro said. "All I know is that we cannot let them get away with what they're doing."
China as "the proverbial schoolyard bully"
China claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, through which more than $3 trillion in goods flow annually. But in 2016, an international tribunal at the Hague ruled the Philippines has exclusive economic rights in a 200-mile zone that includes the area where the ship with the 60 Minutes team on board got rammed.
China does not recognize the international tribunal's ruling.
Fill dummy boat full of explosives.
At that point just launch a missile at them.
This is a stupid game of chicken. China is bullying their way into what they want hoping they'll get it. Once you use explosives, they'll use explosives. That's why right now it is ramming and water cannons.
The annoying part is the US talking about "what constitutes defense and needs US involvement" when it already is way past that point.
If they can assert their ownership of the SCS now, they can hold that even as other nations get stronger.
But if they can't nail it down now, they've lost it forever and will always be a regional power, constrained by maritime neighbors.
Xi is apparently a gambler, and not a good one.
WW3, great for profits!
*“
EastWest Philippine Sea”West*
cheers
🎶 Iiiinn west Philippine Sea born and raised.
The Phillipines needs to put down a few sea mines with Phillipine flags on top. Nobody would be stupid enough to run those over.
It's a shipping lane, so no.
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Wikipedia about this sourcechina claims contested area and rams opposers with their ships. EVIL. Israel claims contested area and genocides anyone who opposes. Good guys actually!
WHAT ABOUT
Completely irrelevant.
Self reference, nice.
Since mods removed my comment but failed to elaborate why, I'm going to repost it.
Brings to mind the dichotomy of the Russian and Israeli invasions. Ivans blow up a school, and it's a warcrime. Schlomos blow up a school, and it's due to their inherent right to self defense.
The comment may not be entirely related to the article directly, but why have a world news community if not for discussing world events?