Video shows intense South China Sea clash between China, Philippines

[ryan robertson]

IT WAS A NEAR MARITIME MELEE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA–

NEW DETAILS AND VIDEO ARE EMERGING FROM A DRAMATIC CLASH BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINE AND CHINESE COAST GUARDS. 

THE NEWLY RELEASED FOOTAGE CAPTURES THE INTENSE ENCOUNTER  NEAR THE CONTESTED SECOND THOMAS SHOAL, AND SHOWS WHAT APPEAR TO BE CHINESE OFFICERS WIELDING WEAPONS AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO PHILIPPINE NAVAL EQUIPMENT.

THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY SAYS IT’S A SERIOUS ESCALATION IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, DESCRIBING THE INCIDENT AS ‘INTENTIONAL HIGH-SPEED RAMMING’ BY THE CHINESE COAST GUARD DURING A RESUPPLY MISSION. 

ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE SHOWS CHINESE VESSELS COLLIDING WITH PHILIPPINE BOATS AND PEOPLE  BRANDISHING SWORDS, SPEARS, AXES, AND KNIVES. WHILE THE WORLD KNEW ABOUT THE DISPUTE PREVIOUSLY–THE VIDEO IS REINFORCING JUST HOW SIGNIFICANT THE INCREASE IN AGGRESSION IS IN THIS ONGOING MARITIME DISPUTE.

GENERAL ROMEO BRAWNER, THE PHILIPPINES’ TOP MILITARY COMMANDER, SAID THE CHINESE COAST GUARD AND MARITIME MILITIA ASSAULTED THE FILIPINO FORCES WHEN THEY BOARDED FILIPINO VESSELS, SEIZED WEAPONS, AND INJURED CREW MEMBERS. ONE SAILOR REPORTEDLY LOST A THUMB. BRAWNER SAYS THE CHINESE ARE ACTING LIKE MODERN DAY PIRATES. 

WHAT’S MORE, THE PHILIPPINES SAYS THE CHINESE COAST GUARD’S “BRUTAL ASSAULT” AND  “BRAZEN ACT OF AGGRESSION” HAPPENED DURING WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A ROUTINE RESUPPLY MISSION. 

TO NO ONE’S SURPRISE, CHINA IS PAINTING A DIFFERENT PICTURE–AND IS ACCUSING THE PHILIPPINES OF “PROVOCATIVE ACTS” AND “ILLEGAL TRANSPORTATION” OF SUPPLIES. THE SUPPLIES IN QUESTION WERE IN ROUTE TO A DELIBERATELY GROUNDED WARSHIP, WHICH MANILA CLAIMS AS PART OF ITS TERRITORY IN A REGION CALLED THE SPRATLYS.

I HAVE SOME PRETTY IN-DEPTH REPORTS ON THIS OVER AT S-A-N DOT COM…SO BE SURE TO CHECK THOSE OUT…

BUT ESSENTIALLY CHINA MAINTAINS IT HAS “INDISPUTABLE SOVEREIGNTY” OVER THE WHOLE OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. SO, CHINA JUSTIFIES THE ACTIONS OF ITS COAST GUARD AS NECESSARY ENFORCEMENT OF MARITIME LAW, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE NEW ENHANCED AUTHORITY BEIJING GAVE ITS COAST GUARD TO SEIZE FOREIGN SHIPS AND DETAIN CREW MEMBERS SUSPECTED OF TRESPASSING IN CHINESE-CLAIMED WATERS.

THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT–LIKE THE MANY PREVIOUS ONES–IS DRAWING INTERNATIONAL CONCERN, PARTICULARLY FROM THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS TREATY-BOUND TO DEFEND THE PHILIPPINES IF ATTACKED.

FOR MORE OF OUR UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACT REPORTING ABOUT THE TENSIONS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA–BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT US AT SAN – DOT – COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M RYAN ROBERTSON.