9:35 am HKT
Apr 12, 2012

China Real Time

Top China Stories from WSJ: Tsunami Fears, Maritime Standoff, Yuan Liberalization

    • Long standing disputes in the east China sea and South China sea need to be settled internationally.

      The fairest way would be proximity to nearest long term inhabited landmass. In tis case the shoal is phillipino.

      Remeber despite all the conflicting claims, there has never been any long term inhabitation of any of the islands in dispute. In fact the Proto Malay civilization of which Indonesia and to an extent Phillipinos are decended from have explored the area for 2000 years.

      I suppose if we go back far enough, we are all related to each other and hence ought to share the recources.

    • The area in dispute is known as Scarborough shoal, and it's 124 miles off the Philippine coast! This means that under UNCLOS, the Chinese fisherman have no right to be there as it is in the 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines.Once again, meaning that while international shipping can travel through these waters, all of the resources in or under these waters belong to the EEZ of the Philippines...........................including fishing rights!

      What's really interesting is that both China and the Philippines are signatory members of UNCLOS, and while the Philippines are willing to have the dispute resolved within the United Nations Counsel, China is not willing to do the same!

      Another point is that all ASEAN countries have supported the framework for an actual UNSC binding "CODE OF CONDUCT" in the South China Seas, but again, China has refused the idea of being involved in an actual legal binding treaty!

      Easy to see why the CCP uses some BS 'ancient claims' rhetoric, because they would lose under the UNCLOS agreement that China signed in good faith back in 1994. That's why I have always stated Beijing is very much like the DPRK, as they don't honor their treaties and agreements either!

    • At the end of the day, it all comes to who has the biggest fist. For an island nation of 92 million, the Philippines is pathetically weak. Its largest and only “warship” is a 46-year-old second-hand decommissioned US Coast Guard cutter.

      Is this a joke or what?

    • The Pinoys are living in their dreams if they think Uncle Sam will come to rescue in an armed conflict with China in the South China Sea dispute.

      The US will definitely fight for Canada and Mexico as these two countries are vital to its national survival, security and interests.

      It will also fight for Britain and Australia due to their Anglo-Saxon bond, and will probably do so for Western Europe and Israel as well.

      The Philippines, on the other hand, is merely a馬前卒(i.e. a foot soldier in front of the cavalry). If it can inflict some damage to China, that would be ideal (for the US). But if it is KIA (which is almost certain), there’s no big deal. After all, the Philippines, just like Taiwan (and South Korea & Japan to a much lesser extent), is merely an expendable piece in the US global chess game.

      Frankly, if the US is really serious about this US-Philippines alliance relationship, it would have provided a few billion worth of state-of-the-art weaponry to the Pinoys (like it does to the Israelis every year) for free, instead of selling them an old and useless Coast Guard cutter as “warship” for USD13 million!

      Remember how the US had dumped its long term ally, Mubarak of Egypt, during the Arab Spring last year?

      The US will definitely dump the Philippines if the cost (of keeping this alliance) is too big (which, in this case is true, as the cost of directly confronting China is too big for the US to bear), or if the price is right, in no time.

    • All the worlds Oceans belong to CHINA. Except around the USA, Canada and Mexico because the Chinese Navy is extremely scarred of the USA so we will not bother those waters but we still claim them. By 2050 Chinese navy will be 1000 times bigger than USA!

    • Although it's quite true that Philippines is just a foot soldier to Uncle Sam.. but if ever Uncle Sam will not honor its agreement with the Philippines we all know what will happen.. China will become its master.. and once China is the master the U.S will loose its hold in Asia as other Asian countries will succumb to China enfluence.. the question now is.. is that good for U.S?

    • Lorne Smith wrote:
      Panatag Shoal belongs to The Philippines. The separatist government in Beijing should stop running around claiming everything that belongs to others is now theirs!

      Then why is Racist LORNE SMITH still staying and enjoying himself in China run by a SEPARATIST GOVERNMENT, F#$k this WHITE BASTARD LORNE SMITH, the HYPOCRITE!

    • China should understand that the US will indeed fulfill its defence treaty obligation wilh the Philippines should the PLAN use force to settle the dispute issue!

      Americans fully understand that if you appease an aggressive country, it only emboldens them to just want more territory and eventually ignite a major war anyways! Had England and France not appeased Hitler's Germany after they invaded Poland, then perhaps Hitler would have backed off from igniting WWII, had England and France reacted immediately instead of hesitating!

      That's why you don't appease any aggressor; especially, the CCP in the South China Seas!

    • 4:14 pm April 12, 2012
      Pacific Century,

      It seems you haven't heard the latest news that US troop deployments back to the Philippines are being discussed with Aquino at this very moment, that a squadron of Boeing P-8I Poseidon huntrt/killer surface ship and submarine killers are going to be stationed in Manila next year, that the US, Japan, and Australia are thinking of implementing a 'Lend Lease Act' of warships to the Phillippine navy, and that there are even talk that the Japanese MSDF will send three to four of their ships to patrol the Philippine waters, and lastly, that the Philippines will very likely follow what Singapore has done for the US Navy..................................................................offer their port facilities to US Littoral Combat Ships to be ported to help patrol their territorial waters against a certain aggessor in asia!

      You don't see Canada or Mexico asking China to help them defend against the United States do you? But you do see just about every asian country asking the United States to help them defend themselves against China!

      Thanks to the Foreign Policy blunders by China, the US relationship in asia has never been better! Even Myanmar has sought to distance themselves from Beijing, and is seeking closer ties to the west these days!

      China should be asking themselves who will come to help them if they start a war? Iran? Cuba? Pakistan? or North Korea? Real reliable allies you got there CCP, as these countries are about unstable as Syria!

      Even Germany couldn't sustain a two-front war during WWII, so what makes China think they can sustain a four-front war?

      China should stick with a peaceful solution with ASEAN countries, as none of China's neighbors is going to put up with China's 'creeping invasions' any longer in the Yellow Sea and South China Seas!

    • @OODA loop STAT the Taiwanese separatist

      You may bash mainland China/Chinese all you want. But it won't change the fact that Taiwan will be “re-united” with the mainland in 2 decades time.

      You just have to realize the fact that Taiwan’s independence is nothing but a pipe dream.

      Most of your “democratically elected” politicians, whether they are from the KMT or the DDP, have already sold their souls to the CCP.

      To make matters worse, your Taiwan’s once flaunted 四大產業 (4 big industries, i.e. TFT-LCD, DRAM, LED and Solar Energy) have already become 四大慘業 (4 big miseries) due to sluggish global demand and increased competition from mainland China and South Korea. Taiwan’s competitive edge is fading fast and you guys just don't have much bargaining power left.

      Taiwan's future and well-being are solely in the hands of mainland China.

      Pathetic, isn’t it?

    • @OODA loop STAT the Taiwanese separatist

      Oops, should be "DPP" instead of "DDP".

    • Ooops Should read Beijing separatist. The Republic of China on Taiwan will take back the mainland of China from the separatist government in Beijing - Thats what will happen within 20 years.

Add a Comment


Expert Insight

About China Real Time Report


    • China Real Time Report on Twitter
    • China Real Time Report on Facebook