#spratlys

Today's frontpage, Monday, October 13, 2025

The Philippines will protest a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship’s attack on a fisheries vessel off Pag-asa Island on Sunday morning which the United States and European Union condemned as an “aggressive” and “dangerous” action.

#Spratlys #SouthChinaSea #WestPhilippineSea #WestPHSea #China #ChinaCoastGuard

-https://www.inquirer.net/457638/ph-to-protest-chinas-attack-on-bfar-vessel/

-https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/10/13/2479470/china-ship-blasts-water-cannon-rams-philippine-vessel

Greg Torode, Reuters, June 1, 2018

HONG KONG--Shrouded in Chinese military secrecy and hidden from the eyes of journalists, Beijing’s build-up of man-made islands on reefs deep in the maritime heart of Southeast Asia is a vexing story to report.

Reuters deputy head of graphics Simon Scarr, based in Singapore, had previously dealt with private sector satellite imagery providers but always felt more could be done within the highly competitive field.

Late last year in a conversation with Earthrise Media, an independent group helping journalists obtain and analyze satellite data, Scarr wondered if it would be possible to count buildings on China’s seven man-made islands in the Spratly archipelago of the hotly contested South China Sea.

During a six-week period, Earthrise digitally scrutinized hundreds of images dating back to 2014 when China started rapidly building up those islands. Reuters journalists checked the data with a range of military and academic contacts.

On a spreadsheet of figures confirming extensive construction across the South China Sea, one number stood out--Subi reef was home to nearly 400 buildings, more than expected and nearly double the number on similar islands.

“It was great data to have, and it really helped us build-up the webpage, with imagery and information from other sources, too,” Scarr said.

It also provided insight into possible Chinese intentions for military bases on islands that Beijing once described as mostly civilian. The buildings on Subi, along with extensive facilities on Fiery Cross and Mischief reefs, appeared to match military bases inside China and could house up to 2,400 personnel.

China, Bejing, West Philippine Sea, Scarborough Shoal, and anything related to this issue have been the hottest topics over Twitter after the international court finally declared of whose nation is the rightful owner of the West Philippine Sea. Finally, the world has spoken!

I only have information that settles on the surface of this whole territorial dispute, that China have been shooting bully acts to all the Filipino fishermen on board with their small bangkas with the Chinese’s advanced shipping lines around Spratlys islands and Scarborough shoal. But lately, I became more curious about this matter.

Apparently, my twitter account (for KPOP purposes only haha) was full of enraged fans due to some Chinese public figures commenting on how they show support to their motherland. I, then, wondered how big this thing is that a lot of people in China even care to react. What saddens me is that people tend to bash them because of the differences in viewpoints that each individual expresses. One might not agree with it but it has to be respected. Of course, it is a natural mechanism of humans to show defense if being attacked. They are just showing their nationalistic sentiments over their nation. China is a communist country after all! On additional note, we do not know how Chinese media feed the issue to their people and that might serve as their baseline on how they perceive the whole dispute.

It has been years already that the Philippine government questioned the progressing infrastructure of an artificial island rising within the boundaries of two countries. China defended that it is made only to shelter Chinese fishermen by the time they go fishing. However, it is already obvious that they made it some kind of a military base with the country’s hideous tanks, jets and such that are ready to protect and attack. The Chinese government would never recognized the decision of the arbitration court and said it was a piece of trash. It is said that the 9-dash line (which was previously 11-dash line) was already their claim after the World War II. However, each country has to enjoy the sovereignty it has and as we know, the exclusive economic zone is being applied to each territory. And this would be the Philippines’ strongest rebuttal to China’s self-proclaimed historical facts.

This marine abundance is claimed by few other countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei but the Philippines’ strongest villain is China. With our country being small, we tend to seek help from USA who generously extends hand to us by sending military ships and jets. On the other hand, China combines forces with Russia and it is undeniable how powerful they are.

Filipinos are now holding on to The Hague’s decision and let us see what diplomatic ways will both countries do for this matter. I hope this will be troubled waters no more in the next years…

Sa manlulupig, di ka pasisiil~

Asia-Pacific

China 'just building lighthouses and weather stations' in South China Sea

The Chinese government on Wednesday rolled out more details of the building work it is undertaking in the disputed South China Sea, listing lighthouses, communications stations and other facilities for civilian and emergency use. China stepped up its creation of artificial islands last year, alarming several countries in Asia and drawing criticism from Washington. There have been recent tensions between the Chinese navy and the U.S. military around the Spratlys. China, which said this week some of the reclamation work will be completed soon, says the construction on the islands will help with maritime search and rescue, disaster relief, environmental protection and offer navigational assistance as well as have undefined military purposes.

They are not targeted at any other country, do not affect the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries in accordance with international law in the South China Sea, nor have they caused or will they cause damage to the marine ecological system and environment in the South China Sea, and are thus beyond reproach.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang

[WATCH] #WestPHSeaAtinTo: Documentary on West Philippine Sea

As the country celebrates its 117th year of Independence on June 12, President Benigno Aquino III released “Kalayaan, Karapatan sa Karagatan,” a documentary on the West Philippine Sea and the Philippines’ dispute with China.

The video, which has reached almost 300,000 views on Facebook, calls all Filipinos to unite for the Philippines and support the country as China continues to dominate the…