July 26, 2012 | The Strategypage
The Philippines is finding itself without allies in its confrontation with China over ownership of small islands,
reefs and shoals belonging to the Philippines, at least according to international law. China is insisting that
international agreements do not apply in these disputes.
Chinese warships entering the Filipino exclusive economic zone (anything within 380 kilometers of land) are violating
a 2002 agreement by nations bordering the South China Sea. This aggression is part of a plan to obtain control over
fishing and oil exploration throughout the South China Sea (a 3.5 million square kilometer area).
This would include such activities less than a hundred kilometers from the coasts of most other nations bordering the
South China Sea. The only as aspect of International law (the 1994 Law of the Sea treaty) that China seems inclined
to recognize is that waters 22 kilometers from land are under the jurisdiction of the nation controlling the nearest land.
Ships cannot enter these "territorial waters" without permission.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=rrr.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/rrr.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The U.S. says it will protect its allies, like the Philippines, but this apparently only extends to direct attack on Filipino
land territory, not disputed offshore waters.
The Philippines is trying to convince the Americans to help protect their EEZ, and all the billions of dollars-worth of fish and
oil with a show of force.
However, the U.S. is giving the Philippines $30 million to improve coastal surveillance, and the Philippines has itself
bought another 40 military trainer aircraft (that will only arrive in the next two years), China still has overwhelming military force.
The Philippines is finding itself without allies in its confrontation with China over ownership of small islands,
reefs and shoals belonging to the Philippines, at least according to international law. China is insisting that
international agreements do not apply in these disputes.
Chinese warships entering the Filipino exclusive economic zone (anything within 380 kilometers of land) are violating
a 2002 agreement by nations bordering the South China Sea. This aggression is part of a plan to obtain control over
fishing and oil exploration throughout the South China Sea (a 3.5 million square kilometer area).
This would include such activities less than a hundred kilometers from the coasts of most other nations bordering the
South China Sea. The only as aspect of International law (the 1994 Law of the Sea treaty) that China seems inclined
to recognize is that waters 22 kilometers from land are under the jurisdiction of the nation controlling the nearest land.
Ships cannot enter these "territorial waters" without permission.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=rrr.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/rrr.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The U.S. says it will protect its allies, like the Philippines, but this apparently only extends to direct attack on Filipino
land territory, not disputed offshore waters.
The Philippines is trying to convince the Americans to help protect their EEZ, and all the billions of dollars-worth of fish and
oil with a show of force.
However, the U.S. is giving the Philippines $30 million to improve coastal surveillance, and the Philippines has itself
bought another 40 military trainer aircraft (that will only arrive in the next two years), China still has overwhelming military force.
