Politics South China Sea Thread

[Buster23]

Defense chief raised alarm over presence of Chinese survey ships in waters off Siargao, northern Luzon

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expressed alarm Friday about two Chinese survey ships that were spotted recently while operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“Zhanjian” and “Dong Fang Hong 3” were identified as Chinese oceanographic survey ships that were spotted within the country’s EEZ, according to Ryan Martinson, an assistant professor at the China Maritime Studies Institute of the United States Naval War College.

“We do not have the capability to confirm this on our own, especially in the east fronting the Pacific Ocean because we do not have any radar equipment there to monitor the area. In the West Philippine Sea, if it is far, our radar cannot see them but other agencies like US, another country who has satellite, they can monitor that,” Lorenzana admitted in a live television interview over ANC.

Defense chief raised alarm over presence of Chinese survey ships in waters off Siargao, northern Luzon

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expressed alarm Friday about two Chinese survey ships that were spotted recently while operating within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

news.mb.com.ph

 

[Junglejim]

Swear to god, China is the best damn thing that ever happened to Officers in the AFP who are pushing the organization and country to a more external defense POV.

 

[Buster23]

China’s defensive posture could turn offensive, Lorenzana warns

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has warned that China’s claim of defensive posture in the South China Sea could easily turn to offensive operations.

Lorenzana stressed that it must be known to everybody that any defensive capabilities in the military can readily transform into offensive capabilities.
“You have to understand, in the military term, a defensive capability can be turned into offensive capability in an instant,” Lorenzana said in a live interview over ABS-CBN News Channel on Friday.

China’s defensive posture could turn offensive, Lorenzana warns

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has warned that China’s claim of defensive posture in the South China Sea could easily turn to offensive operations.

www.philstar.com

 

[Junglejim]

And in other news people going left could go right... the scaremongering is getting stupid.

 

[Chazman]

Philippines Pushing Back Against Chinese Militia South China Sea Presence - USNI News

MANILA – The Philippines have begun to push back against the strong and sustained presence of Beijing’s paramilitary ships in the South China Sea, calling the deployment of Chinese militia ships in huge numbers a threat. Manila filed two diplomatic protests last month against the swarming...

news.usni.org

 

[Junglejim]

"push back" lol filing a diplomatic protest is a joke.

 

[BravoZulu]

"push back" lol filing a diplomatic protest is a joke.

But it gives PRC something new this week to wipe their butts with!

 

[Junglejim]

Dont they have enough from the hong kongers demands for that or Trumps proposals?

 

[BravoZulu]

Indonesia:
Indonesian Military (TNI) Air Force flies four F-16 fighter jets from the 16th Air Squadron in Roesmin Nurjadin Airbase to Natuna Island to execute patrols in Indonesia’s outermost region.

“Four F-16s are departing now,” said Roesmin Nurjadin Airbase Commander, First Marshall Ronny Irianto Moningka, in Pekanbaru, on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.

He explained that the dispatching of four F-16 fighter jets along with six pilots and numerous air force personnel to Natuna today has been ordered by the TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto.

The American made aircraft, that has become the centerpiece in the Indonesian Air Force, will patrol Indonesia’s sovereign territory in the operation dubbed as 'Operasi Lintang Elang 20.'

“This is actually a routine procedure in the Western Region that we have relocated to Natuna,” he said.

Aside from the four F-16 fighter jets, he went on to say that Roesmin Nurjadin Airbase, which is the most heavily equipped airbase in Sumatra and further strengthened by two combat squadrons, is now on guard. He has stated that the airbase is ready to exercise their full might if he was to receive such a command from TNI commander.

However, Ronny has claimed that the dispatching of four F-16 fighter jets has been done only for the purpose of securing Indonesia’s sovereign territories. He further stated that there is no intention to provoke any party, especially China, which has dispatched their own set of coast guards and fishing boats to Natuna. “We do not intend to provoke any party. We are just guarding our own territory,” he said.

Furthermore, aside from the arrival of the F-16s in Natuna, Ronny has said that TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto will visit Natuna, in person, today.

Recently, diplomatic relations between Indonesia and China have been tense, due to a number of Chinese ships still maintaining their position in Natuna waters, to the day.

The foreign vessels were adamant that they have caught fish 130 miles of Ranai Waters, in Natuna.

On the other hand, the Indonesian Military has dispatched eight patrolling vessels since Monday in order to secure the Natuna Waters, Riau Islands.

Based on the UN’s Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, the Natuna Waters are within Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone. As such, China does not have any rights within the area.

However, China has unilaterally claimed Natuna to be located within their territory, through what is called the ‘Nine-Dash Line.’
https://en.tempo.co/read/1292362/tnis-air-force-deploys-four-f-16-fighter-jets-to-natuna

 

[BravoZulu]

Indonesia:

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo departed on Wednesday morning for Natuna regency, Riau Islands amid the country’s ongoing spat with China over the latter’s controversial naval maneuvers in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea.

With his entourage from Jakarta, Jokowi arrived at Raden Sadjad Air Force Base at 9:10 a.m. and was welcomed by, among others, Riau Islands acting governor Isdianto and Joint Defense Area Command (Kogabwilhan) I commander Rear Adm. Yudo Margono.

According to a statement, Jokowi’s itinerary includes a visit to the Natuna regent’s office to handover land certificates for locals. In addition, Jokowi is also scheduled to meet with hundreds of local fisherfolk. Yudo previously said Jokowi’s visit would not include an extra layer of security in the contested maritime region.

“Our military forces will remain unchanged,” Yudo told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Natuna administration spokesperson Defrizal said after arriving at the air base, Jokowi and his entourage were scheduled to leave for Ranai Naval Base, from where they were expected to head to an area in the Natuna Sea for inspection.

Jokowi was only scheduled to visit the region for a few hours as he was expected to return to Jakarta in the afternoon. “He’s supposed to fly back to Jakarta in the afternoon. He won’t spend the night in Natuna,” Defrizal said.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has claimed that Chinese fishing vessels remain in the North Natuna Sea — located at the southern tip of the South China Sea, which China claims as its “traditional fishing grounds” — despite Indonesia’s protests and attempts to increase its presence in the area.

The Navy has deployed at least six warships to secure and patrol Natuna waters.
“We will deploy four additional warships – two of them arrived on Monday, while two others are still being transported. So in total, we will have deployed six warships,” Yudo said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang insisted last Tuesday that the Chinese vessels were performing "routine" activities to assert its sovereignty over the nearby Spratly Islands as well as its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters nearby, adding that China would like to work with Indonesia to continue managing disputes properly through bilateral dialogue.

Indonesia responded on Wednesday by firmly rejecting the asserted historical claims over its EEZ in the North Natuna Sea. The ministry said it was "unilateral, had no legal basis and had never been recognized by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea". (rfa)
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news...pect-waters-amid-ongoing-spat-with-china.html

 

[morris]

Vietnam protests Beijing's sinking of South China Sea boat

Vietnam has lodged an official protest with China following the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat it said had been rammed by a Chinese maritime surveillance vessel near islands in the disputed South China Sea.

www.reuters.com

The Vietnamese fishing vessel, with eight fishermen onboard, was fishing near the Paracel Islands on Thursday when it was rammed and sunk by the Chinese vessel, Vietnam’s foreign ministry said in a statement posted on a government website on Saturday.

All the fishermen were picked up by the Chinese vessel alive and were transferred to two other Vietnamese fishing vessels operating nearby, the Vietnam Fisheries Society said in a statement posted to its website.

 

[BravoZulu]

Vietnam protests Beijing's sinking of South China Sea boat

Vietnam has lodged an official protest with China following the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat it said had been rammed by a Chinese maritime surveillance vessel near islands in the disputed South China Sea.

www.reuters.com

The Vietnamese fishing vessel, with eight fishermen onboard, was fishing near the Paracel Islands on Thursday when it was rammed and sunk by the Chinese vessel, Vietnam’s foreign ministry said in a statement posted on a government website on Saturday.

All the fishermen were picked up by the Chinese vessel alive and were transferred to two other Vietnamese fishing vessels operating nearby, the Vietnam Fisheries Society said in a statement posted to its website.

can I suggest your post would be better in this thread mate? https://militaryimages.net/threads/south-china-sea-thread.7263/page-3#post-70458

 

[morris]

I don't know how to move it there.

 

[BravoZulu]

Amphibious assault ship USS America sailing at high speed in the South China Sea today, heading to West Capella drillship, about 100 nautical miles south of the warship. West Capella is at the center of an ongoing standoff between China and Malaysia

 

[BravoZulu]

WRT seeing ships from space... Chinese fleet manoeuvring in South China Sea. Basically a fleet elephant walk. They are intentionally posing for the satellite's cameras. The big hull in the middle is the carrier Liaoning.

 

[DZimm]

Thats quite a representation of the current situation in the SCS. The USS America is a very capable ship, but in that PLAN naval elephant walk I am counting 43 ships. I do believe that the US and the USN still have some quite substantial advantages over China and the PLAN, but the balance of power has changed a great deal over the past decade.

 

[morris]

Thats quite a representation of the current situation in the SCS. The USS America is a very capable ship, but in that PLAN naval elephant walk I am counting 43 ships. I do believe that the US and the USN still have some quite substantial advantages over China and the PLAN, but the balance of power has changed a great deal over the past decade.

It looks like more then just immediate military challenge, it is challenge to economy for new arms race at the time when US economy is strained.

 

[DZimm]

It looks like more then just immediate military challenge, it is challenge to economy for new arms race at the time when US economy is strained.

Absolutely. In many ways, China is a greater challenge than the Soviet Union was. I have lived in Shanghai since 2002, and the pace of the economic growth here has been nothing short of astounding. Having said that, China is not the unstoppable juggernaut that some believe it to be, and they have a significant basket of economic, demographic, and political challenges to face, but they are very much letting the world know that they are a real power right now.

It is my great hope that the US and China find a way to coexist. There is much potential for conflict, but India/Pakistan scares me a lot more.

 

[BravoZulu]

The Wall Street Journal reported on April 20 that a Chinese airborne early warning aircraft has been operating out of Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea. The paper quoted anonymous US officials as saying that the reef is being used as a “forward operating base’ for various military aircraft.


From Wikipedia:
Fiery Cross Reef, also known as "Northwest Investigator Reef", "Yongshu Reef" by the Chinese,"Kagitingan Reef" by the Filipinos, and "Đá Chữ Thập" by the Vietnamese is a militarised reef occupied and controlled by China (PRC) as part of Sansha of Hainan Provinc and is also claimed by the Republic of China (ROC/Taiwan), the Philippines and Vietnam.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, it is "the most advanced of China's bases" in the South China Sea's disputed areas, with 12 hardened shelters with retractable roofs for mobile missile launchers already completed. It has enough hangars to accommodate 24 combat aircraft and four larger planes. Fiery Cross reef has a runway long enough to land a Chinese Xian H-6N bomber; a bomber like this could perform combat operations within 3,500 miles (5,600 km) of the reclaimed reef.

August 2014

January 2018

 

[morris]

A Taiwanese F-16 fighter jet flies next to a Chinese H-6 bomber in Taiwan’s airspace in February. Photograph: Taiwan's Defence Ministry/AFP via Getty Images