Nine marines of the Philippines aboard this ship at Second Thomas Shoal contest ownership of the Spratly Islands against the Chicoms. It is the former USS LST-821, originally launched in October 1944. The Wall Street Journal has the story here.
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Nine marines of the Philippines vs. The Chicoms
Nine marines of the Philippines aboard this ship at Second Thomas Shoal contest ownership of the Spratly Islands against the Chicoms. It is the former USS LST-821, originally launched in October 1944. The Wall Street Journal has the story here.
Monday, March 21, 2022
The Spratly Islands are now teeming with Chinese offensive weapons
OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA (AP) — China has fully militarized at least three of several islands it built in the disputed South China Sea, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment, and fighter jets in an increasingly aggressive move that threatens all nations operating nearby, a top U.S. military commander said Sunday.
U.S. Indo-Pacific commander Adm. John C. Aquilino said the hostile actions were in stark contrast to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s past assurances that Beijing would not transform the artificial islands in contested waters into military bases. The efforts were part of China’s flexing its military muscle, he said. ...
A U.N.-backed arbitration tribunal that handled the case invalidated China’s sweeping historical claims in the South China Sea under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. Beijing dismissed the ruling as sham and continues to defy it.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
As China expands illegal military operations in the Spratly Islands, the Biden administration is reiterating strongly its support for the Philippines
“The most significant change in military posture in 2021 is the
appearance of Chinese special mission aircraft and helicopters at Subi
and Mischief Reefs, indicating the PLA may have commenced routine air
operations from those airfields,” Mr. Dahm said in an interview. ...
Beijing officials on Monday denounced a statement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken hailing the fifth anniversary of an international tribunal ruling that ruled against China’s claim to own 90% of the sea under the “Nine-Dash Line” boundary.
Mr. Blinken reaffirmed Sunday a year-old policy shift announcing that any Chinese military attack on Philippine military or civilian vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea would trigger the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
More.