'Spratlys cop’ role for US

[IndoCarib]

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Let the United States police the disputed waters of Scarborough Shoal and keep the peace.

Thus, President Benigno Aquino’s plan to ask the United States to deploy spy planes over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) should not be seen as an escalation of tensions between the Philippines and China, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

“As a treaty ally, the US has been assisting us in developing a minimum credible defense posture and that includes maritime domain awareness and surveillance reconnaissance as well as intelligence gathering,” DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez told reporters.

He said the flybys would only be for surveillance and monitoring.

“We are just monitoring what is happening in our areas, in our territories,” Hernandez said, stressing that these activities were a sovereign prerogative. He said he had no further details on Mr. Aquino’s plan.

Senator Gregorio Honasan on Tuesday welcomed the President’s move and even suggested that the United States could redeploy to Scarborough Shoal some of its units currently in Mindanao under the Visiting Forces Agreement.

‘Barangay tanod’

“In a bilateral situation, there should be a parity of forces, of leverage. But in our case with China, there’s none. That’s why I need to underscore the need for a third party, an observer,” Honasan said.

“They’ll be the ‘barangay tanod.’ They’ll be the police. They will monitor everything. Any movement of naval and air assets in the area will be monitored by the US,” he added.

“If there’s a violation of the initial agreement, of ground rules, there would be a disinterested party that would call the attention (of both countries), and I think the US fits that role.”

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Mr. Aquino raised the possibility he would request “overflights” in the area where the Philippines and China have been locked in a standoff over Scarborough Shoal sparked by the poaching of marine life by Chinese fishermen.

The United States has declared its neutrality in the dispute, and China has warned against the involvement of “external forces” in the confrontation.

“But the question really is: What do we do with that information?” Honasan, a former Army colonel, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview. “If they would just feed us information that there’s an intrusion but the Americans would do nothing, useless.”

Honasan said Washington could send a “carrier task group” composed of an aircraft carrier and destroyers to police the area where the Philippines had accused China of harassing its vessels.

Clarify US position

He said the US military presence would help “level” the field between the Philippines and China, which boasts of a much stronger military.

But Honasan said the Philippine government should first clarify the US position on the dispute.

“We have to ask the US: Do they believe that the Scarborough Shoal belongs to us? I think we should get a categorical answer from them,” he said.

“If they say it belongs to China, it’s over. Let’s go home,” he said. “Now if they believe that it belongs to the Philippines, help us put up structures there and deploy your troops there. Establish a naval component there as a monitoring device for your deployed air and naval asset.”

Honasan said the Scarborough dispute would allow the Aquino administration to “test” whether the United States placed more value on its historical ties with the Philippines than its relationship with China.

The Philippines should also conduct “backdoor diplomacy” with China over the possibility of a joint exploration of the disputed territory, the senator said.

“This is not a simple issue,” he said.

No plan to go back

General Jessie Dellosa, Armed Forces chief of staff, told reporters on Tuesday he was awaiting orders from Malacañang on whether vessels withdrawn from the Scarborough Shoal should be sent back.

“Actually it’s up to the government, they will decide on this matter,” Dellosa said.

He said the pullout of a Coast Guard vessel and a government fisheries research vessel from the shoal on June 15 “helped to deescalate the situation.”

He failed to mention that China did not withdraw its several large maritime ships from the area but even abetted the presence of dozens of fishing vessels despite its purported fishing ban there.

When asked, Dellosa said China’s reported deployment of combat-ready patrol boats in the disputed Spratlys was not a cause of concern.

“That is a usual transit area for ships. There’s no problem with that,” he said.

‘Spratlys cop’ role for US—DFA | Inquirer Global Nation

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MANILA, Philippines - Allowing US spy planes to fly over the Philippine-claimed territories in the West Philippine Sea should not viewed as provocative by China, a Malacañang official said Tuesday.

US spy plane flyover in disputed sea not provocative » Nation » News | Philippine News | philstar.com

[LetsGetRowdy]

“We have to ask the US: Do they believe that the Scarborough Shoal belongs to us? I think we should get a categorical answer from them,” he said.

“If they say it belongs to China, it’s over. Let’s go home,” he said. “Now if they believe that it belongs to the Philippines, help us put up structures there and deploy your troops there. Establish a naval component there as a monitoring device for your deployed air and naval asset.”

The Philippines have to ask another country if the shoal THEY are claiming as their own if it belongs to them? wtf? It is clear that the leaders in Philippines do not actually believe this is their legit territory so they seek the backing of a powerful country to determine their claims, in other words, the Philippines really have no say in the matter and ultimately it is up to the former colonial power US to decide what belongs to the Philippines or not.

[IndoCarib]

The Philippines have to ask another country if the shoal THEY are claiming as their own if it belongs to them? wtf? It is clear that the leaders in Philippines do not actually believe this is their legit territory so they seek the backing of a powerful country to determine their claims, in the words, the Philippines really have no say in the matter and ultimately it is up to the former colonial power US to decide what belongs to the Philippines or not.

If the Philippinos claimed the shoal as their own without US intervention, Would the chinese agree ??

[Fanling Monk]

The Philippines have to ask another country if the shoal THEY are claiming as their own if it belongs to them? wtf? It is clear that the leaders in Philippines do not actually believe this is their legit territory so they seek the backing of a powerful country to determine their claims, in the words, the Philippines really have no say in the matter and ultimately it is up to the former colonial power US to decide what belongs to the Philippines or not.

\


What do you expect from a country named after a Spanish King? Typical slave mentality. Aquino got to come out of the closet and growth up, it's getting worst and worst and I'll embarrass if I'm a hot blooded Filipino.

[p3avi8tor69]

The Philippines have to ask another country if the shoal THEY are claiming as their own if it belongs to them? wtf? It is clear that the leaders in Philippines do not actually believe this is their legit territory so they seek the backing of a powerful country to determine their claims, in the words, the Philippines really have no say in the matter and ultimately it is up to the former colonial power US to decide what belongs to the Philippines or not.

I think you just misread it. He was just saying, if the US support them, they should go ahead and ask for help, if not pack their bags and abandon the whole thing.

From what I understand, it was the US through the USN that offered P3 flights to patrol the disputed space back in 2011. Aquino was just probably bringing that up.

[Fanling Monk]

Honasan, a former army colonel, said Washington could send a “carrier task group” composed of an aircraft carrier and destroyers to police the area. “Now if they believe that it belongs to the Philippines, help us put up structures there and deploy your troops there. Establish a naval component there as a monitoring device for your deployed air and naval asset.”


I simply am lost for words, how shameless a person can be . Who the heck he thinks the US is, his errand boy or a little slave that does his bidding?

That goes to show you can not satisfy a beggar all the time, if you do he turns around and becomes your master.

[LetsGetRowdy]

If the Philippinos claimed the shoal as their own without US intervention, Would the chinese agree ??

No, because it is Chinese territory and will we not budge for anyone.

[Battle of Bach Dang River]

Philippines should allow to reopen the U.S Naval - Air Force base at Subic Bay. She needs the help of her allies to combat bullying and protect her territory.

Help each other so called "allies".

If Aquino just sit to watch China stole Philippines territory is shameful. He has the right and MUST do everything to protect his country.

[fallstuff]

The Chinese actions do not pose any threat ti U.S interest. However, U.S wouldn't mind getting the folks around the SCS worked up against China, thats all.

U.S knows very well the shippin lanes will remain open.

[kawaraj]

where the U.S. presents where the trouble goes, guess that should be written in your "wholy bible"

[EastSea]

China make noisy with idiot claim, cop will come to see and control the situation ?

[Martian2]

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Why has the U.S. been very quiet over the South China Sea? The answer is obvious.

The United States is afraid of provoking China into a massive military build-up. China can equal or even surpass the number of U.S. nuclear submarines. However, a build-up of that size would mean China is preparing to wage a real war.

I don't think the U.S. wants to force China into a corner. If pressed, we will see a massive construction of Chinese warships and submarines. It's very wasteful, but China will fight if it must.


China's nuclear and conventional attack submarines


Type 093 Shang-class Nuclear Attack Submarine (SSN)


Type 039 Song-class Diesel-electric Attack Submarine


Yuan-class SSKs represent the new generation of PLA Navy conventional attack submarines.