Tensions flare as Chinese and Philippine ships collide near disputed shoal in South China Sea

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"I don't think that Xi Jinping is going to attack Taiwan any time soon."

"Beijing's main goal is to deter Taiwan independence, rather than realize military reunification."

"There's no indications or warnings of anything imminent [China attacking Taiwan] at this time."

A Chinese takeover of Taiwan "is not inevitable nor, perhaps, even likely in the next few years."

"My thought is that perhaps this is not a time for [China] to consider a major invasion of Taiwan."

"[T]here might indeed be some greater willingness by Beijing to coerce (or even invade) Taiwan during a Trump administration."

China is "more likely to resort to the use of force" if it "perceives a higher likelihood of U.S. support of Taiwan independence."

"An invasion of Taiwan could happen within this decade."

"I think the threat [of China seizing Taiwan] is manifest during this decade, in fact in the next six years."

"Xi's team, reason, and opportunity are all aligned for [a] 2025 [invasion of Taiwan]."

Will China Invade Taiwan?

Vessels from China and the Philippines collided on Tuesday in the disputed Scarborough Shoal located in the South China Sea, with both sides attributing blame to the other amid rising tensions between the two countries.

Fox 28 Spokane

Al Jazeera

Vessels from China and the Philippines collided on Tuesday in the disputed Scarborough Shoal located in the South China Sea, with both sides attributing blame to the other amid rising tensions between the two countries.

The Philippine Coast Guard claimed that a Chinese vessel attacked the Filipino ship BRP Datu Gumbay Piang at roughly 9:14 a.m., causing “significant damage” to the ship’s bridge, captain’s cabin, electrical circuits and air conditioning units with its water cannon.

Philippine Coast Guard

The Philippine Coast Guard claimed that a Chinese vessel attacked the Filipino ship BRP Datu Gumbay Piang at roughly 9:14 a.m., causing “significant damage” to the ship’s bridge, captain’s cabin, electrical circuits and air conditioning units with its water cannon.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard on the West Philippine Sea, added that the attack caused injury to at least one sailor, with images showing what appeared to be a lacerated ear.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard on the West Philippine Sea, added that the attack caused injury to at least one sailor, with images showing what appeared to be a lacerated ear.

The China Coast Guard, however, accused the Philippines of initiating the clash, alleging that 10 Filipino government vessels had entered the vicinity of the shoal, which it referred to as Huangyan Island, before ramming a Chinese Coast Guard vessel at approximately 10 a.m. after ignoring “repeated” warnings.

China Coast Guard

The China Coast Guard, however, accused the Philippines of initiating the clash, alleging that 10 Filipino government vessels had entered the vicinity of the shoal, which it referred to as Huangyan Island, before ramming a Chinese Coast Guard vessel at approximately 10 a.m. after ignoring “repeated” warnings.

The incident occurred only six days after China announced its intention to establish the Huangyan Dao national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, an act that the Philippines pledged to issue a formal diplomatic complaint against and condemned as “illegitimate and unlawful.”

The State Council of the People's Republic of China

Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)

The incident occurred only six days after China announced its intention to establish the Huangyan Dao national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, an act that the Philippines pledged to issue a formal diplomatic complaint against and condemned as “illegitimate and unlawful.”

The United States, meanwhile, rejected China’s plan to designate Scarborough Shoal as a nature reserve as a “coercive attempt” to advance territorial claims in the South China Sea. The U.S. then called on China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal’s decision regarding Filipino fishing rights.

Trump State Department

The United States, meanwhile, rejected China’s plan to designate Scarborough Shoal as a nature reserve as a “coercive attempt” to advance territorial claims in the South China Sea. The U.S. then called on China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal’s decision regarding Filipino fishing rights.

ap #1

One crew member from the Philippine vessel sustained injuries from shattered glass caused by the water cannon attack, with photos showing what appeared to be a lacerated ear, according to Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela.</span

Fox 28 Spokane #

France 24

France 24 #

One crew member from the Philippine vessel sustained injuries from shattered glass caused by the water cannon attack, with photos showing what appeared to be a lacerated ear, according to Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela.

China's Coast Guard claimed the Philippine ship deliberately rammed a Chinese vessel and accused more than 10 Philippine government ships of illegally entering China's territorial waters around what Beijing calls Huangyan Dao.</span

Radio Free Asia

Radio Free Asia #

China's Coast Guard claimed the Philippine ship deliberately rammed a Chinese vessel and accused more than 10 Philippine government ships of illegally entering China's territorial waters around what Beijing calls Huangyan Dao.

The incident occurred six days after China announced the establishment of a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, which the Philippines condemned as an illegitimate action infringing upon its sovereignty and jurisdiction.</span

Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines) #

The State Council of the People's Republic of China #

The incident occurred six days after China announced the establishment of a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, which the Philippines condemned as an illegitimate action infringing upon its sovereignty and jurisdiction.

The United States rejected China's nature reserve designation as a coercive attempt to advance territorial claims in the South China Sea and called on China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal decision regarding Filipino fishing rights.</span

Al Jazeera #3094

Trump State Department #

The United States rejected China's nature reserve designation as a coercive attempt to advance territorial claims in the South China Sea and called on China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal decision regarding Filipino fishing rights.

China seized control of the fish-rich Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines after a lengthy standoff in 2012, and more than 60 percent of global maritime trade passes through the South China Sea waterway.</span

China seized control of the fish-rich Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines after a lengthy standoff in 2012, and more than 60 percent of global maritime trade passes through the South China Sea waterway.

The water cannon attack represents another escalation in China's aggressive campaign to control disputed waters that belong to the Philippines under international law. Beijing's so-called nature reserve is nothing more than a transparent pretext for occupation, designed to prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing their traditional fishing grounds. China continues to violate the binding 2016 arbitral ruling and undermine regional stability through these coercive tactics.

The water cannon attack represents another escalation in China's aggressive campaign to control disputed waters that belong to the Philippines under international law. Beijing's so-called nature reserve is nothing more than a transparent pretext for occupation, designed to prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing their traditional fishing grounds. China continues to violate the binding 2016 arbitral ruling and undermine regional stability through these coercive tactics.

DFA Statement on China's Recent Approval of the Establishment of A Nature Reserve in Bajo De Masinloc

The US-China Conflict

China-Philippines Ships Collide Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal

China

Philippines

Accidents

China's establishment of a nature reserve at Huangyan Dao represents legitimate environmental protection within its sovereign territory. The Philippine vessels illegally invaded Chinese territorial waters despite solemn warnings, forcing Chinese coast guard ships to take necessary control measures. The collision occurred only after the Philippine ship deliberately rammed the Chinese vessel, making China's defensive actions entirely justified under international maritime law.

China's establishment of a nature reserve at Huangyan Dao represents legitimate environmental protection within its sovereign territory. The Philippine vessels illegally invaded Chinese territorial waters despite solemn warnings, forcing Chinese coast guard ships to take necessary control measures. The collision occurred only after the Philippine ship deliberately rammed the Chinese vessel, making China's defensive actions entirely justified under international maritime law.

China-Philippines Ships Collide Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal

China-Philippines Ships Collide Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal

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China-Philippines Ships Collide Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal

China-Philippines Ships Collide Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal

The Spin

The Controversies

Mearsheimer

Zhao

Milley

Glaser

Ing-wen

Goldstein

Sun

Rubio

Davidson

Minihan

Go Deeper

Articles on this story

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