Thread: China 'building runway in disputed South China Sea island'

Originally Posted by OhOh

Dated 2019 so there will be some changes since then.

US retailers signal record imports each month in H1 2021
| Feb 08, 2021 4:58PM EST
Retailers project record year-over-year import volumes each month through June as US consumers continue to shop with no end in sight.
Trade-Lanes: US retailers signal record imports each month in H1 2021


Savannah cargo flow improving despite record Asia import surge: GPA
| Feb 11, 2021 2:25PM EST
Volume has jumped more than 20 percent for three consecutive months in Savannah, which has slowed the supply chain for some shippers but not nearly as much as in Southern California.
US Ports: Savannah cargo flow improving despite record Asia import surge

(Wondering whether it is all a result of the new "Buy American"?)

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Wondering that the HKer need so many goods as a half of USA. Obviously it's for re-export - guessing where to...

If you look at the site and select Hong Kong - Exports, it's mainly China:

Hong Kong Exports By Country	Value	Year
China	$296.07B	2019
United States	$39.12B	2019
India	$15.49B	2019
Japan	$15.47B	2019
Singapore	$10.77B	2019
Thailand	$10.45B	2019
Vietnam	$10.29B	2019

https://tradingeconomics.com/hong-kong/exports-by-country

Hong Kong had a trade agreement with ameristan which meant some goods were shipped from China to Hong Kong, two screws were tightened up and the "finished product" exported elsewhere.

IIRC the agreement has now been annulled, "human rights" I suspect.

It makes "China's" exports/GDP appear a little smaller.

It's like watching the chinkies suck the planet dry in slow motion.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Duterte won't do anything meaningful, he has his snout in the chinky trough.

About "meaningful" we read here daily a lot, don't we?

Perhaps he could call his friends to show up more muscle around?

Unfortunately, the Visiting is currently not so well "visited"...

China Faces Pushback after Adoption of Controversial Coast Guard Law


A new law which authorizes the China Coast Guard (CCG) to use force in the South China Sea is drawing growing international criticism and some apparent pushback at sea from another claimant.


Ship-tracking data show that twice this month, Malaysia’s navy and coast guard have sailed close to a CCG ship which lingered at the Luconia Shoals claimed by Malaysia since mid-January.


It suggests that despite the persistent presence of the CCG, which is better equipped than most of the navies in Southeast Asia, South China Sea claimants are not ready to give way as China presses its claim to sovereignty over most of these disputed waters.


Malaysian forces have maintained a consistent presence at the Luconia Shoals for years, according to Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.


“The Malaysians are certainly not lying down and get rolled over. They’re at least trying to maintain a counter-presence against China in the disputed area, cognizant of their own capacity and capability shortfalls,” Koh said.


“And of course, with the new Coast Guard Law promulgated by Beijing, we can expect the Malaysians to try to keep up what they can put up to challenge the CCG presence,” Koh told Radio Free Asia, a sister entity of BenarNews.


The U.S. State Department on Friday strongly criticized the law, adopted by China in January that grants the CCG more leeway in asserting China’s claims – a move that alarmed governments in Southeast Asian and beyond.


“The United States joins the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and other countries in expressing concern with China’s recently enacted Coast Guard law, which may escalate ongoing territorial and maritime disputes,” department spokesman Ned Price said.


“Language in that law, including text allowing the coast guard to destroy other countries’ economic structures and to use force in defending China’s maritime claims in disputed areas, strongly implies this law could be used to intimidate the PRC’s maritime neighbors,” he said, referring to the People’s Republic of China.


After Price’s remarks, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo told BenarNews that “we will be, as we have always been, resolute in protecting our maritime domain – regardless of what laws other countries may pass.”


“The protection of our territory and the upholding of the interest our people is our primary interest,” Arevalo said.


Earlier in February, the commander of the AFP said that the Philippines is planning to deploy more assets in the South China Sea in response to China’s new Coast Guard Law, BenarNews reported.


For years, the CCG has asserted China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, where China is locked in a series of overlapping maritime and territorial disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Indonesia does not regard itself as party to the South China Sea dispute, but Beijing claims historic rights to parts of that sea overlapping Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone.


The law adopted in late January by the National People’s Congress deepened concern that the CCG could intensify it behavior. The law explicitly states China’s coastguard and other maritime law enforcement agencies may use small arms, such as rifles, or shipborne-weapons such as deck-mounted guns, when handling foreign ships infringing upon waters that China claims as its own.


In the latest example of the CCG patrolling off the shores of other claimants, its ships have confronted Vietnamese ships at two locations in the South China Sea in recent days.


On Saturday, the CCG 5304 sailed out from China’s artificial island built on Subi Reef in the Spratly islands, arriving at a Vietnamese oil and gas block about 170 nautical miles off the coast of Vung Tau in Vietnam the following day, ship-tracking data show.


The CCG 5304 appears to have approached within one nautical mile of the PTSC Bien Dong 1, a Vietnamese floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit – likely signaling Chinese opposition to efforts to exploit resources in disputed areas of the South China Sea also claimed by China.


And on Monday, two CCG ships confronted a Vietnam-flagged ship in waters between Quang Ngai in Vietnam and the Paracel Islands, which are occupied by China despite claims from Vietnam and Taiwan.


The Vietnam-flagged ship –identified as “Benhai08629” on the MarineTraffic ship-tracker – left port from Da Nang on Feb. 15, navigating to an area about 110 nautical miles off the coast of Quang Ngai. Ship-tracking data show the CCG 4203 and CCG 4201 approaching the Benhai 08629 on Monday, coming within a few nautical miles of the vessel.


BenarNews could not confirm any additional information about the Benhai 08629, such who owns the vessel or what type of craft it is.


The latest apparent confrontation between the CCG and Malaysia began last week at South Luconia Shoals, which are about 100 nautical miles from the coast of Malaysia, and nearly 1,000 nautical miles from the southern coast of the Chinese mainland.


According to ship-tracking data, the KD Keris – shown on the MarineTraffic ship-tracking platform as “RMN WARSHIP 111” – sailed out from Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia on Feb. 18, arriving at the South Luconia Shoals on the same day. As of Monday, the KD Keris was in the area.


Two sources in the Malaysian military confirmed for BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated news service, that RMN WARSHIP 111 is indeed the KD Keris. Neither source was authorized to speak to reporters and so requested anonymity.

A CCG ship, the HJ5202, has been operating around the South Luconia Shoals since Jan. 17. Earlier in February, BenarNews reported that a Malaysian coastguard vessel sailed up to the South Luconia Shoals in an apparent challenge to the HJ5202.


A source in the Malaysian military told BenarNews that the Luconia Shoals are part of Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone, and that the Luconia Shoals area is part of the patrol area of the KD Keris.


“Malaysian navy ships or Malaysian coast guard ships always being sent to Beting Patinggi Ali [Luconia Shoals] to monitor the activities in the area. Any ships local or international can pass through the area but cannot conduct any economic activity in the exclusive economic zone such as drilling or fishery activities without consent,” the source said.

China Faces Pushback after Adoption of Controversial Coast Guard Law — BenarNews

It suggests that despite the persistent presence of the CCG, which is better equipped than most of the navies in Southeast Asia, South China Sea claimants are not ready to give way as China presses its claim to sovereignty over most of these disputed waters.

Good for them.

I expect the chinkies are whinging about it.

If China receives enough real pushback they'll get very, very upset and talk about 5000 years of history and threaten . . .

China has Borneo in its list of first places to colonise in south east Asia.

Actually, it doesn't.

Share with us where you get this info from

It's called an opinion. Thanks for yours.

Ah, an opinion . . . that China's first priority is the colonisation of Borneo . . . that includes the Indonesian part as well. Whew, good luck to them

The opinion, if you read carefully, is that it's in the list of first places. That's different to the first priority. The opinion also doesn't state that it includes immediate colonisation of the whole island. They'll start with Sabah or Sarawak, in which many if not most want independence from Malaysia.

Originally Posted by Wakey

The opinion, if you read carefully, is that it's in the list of first places

Originally Posted by Wakey

China has Borneo in its list of first places to colonise in south east Asia.

Umm, ok. Where is this 'list' then?

Originally Posted by Wakey

They'll start with Sabah or Sarawak, in which many if not most want independence from Malaysia.

Again, you're talking shit - "many if not most" - is that also 'opinion' with no basis in fact? Must be easy - just post crap and defend your assertion by saying it's just 'opinion'.

Go for it

Weird responses. Can you only deal in facts and not opinions? Life must be a bundle of fun!

Originally Posted by Wakey

Weird responses. Can you only deal in facts and not opinions? Life must be a bundle of fun!

"Opinions are like arseholes. Everybody's got one and most of them stink".

Philippines says 220 Chinese militia vessels seen in disputed waters this month

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines expressed concern about hundreds of Chinese military vessels it said were spotted this month in the disputed South China Sea, the latest example of tension in the crucial waterway.


The Philippine Coast Guard reported that some 220 vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were seen moored in line formation at a reef on March 7, a cross-government task force said late on Saturday.


Foreign minister Teodoro Locsin, asked whether he would file a diplomatic protest over the ships’ presence, told a journalist on Twitter: “Only if the generals tell me. In my watch foreign policy is the fist in the iron glove of the armed forces.”


The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea expressed concern about overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation.

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday, and calls to the Chinese embassy in Manila seeking comment went unanswered.


An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated China’s claim to 90% of the South China Sea, but Beijing does not recognise the ruling. China in recent years has built islands in the disputed waters, putting air strips on some of them.


Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei all claim parts of the sea.


In January, the Philippines protested a new Chinese law allowing its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels, describing it as a “threat of war”.


The United States has repeatedly denounced what it called China’s attempts to bully neighbours with competing interests, while Beijing has criticised Washington for what it calls interference in its internal affairs.


The Chinese vessels were at the Julian Felipe Reef, also called Whitsun Reef, in Manila’s exclusive economic zone, the task force said, describing the site as “a large boomerang-shaped shallow coral reef at the northeast of Pagkakaisa Banks and Reefs.”


“Despite clear weather at the time, the Chinese vessels massed at the reef showed no actual fishing activities and had their full white lights turned on during night time,” it said in a statement.


The Philippines vowed to monitor the situation and “to peacefully and proactively pursue its initiatives on environmental protection, food security and freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea.


Philippines says 220 Chinese militia vessels seen in disputed waters this month | Reuters

Chinky bastards at it again.

Originally Posted by misskit

The Philippines vowed to monitor the situation

Legends . . . true warrior legends

"We are proud that China and the Philippines are two great friends. And I welcome you to your new assignment. May it be productive. And I'm ready to accept your letter of credence," Duterte told Huang, who arrived in Manila on Tuesday.

..?.., come to my assistance!
Wrong I was in calling
Spirits, I avow,
For I find them galling,
Cannot rule them now.

Originally Posted by misskit

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that some 220 vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel,

By an unnamed ghost no doubt?

In addition, some suggest that "freedom of passage", for commercial and military "vessels", applies to all nations.

Originally Posted by OhOh

In addition, some suggest that "freedom of passage", for commercial and military "vessels", applies to all nations.

So why are the chinkies always bleating when anyone else does it?

Originally Posted by misskit

Philippines says 220 Chinese militia vessels seen in disputed waters this month

“Despite clear weather at the time, the Chinese vessels massed at the reef showed no actual fishing activities and had their full white lights turned on during night time,” it said in a statement.

This reef used only to emerge at low tides and was theoretically unclaimable. In recent years, some sand has piled up beside the reef, sand which remains above the water at high tide. In theory, it is now claimable. The source of the sand is unclear. It could be a natural phenomenon. Or not.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

So why are the chinkies always bleating when anyone else does it?

>
SOP diplomatic procedures "arry.

Originally Posted by OhOh

>
SOP diplomatic procedures "arry.

It is for those snivelling fucking whiners, yes.