Latest news with #RayPowell
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
‘Confrontation' in South China Sea as US Ally Challenges Beijing
A standoff occurred between the Chinese and Philippine coast guards off the Philippine province of Palawan, according to ship-tracking data shared by a maritime analyst on Tuesday. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Philippine coast guard via email for comment outside of office hours. Tensions are running high between Beijing and Manila over China's expanding activities within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, hundreds of miles from Chinese shores. Beijing claims over 80 percent of the South China Sea as its territory, asserting historical rights. Philippine efforts to challenge Chinese maritime forces, spearheaded by China's large, reinforced-hull coast guard ships, have resulted in clashes at South China Sea flashpoints, raising concerns that a miscalculation could trigger the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and draw U.S. forces into conflict with China. Tuesday's maritime confrontation occurred when three Chinese coast guard ships challenged a group of Philippine vessels about 60 miles off the westernmost Philippine province of Palawan, Ray Powell, director of the Stanford University-affiliated maritime group SeaLight, wrote on X (formerly Twitter). That's well within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile (230-mile) exclusive economic zone, where Manila alone is entitled to fishing and natural resource management rights under international law. The Philippine contingent—comprised of two coast guard cutters and a civilian patrol vessel from the national fisheries bureau—had escorted what appeared to be a fishing vessel into waters south of Half Moon Shoal, an atoll west of Palawan and on the edge of the contested Spratly Islands archipelago. An illustration shared by Powell depicts a web of ship tracks as Chinese and Philippine vessels maneuvered around each other, in an encounter reminiscent of previous standoffs at other Spratly hotspots, such as Sabina Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague dismissed China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea. Beijing maintains that the decision is invalid. Chinese analyst Liu Xiaobo, at a recent event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies: "China's maritime rights protection in the South China Sea is mainly carried out by the coast guard. "And there are more and more coast guard in the South China Sea, but it's very rare to see the Chinese navy because, to China, using the navy is very to easy to lead into escalation. In China's view, this is another kind of self-restraint." Both China and the Philippines are unlikely to budge on the long-running dispute. - Related Articles FBI Raises 'Alarming' Claims of Chinese Interference in 2020 ElectionUS Ally Doubles Down on Missiles Angering ChinaUS Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington Counters China Navy PresenceChina Touts Weapons Capabilities As Iran's Defenses Collapse 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
'Confrontation' in South China Sea as US Ally Challenges Beijing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A standoff occurred between the Chinese and Philippine coast guards off the Philippine province of Palawan, according to ship-tracking data shared by a maritime analyst on Tuesday. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Philippine coast guard via email for comment outside of office hours. Why It Matters Tensions are running high between Beijing and Manila over China's expanding activities within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, hundreds of miles from Chinese shores. Beijing claims over 80 percent of the South China Sea as its territory, asserting historical rights. Philippine efforts to challenge Chinese maritime forces, spearheaded by China's large, reinforced-hull coast guard ships, have resulted in clashes at South China Sea flashpoints, raising concerns that a miscalculation could trigger the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and draw U.S. forces into conflict with China. A Chinese Coast Guard ship near the Philippine-occupied island of Thitu in the disputed South China Sea on June 3, 2025. A Chinese Coast Guard ship near the Philippine-occupied island of Thitu in the disputed South China Sea on June 3, 2025. Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Tuesday's maritime confrontation occurred when three Chinese coast guard ships challenged a group of Philippine vessels about 60 miles off the westernmost Philippine province of Palawan, Ray Powell, director of the Stanford University-affiliated maritime group SeaLight, wrote on X (formerly Twitter). That's well within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile (230-mile) exclusive economic zone, where Manila alone is entitled to fishing and natural resource management rights under international law. The Philippine contingent—comprised of two coast guard cutters and a civilian patrol vessel from the national fisheries bureau—had escorted what appeared to be a fishing vessel into waters south of Half Moon Shoal, an atoll west of Palawan and on the edge of the contested Spratly Islands archipelago. 🇵🇭🇨🇳MARITIME CONFRONTATION NEAR PALAWAN: Two #Philippines Coast Guard (BRP Cape San Augustin & BRP Cape Engano) & one fisheries vessel (BRP Lapu Lapu) have escorted a ship ID'd as Panama-flagged Kunimatsu 3 from Puerto Princesa to an area south of Half Moon Shoal, 50-55nm from… — Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) June 16, 2025 An illustration shared by Powell depicts a web of ship tracks as Chinese and Philippine vessels maneuvered around each other, in an encounter reminiscent of previous standoffs at other Spratly hotspots, such as Sabina Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague dismissed China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea. Beijing maintains that the decision is invalid. What People Are Saying Chinese analyst Liu Xiaobo, at a recent event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies: "China's maritime rights protection in the South China Sea is mainly carried out by the coast guard. "And there are more and more coast guard in the South China Sea, but it's very rare to see the Chinese navy because, to China, using the navy is very to easy to lead into escalation. In China's view, this is another kind of self-restraint." What Happens Next Both China and the Philippines are unlikely to budge on the long-running dispute. -
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Does Philippines have ‘credible' undersea might against China? Drills spotlight capability gaps
The Philippines remains dangerously under-equipped to counter China's growing undersea operations in the South China Sea , analysts warn, as joint anti-submarine drills with Japan spotlight the urgent need for Manila to strengthen its underwater warfare capabilities. The two-day exercises, which began on Saturday, were the first large-scale joint exercises since Japan 's Diet ratified the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with the Philippines earlier this month, following Manila's approval last July, allowing joint deployments between the two countries' forces. Observers say Japan's advanced submarine warfare expertise could play a critical role in helping Manila build a credible ability to detect and deter Beijing's underwater operations in the West Philippine Sea – Manila's term for parts of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone. A member of the Philippine Navy looks out at the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force's destroyer Takanami during a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea on June 14. Photo: Jiji Press / AFP Maritime security expert Ray Powell said Japan's advanced anti-submarine warfare expertise, now more accessible to Manila through the RAA, could play a critical role in helping the Philippines address its capability gaps. Powell, a retired US Air Force officer, added that as an archipelagic nation facing a persistent and aggressive maritime threat from China, the Philippines must prioritise the development of its undersea domain awareness and response capabilities. 'The documented discovery of Chinese underwater drones collecting bathymetric and acoustic data in Philippine waters demonstrates Beijing's will and capacity to conduct undetected undersea operations, making it imperative for the Philippines to demonstrate a credible deterrent in this domain,' he told This Week in Asia. 'Japan's advanced submarine warfare expertise and maritime surveillance technology, now more accessible as a result of the ratified Reciprocal Access Agreement, can be an important enabler in this regard.'
Newsweek
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Chinese Ship Detected Near US Military Exercises With Ally
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Chinese government research ship has been observed inside the Philippines' maritime zone, close to where the Southeast Asian country and the U.S. are conducting their largest annual military exercise. Its presence raises questions over whether its purpose is purely scientific. Why It Matters The arrival of the Tan Suo San Hao, or Discovery No. 3, comes amid territorial tensions between Manila and Beijing, as China ramps up its activity within the Philippines' internationally recognized exclusive economic zone (EEZ)—which extends 200 nautical miles (230 miles) from the coast and within which Manila alone is entitled to natural resources under international maritime law. China claims most of the South China Sea as its territory. Its coast guard has employed increasingly forceful tactics to assert these claims, including the use of water cannon that have injured Philippine sailors, raising concerns over what might trigger Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington. Newsweek reached out to the Philippine coast guard and the Chinese Foreign Ministry with written requests for comment. What To Know The Discovery No. 3 remained within the Philippine EEZ as of Monday morning local time, according to ship-tracking data shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Ray Powell, director of the Stanford University-affiliated SeaLight maritime analysis organization. The Philippines dispatched the BRP Teresa Magbanua, one of its largest coast guard ships, to intercept the Chinese vessel, based on AIS location transponder data from both ships. The vessel has been operating southeast of the Batanes islands, where the U.S. has for the first time deployed an NMESIS ship-killing missile system as part of the ongoing joint drills. This undated photo released in December by Chinese state media, shows the Tan Suo San Hao, hailed as China's "first comprehensive scientific research ship." This undated photo released in December by Chinese state media, shows the Tan Suo San Hao, hailed as China's "first comprehensive scientific research ship." China Media Group China's first "comprehensive scientific research ship," the Discovery No. 3, was delivered in December to the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, part of the state-run Chinese Academy of Sciences. The 340-foot vessel was designed with icebreaking capabilities, can accommodate up to 80 personnel, and can support deep-sea operations in icy environments. The potential for this and other research vessels to serve dual purposes—along with behaviors such as disabling AIS transponders for days to avoid detection—has raised concerns that they are being used to gather intelligence on a massive scale for the Chinese military. China has stressed these civilian ships are engaged in scientific research. The Batanes islands, the Philippines' northernmost territory, lie in the strategic Bashi Channel—a key chokepoint in the event of a conflict involving Taiwan, the self-governed island claimed by China. As the Philippines and the U.S. kicked off their joint drills, China reiterated its claim over Taiwan and warned that "those who play with fire will set themselves on fire." Chinese naval forces appear to have been observing Balikatan events from distance. Chinese aircraft carrier the Shandong was spotted just a few miles off the northern Philippines' far northern Baubuyan island, said ABS-CBN, citing the Philippine navy. Separately, three other warships were spotted about 30 miles off the Philippines' Zambales province on April 27. What People Are Saying The Center for Strategic International Studies wrote in a January report: China's dual-use approach to oceanographic research raises questions about the nature of these activities. Many vessels that undertake missions for peaceful purposes are also capable of providing the PLA with critical data about the world's oceans. Of the 64 active vessels, over 80 percent have demonstrated suspect behavior or possess organizational links suggesting their involvement in advancing Beijing's geopolitical agenda. What's Next The Balikatan drills will conclude on May 10.
Telegraph
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
China using ‘mysterious structures' to claim territory
South Korea fears China is using a series of steel structures to lay claim to a disputed area of the Yellow Sea. Seoul's foreign ministry on Thursday expressed 'deep concern' to Beijing over a gigantic sea rig it has installed in an area where the two nations' exclusive economic zones overlap. China dismissed the concerns, saying that the structure is a fish farm support facility and that it had nothing to do with territorial rights. However, South Korea, which demanded that its 'legitimate maritime rights not be violated', believes China could be attempting to expand its waters using tactics it used a decade ago in the South China Sea. Seoul says the structure, an old French oil rig with a helicopter landing pad, is effectively an artificial island designed to reinforce Beijing's claims over the area. Other Chinese facilities, the Shenlan-1 and Shenlan-2 platforms, are located nearby. China says they are fish farms. On Wednesday, Cho Tae-yul, the South Korean foreign minister, told parliament the government was considering a response that could include installing a similar facility in the area to reinforce its own territorial claims. Analysts discovered the rig, reportedly the size of a football pitch, after South Korean media reported a standoff between Korean vessels investigating the structure, and the Chinese coast guard. Ray Powell, director of maritime analysis group SeaLight, tracked one of the ships involved in the incident, and told Newsweek: 'I knew I could find the coordinates of the mysterious 'steel structure' I kept reading about'. The structures are located in the provisional measures zone, a disputed area where, under an agreement signed in 2001, fishing boats are permitted to operate. The agreement, however, expressly forbids the construction of facilities as well as searching for or developing natural resources in the area. Mr Powell said China could be using the rigs in a 'salami-slicing' strategy designed to incrementally expand its presence in the disputed waters. In 2020, Beijing unilaterally declared the zone to be its 'internal waters'. Familiar tactics The face-off between Seoul and Beijing has echoes of an incident in 2014, when China put an oil rig within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone to expand its control over a large part of the South China Sea and the Paracel Islands. Vietnam responded decisively and China withdrew the rig after two months, claiming their research had been completed early. China has employed a similar tactic in Japanese waters, anchoring large buoys within Japan's exclusive economic zone and claiming that they are merely weather and ocean monitoring devices and that Japan has no reason to interfere with the equipment. One of the buoys is close to the uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which are administered by Japan but claimed by China. Beijing has previously sought to shore up its claims over virtually the entire South China Sea by building island bases on coral atolls.
