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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. -
Miami Herald
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
China Mapping Seafloor Around US Allies to Send Nuclear Submarines-Analyst
A Chinese vessel is suspected of mapping the seafloor around U.S. allies Australia and New Zealand to support submarine deployments, an analyst has said. All observed activities conducted by the ship, Tan Suo Yi Hao, "appear to be in accordance with international law," the Australian Defense Department told Newsweek. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment by email. The Tan Suo Yi Hao, which means "Discovery One" in English, is operated by the state-run Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering. It is built for conducting deep-sea exploration and is the mother ship of two types of submersibles. China is expanding its military reach and presence within and beyond the western Pacific Ocean with the largest navy in the world by hull count-which has more than 370 vessels, including 12 nuclear-powered submarines, according to the latest Pentagon assessment. Last summer, three Chinese research vessels were tracked operating in the Indian Ocean for suspected survey missions, which could be used to aid in China's submarine warfare. Both Australia and New Zealand are part of the Five Eyes, a U.S.-led intelligence alliance. The Tan Suo Yi Hao was underway in the southeastern portion of the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia as of Tuesday, Ray Powell, the director of the Stanford University-affiliated SeaLight maritime analysis organization, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. A Newsweek map shows the Chinese ship was outside the Australian 200-nautical-mile (230-mile) exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It previously transited the Great Australian Bight off Australia's southern coastline and the country's EEZ after leaving New Zealand. The Chinese vessel did not take the "most direct" route back to China, where it is expected to arrive on April 30, Powell said, adding that the "dual-purpose" ship, which is reportedly capable of gathering intelligence, has another objective: surveying the Diamantina Trench. According to Powell, the Tan Suo Yi Hao paused its voyage twice over the trench, which has a depth of 8,047 meters (26,401 feet). The analyst said this could indicate the deployment of submersibles, which can reach 10,000 meters below sea level, according to its operator. The "most obvious" reason for China to carry out deep-sea research off Australia and New Zealand would be to facilitate its submarine force deployments, including submarines that are armed with nuclear missiles, at "strategic deep-sea locations," the analyst concluded. Prior to its voyage near Australia, the Chinese vessel conducted a joint research expedition from January to March with scientists from New Zealand at the Puysegur Trench's deepest point, located 6,208 meters below sea level and to the southwest of New Zealand. In a statement to Newsweek, a spokesperson for the Australian Defense Department said the "Chinese government-owned" Tan Suo Yi Hao was approximately 737 nautical miles west-southwest of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, as of Tuesday. Australia has not observed the Chinese deep-sea science and engineering research vessel "conducting maritime research or survey activities" within its EEZ, the statement added. Marine scientific research within the EEZ waters "shall be conducted with the consent of the coastal state," according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. A spokesperson for the Australian Defense Department said: "[The Australian Defense Force] monitored the Tan Suo Yi Hao as it transited to the south of Australia and while it remained in our maritime approaches." A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Australia said: "Over recent years China has conducted joint scientific expeditions with multiple countries, making positive contribution to global marine biodiversity protection and sustainable development. Politicizing or stigmatizing of the research activities is disrespectful to global scientific development." Alex Luck, a naval analyst in Australia, wrote on X: "China has had a long-standing program running to reach some of the deepest maritime regions. This has research applications, but also an obvious political and reputational angle as a maritime nation." It remains to be seen how long the Tan Suo Yi Hao will stay in the waters off Australia. Its voyage comes after China sent a flotilla for an unprecedented circumnavigation of Australia and the deployment of an American nuclear-powered submarine to Australia. Related Articles China Responds to Zelensky's Claim Chinese Soldiers Captured in UkraineNew Trump Tariffs Imposed With Over 100% on ChinaTrump Admin Responds to Ukraine's Capture of Chinese TroopsChina Reacts to Pete Hegseth's Panama Canal Remarks 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
