It resulted in an encounter that lasted several hours before the Philippine ships turned back.

Tensions between Manila and Beijing remain high after the Philippines coast guard cut China’s barriers in disputed waters last month.

Manila resupplies its outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal, in the Spratly Islands, every month to reinforce its economic rights to waters that are both rich in fish and mineral resources.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the Spratlys, which is also claimed in part by the Philippines.

  • worldwidewave@lemmy.world
    1221·
    1 year ago

    Imperialism, that’s what this is. It’s a naked land (or, I guess, mainly water) grab for strategic reasons, from land that is already owned by other nations.

    For many of the same reasons that we can’t allow Putin to take any more European land, if the world turns a blind eye to China brazenly stealing territory in the South China Sea, what will they take next?

    • WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world
      545·
      1 year ago

      This is merely a precursor. Just wait until the broader resource wars kick off in the next 10-20 years.

      • We’re rapidly depleting fresh water reserves everywhere, from groundwater to glaciers.
      • Arable land is being squandered
      • There aren’t enough finite resources to convert the world to a zero carbon energy grid, whether the blocker is hard (not enough) or soft (extraction &/or refinement is economically unfeasible)

      There are probably going to be dozens of wars fought directly due to resource constraints in the next 50 years.