Us, China Send Warships To Spratlys

[Mr Lee]

Is war inevitable US, China send warships to Spratlys http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news5_mar16_2009

[Old55]

Nope.

[Mike S]

Now they are saying it was only a fishing vessel sent to protect fishing rights ....... yea right ...... what are they going to do through their nets on the offending vessels or maybe pelt them with fish guts ......

[tom_shor]

The Chinese take what they want and they don't care what anyone thinks. There is no real reason they should have a claim in this area at all but they want it because there might be oil there and for the fishing rights. Since they are the biggest kid on the block they will bully everyone until they get what they want. The Spratlys will be a South China Sea Tibet.

[Dave Hounddriver]

I just did a search of the forum to find this old thread. The dispute over the Spratleys has been going on for years now and the Philippines seem to have got tired of waiting. Philippines to award oil contracts in disputed watersSouth China Sea exploration called illegal by ChinaManila: The Philippines Department of Energy will award oil exploration contracts in several areas including the disputed South China Sea to private firms, sources said.Details have already been prepared for the awarding of 15 service contracts — which China calls ‘illegal' — to oil exploration firms and announcements will be made this month, Energy Secretary Jose Almendras said, but did not offer further details.Some of the proposed service contracts are in east and north-west Palawan and the Sulu Sea, in the south-west and southern Philippines respectively.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Dave Hounddriver

[Tatoosh]

Well, we might want the oil, who doesn't these days, but we need to butt out. Just as the Philippines asked us to leave in the 90's, and now wants to posture to growing wealth and power of China, I think they need to a bit of Asian "Schooling" about how China deals with allies and opponents. Let the Philippines award contracts and enforce them, but without US warships involved.

[FlyAway]

For those so inclined to do some reading. Here is a write up from the Rand Corporation titled "Patterns in China's use of force". It was written in 2000. 12 years old but still some interesting information.http://www.rand.org/...2007/MR1160.pdfI think it is all about Male Peacocks showing off their feathers.

[Mike S]

I think it is all about Male Peacocks showing off their feathers.

I agree ... but they have oh so many feathers ....... :36_1_68[1]:

[Jake]

It would be nice if further oil exploration found only an insignificant amount of oil reserves in that area. We don't need another stupid reason to go to war for this pollutant of Mother Nature. Unfortunately,under the Mutual Defense Treaty, the US military may need to assist the Philippine government in beinganother bully in the neighborhood. I would love to see an American invention/improvement of the fuelcell, which will detach us from fossil fuel forever.

[Americano]

A few years ago the US president said on national TV that there was 60 million dollars for anyone who invented a new energy source that would help free the US from oil consumption. I was living in the USA and making $50,000 per year. I told my Filipino wife that I only needed about $100. to make my invention. Her family in the Philippines were so demanding that I never had $100 to make my invention that would have paid us millions. She sent every dollar to them that she could get and they always wanted more. Nothing was ever enough for her family. I was so happy to get away from them.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Americano