South China Sea Forum
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US to help Philippines with radar: Pentagon
WASHINGTON: The US military said on Tuesday it plans to provide a land-based radar to the Philippines, as the country faces an escalating dispute with China over territorial rights off its shore.
The radar would form part of a “watch center” to help track ships off the island nation’s coast line, a Pentagon spokeswoman said.
“We are in the initial planning stages of assisting the Philippines with a National Coast Watch Center,” Major Catherine Wilkinson told AFP.
“This center will improve their maritime domain awareness of a breadth of security issues including counter proliferation of WMD (weapons of mass destruction) to countering illegal smuggling,” she said.
The cost and the time line for the project were still being worked out, she said.
Plans to provide a powerful radar to the Philippines came after Philippine President Benigno Aquino paid a visit last week to the White House, where he was offered a robust show of support.
Manila has asked for the radar system and other military assistance to bolster its position in a row with Beijing over the Scarborough Shoal, which lies near the main Philippine island of Luzon.
China claims the area along with virtually all of the South China Sea up to the shores of other Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The move reflects Washington’s strategic shift towards Asia amid a growing rivalry with Beijing, with the South China Sea at the center of the contest, analysts said.
“Land-based radar is one of the practical ways the United States can simultaneously boost Philippine defense capabilities and signal Washington’s long-term commitment to Asia,” said Patrick Cronin, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank.
China may choose to defuse tensions just before a gathering of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations next month, Cronin said.
“But it is also possible that China is determined to humiliate the Philippines and, indirectly, the United States,” he told AFP.
The Philippines has also expressed interest in patrol vessels and aircraft to help monitor the vast waters off its coast, where the Chinese have sent ships to assert their territorial claims.
It was unlikely the United States would look at providing military aircraft at a time when China may be preparing a conciliatory gesture, Cronin said.
“If China persists with embarrassing the Philippines, then I have no doubt aircraft sales will follow,” he said.
US to help Philippines with radar: Pentagon - thenews.com.pk
WASHINGTON: The US military said on Tuesday it plans to provide a land-based radar to the Philippines, as the country faces an escalating dispute with China over territorial rights off its shore.
The radar would form part of a “watch center” to help track ships off the island nation’s coast line, a Pentagon spokeswoman said.
“We are in the initial planning stages of assisting the Philippines with a National Coast Watch Center,” Major Catherine Wilkinson told AFP.
“This center will improve their maritime domain awareness of a breadth of security issues including counter proliferation of WMD (weapons of mass destruction) to countering illegal smuggling,” she said.
The cost and the time line for the project were still being worked out, she said.
Plans to provide a powerful radar to the Philippines came after Philippine President Benigno Aquino paid a visit last week to the White House, where he was offered a robust show of support.
Manila has asked for the radar system and other military assistance to bolster its position in a row with Beijing over the Scarborough Shoal, which lies near the main Philippine island of Luzon.
China claims the area along with virtually all of the South China Sea up to the shores of other Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The move reflects Washington’s strategic shift towards Asia amid a growing rivalry with Beijing, with the South China Sea at the center of the contest, analysts said.
“Land-based radar is one of the practical ways the United States can simultaneously boost Philippine defense capabilities and signal Washington’s long-term commitment to Asia,” said Patrick Cronin, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank.
China may choose to defuse tensions just before a gathering of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations next month, Cronin said.
“But it is also possible that China is determined to humiliate the Philippines and, indirectly, the United States,” he told AFP.
The Philippines has also expressed interest in patrol vessels and aircraft to help monitor the vast waters off its coast, where the Chinese have sent ships to assert their territorial claims.
It was unlikely the United States would look at providing military aircraft at a time when China may be preparing a conciliatory gesture, Cronin said.
“If China persists with embarrassing the Philippines, then I have no doubt aircraft sales will follow,” he said.
US to help Philippines with radar: Pentagon - thenews.com.pk
That guy in the video just died June 4, 2012
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kalu_miah
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Rechoice bro, this T-Rex guy may be from Bangladesh, because his anti-India sentiment is right-on and it seems he knows about internal situation in Bangladesh. But it is obvious that he is a shameless blind supporter of China, which is not correct Bangladeshi viewpoint in my opinion. Any Bangladeshi would support Bangladesh interest first, not China interest forgetting the multi-dimensional aspect of Bangladesh national interest. Having said that China is an ally and friendly nation to Bangladesh, there is no doubt about that. Although in my personal opinion, for our long term future, we would rather stand with ASEAN or ASEAN+, which we want to become a part of. China is not in a position to offer us that kind of close relationship.
anon45
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That guy in the video just died June 4, 2012
May he rest in peace, his work has been one of the finest troll detectors on the internet.
SinoChallenger
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Now our enemies are fighting among themselves after being humiliated by China
Australia Network News:Stories:'Australians out': Philippines activists fight military visits
'Australians out': Philippines activists fight military visits
Australia is caught in a political row in the Philippines over American forces in Asia and the Pacific.
Anti-war and civil society groups in the Philippines are campaigning against the renewal of a military agreement with Australia.
But the country's senate leader has warned that with China flexing its muscle, now is not the time to block Australian forces.
The Visiting Forces Agreement, or VFA, with Australia goes before the Philippines senate next mnnth for a final vote on ratification.
Philippines non-government organisations see the agreement with Australia as part of a US-led military build-up in the Asian region, and plan to stage a protest outside the Australian embassy in Manila later this week.
The protesters point out - as recently announced - that America plans to station about 60 per cent of its war fleet in the Asian region by 2020.
Agreements on big US bases in the Philippines were revoked after the fall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
However, activist groups say since then Philippines governments have used the VFAs to effectively re-base significant US military forces there.
Corazon Fabros, lead convenor of the Stop the War Coalition in the Philippines, told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program: "The presence of foreign troops in our country does not help in terms of maintaining peace and security."
She claims the Philippines constitution prohibits a US armed presence.
The coalition says joint military exercises are bad for local communities because they generate prostitution and sexual abuse of women.
Also, "we've had many experiences with the United States forces of injuries and damage to properties," Ms Fabros said.
"We feel that the VFA has been a way for the United States and our government to get around the prohibition against the presence of US troops in our country."
Overseas forces, she said. are not bound by local laws. "We've had a very controversial experience in the recent past, of the rape of a Filipina by a US marine.
"That had been a classic example of how a US soldier has been treated and privileged, if they commit a crime on Philippine soil."
The Philippines senate will be considering the issue of the VFA with Australia at the end of July.
Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile has warned that now is not the time to abandon the VFA with Australia - especially given China's muscle-flexing in the South China Sea.
Ms Fabros said the "China question" is often trotted out as a justification.
"We are definitely against using our territory for the training and military exercises," she told Radio Australia.
"We're not at war with any country, we need to uphold the Philippine constitution. We need strong allies, far beyond being used as military training ground and the rest and recreation of foreign troops.
"The Philippines should develop strong diplomatic ties with other countries, especially with its neighbouring nations, around Asia and the Pacific, to forge cooperation.
"We need to maintain our friendly relations, our independence, our neutrality."
Australia Network News:Stories:'Australians out': Philippines activists fight military visits
'Australians out': Philippines activists fight military visits
Australia is caught in a political row in the Philippines over American forces in Asia and the Pacific.
Anti-war and civil society groups in the Philippines are campaigning against the renewal of a military agreement with Australia.
But the country's senate leader has warned that with China flexing its muscle, now is not the time to block Australian forces.
The Visiting Forces Agreement, or VFA, with Australia goes before the Philippines senate next mnnth for a final vote on ratification.
Philippines non-government organisations see the agreement with Australia as part of a US-led military build-up in the Asian region, and plan to stage a protest outside the Australian embassy in Manila later this week.
The protesters point out - as recently announced - that America plans to station about 60 per cent of its war fleet in the Asian region by 2020.
Agreements on big US bases in the Philippines were revoked after the fall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
However, activist groups say since then Philippines governments have used the VFAs to effectively re-base significant US military forces there.
Corazon Fabros, lead convenor of the Stop the War Coalition in the Philippines, told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program: "The presence of foreign troops in our country does not help in terms of maintaining peace and security."
She claims the Philippines constitution prohibits a US armed presence.
The coalition says joint military exercises are bad for local communities because they generate prostitution and sexual abuse of women.
Also, "we've had many experiences with the United States forces of injuries and damage to properties," Ms Fabros said.
"We feel that the VFA has been a way for the United States and our government to get around the prohibition against the presence of US troops in our country."
Overseas forces, she said. are not bound by local laws. "We've had a very controversial experience in the recent past, of the rape of a Filipina by a US marine.
"That had been a classic example of how a US soldier has been treated and privileged, if they commit a crime on Philippine soil."
The Philippines senate will be considering the issue of the VFA with Australia at the end of July.
Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile has warned that now is not the time to abandon the VFA with Australia - especially given China's muscle-flexing in the South China Sea.
Ms Fabros said the "China question" is often trotted out as a justification.
"We are definitely against using our territory for the training and military exercises," she told Radio Australia.
"We're not at war with any country, we need to uphold the Philippine constitution. We need strong allies, far beyond being used as military training ground and the rest and recreation of foreign troops.
"The Philippines should develop strong diplomatic ties with other countries, especially with its neighbouring nations, around Asia and the Pacific, to forge cooperation.
"We need to maintain our friendly relations, our independence, our neutrality."
ViXuyen
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Since there are so many threads in this forum regarding the Spratly Island issue, I would like to dedicate a thread to posting pictures & videos about these islands so people can have a feel of what these islands are about and the life and activities revolved around these islands. Credits go to those who took and captured these pictures and videos as I do not possess them.
Len Dao island
An Bang island
Truong Sa Lon island
Phan Vinh island
Co Lin island
Nam Yet island
Thuyen Chai island
Nui Le island
Len Dao island
An Bang island
Truong Sa Lon island
Phan Vinh island
Co Lin island
Nam Yet island
Thuyen Chai island
Nui Le island
S10
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Most "islands" in South China Sea are simply rocks with structures built on top of them by countries with competing claims to demonstrate sovereignty and control. Vast majority do not have fresh water supply. Most of these structures were built after 1980's when disputes began to heat up. Currently Vietnam holds about 40 islands in the area. Philippines has 9 and China has 7. In terms of number of ships deployed and patrolling in the region, China has more ships than all other claimants put together. If the area wasn't a potential flashpoint, the opportunity for tourism would be immense due to lack of pollution.
Battle of Bach Dang River
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Only in the islands of Song Tử Tây, Nam Yết and Trường Sa there are Vietnamese civilians living there?
ViXuyen
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Trips to the islands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vskfK50GZEo&feature=player_embedded
Chùa trên qu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuBwScJN7Q&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbpx1WoOiXI&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1dg1YqZwBw&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5K22Sb6MYk&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpmyUgEqd_E&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vskfK50GZEo&feature=player_embedded
Chùa trên qu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuBwScJN7Q&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbpx1WoOiXI&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1dg1YqZwBw&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5K22Sb6MYk&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpmyUgEqd_E&feature=player_embedded
Battle of Bach Dang River
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A ceramic Vietnam's flag on the Truong Sa archipelago (12.4 x 25m):
Battle of Bach Dang River
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Vietnamese citizens born in the island communes under Spratly Islands District, Khanh Hoa Province:
Battle of Bach Dang River
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The pagodas on Trường Sa Islands (Spratlys), Khánh Hoà province,
Việt Nam:
A Pagoda on Song Tử Tây island commune, Trường Sa Islands District, Khánh Hòa Province:
.............................................................................................................................
A Pagoda on Trường Sa lớn island town, Trường Sa Islands District, Khánh Hòa Province:
..............................................................................................................................
A Pagoda on Sinh Tồn island commune, Trường Sa Islands District, Khánh Hòa Province:
Việt Nam:
A Pagoda on Song Tử Tây island commune, Trường Sa Islands District, Khánh Hòa Province:
.............................................................................................................................
A Pagoda on Trường Sa lớn island town, Trường Sa Islands District, Khánh Hòa Province:
..............................................................................................................................
A Pagoda on Sinh Tồn island commune, Trường Sa Islands District, Khánh Hòa Province:
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