Warships steam to stormy seas - Huangyan islands - Scarborough Shoal

Warships steam to stormy seas
Agencies and Phila Siu 
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Standard


China has sent five warships to the disputed Scarborough Shoal off the west coast of the Philippines with the warning that Beijing is ready for "any escalation" of the conflict.
That comes as the outgunned Philippines looks to the United States for naval support in South China Sea territory that may be rich in energy sources.


The five warships are said to be among the most advanced vessels in the Chinese fleet.


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They include ships with state-of-the- art systems against attack from the sky, while one is an assault ship that carries 20 amphibious tanks and specialized fighting teams among 800 personnel.


Japanese surveillance aircraft saw the flotilla west of Okinawa and sailing south on Sunday.


Experts said they appeared to be rehearsing emergency drills while sailing full speed ahead.


Reports from the Philippines, meanwhile, are that an increasing number of Chinese boats - mostly fishing vessels - are around the Scarborough Shoal. About 33 were reported there a day ago after 14 were counted last week. There are also what are said to be fisheries research and patrol vessels.


The Philippines has just two naval craft near the shoal, which covers about 150 square kilometers of sea west of Luzon.


The main island on the shoal is called Huangyan by China.


The month-long flare-up is one of the most high-profile incidents for years between the two countries over claims in the South China Sea.


The shoal is about 230km from the Philippines and 1,200km from China, with Manila saying it is definitely its territory under the Law of the Sea.


But Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said on Monday that Beijing was ready for "any escalation" of the standoff when he met a Philippine diplomat.


In response to China's stance, the word from Manila is that the United States has pledged to help protect the country from attacks in the South China Sea.


Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said he had received the assurances during talks in Washington.


Gazmin said he also interpreted remarks by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to mean Washington is ready to help Manila.


Trouble is also building on land, with warnings from Beijing yesterday to Chinese citizens in Manila. They were told to stay off the streets and take precautions during planned anti- Chinese protests tomorrow.


A Foreign Ministry official in Beijing accused Manila of overheating the situation and said damage is being done to Sino-Philippine relations with events such as the protest rally.


Back at sea, there was another struggle shaping up as competing Chinese media sought to be seen at the heart of a situation that is generating much nationalistic heat.


Uploaded to the internet was a picture of a man claimed to be a staffer with Shanghai Media Group's Shanghai Dragon Television striking as pose with a Chinese flag on what was said to be Scarborough Shoal.