Another boat has gone up on TUBBATAHA reef , this time a chinese fishing vessel , maybe the rumor that the charts are 5k out is correct, i wonder what it was doing there?
I think it is a "security feature" the Philippines would like to keep the way it is. We'll see the difference in how the Chinese handle it versus the recent U.S. incident. We'll also see if the Chinese are requested to "pay up".
They'll probably complain to the US and request naval ships to defend their sovereignty from China and to protect their waters. And wasn't this a private fishing boat? I actually don't see China paying anything even if demanded. The company owning the boat should be held responsible. I'm sure they'll run back to China and avoid any civil/criminal cases here.
Maybe, but it's going to be rather difficult to "run back to China" if the boat is stuck. I hope the Philippine Navy boarded it and arrested all concerned, like the Japanese and Koreans do with trespassing Chinese "fishing" vessels.
Japan and Korea have a respectable Navy and/or Coast Guard that can respond in a timely manner. I'm sure a Chinese vessel could have gotten there long before any Philippines ship did.
