BBC witnesses Chinese ships blocking Philippines supply boats

[muriel_volestrangler]

The incident took place as two Philippine coast guard ships - one of which the BBC was aboard - and two tiny commercial boats made their way to the Second Thomas Shoal.

They were met by a ship marked as the Chinese Coast Guard that was five times bigger than the commercial boats.
...
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.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-67015857

Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Second+Thomas+Shoal/@10.7260116,114.1350637,5z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x33cd4f97f792c6f1:0xb9904531fbcbd352!8m2!3d9.7502478!4d115.8640062!16s%2Fm%2F0100mbqq?entry=ttu

Closest country to the Second Thomas Shoal: Philippines
2nd closest: Malaysia (northern tip of Borneo)
3rd closest: Brunei (also on Borneo)
4th closest: Vietnam
5th closest (by water): China (Indonesia and Cambodia are closer as the crow flies, but it'd have to fly over Malaysia or Vietnam to do that)

[Irish_Dem]

1. China wants to be a global superpower and must have total regional control first.

Same reason Putin had to invade Ukraine.

China and Russia intend to be the 21st century superpowers and are taking it step by step.

[Historic NY]

2. They claim things just because its in the South China sea.

This old US built vessel was run aground in 1999 to stem China's advance.

[link:https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2022/february/measure-sierra-madre|]