As a United States Navy plane circled overhead, two Philippine boats breached a Chinese coast guard blockade in a dangerous confrontation Tuesday in the disputed South China Sea to deliver food and other supplies to Filipino forces guarding a contested shoal.
Two Philippine coast guard vessels escorting the supply boats, however, were blocked by at least four Chinese coast guard ships for about five hours in the tense standoff near Second Thomas Shoal.
why dont they just airdrop supplies in? drones arent that expensive - especially not when you’re destroying China’s face on the international stage.
youre underestimating our lack of resources. am Filipino, can testify. those boats were wooden, for chrissakes.
so leverage allies then - I’m sure the US would be happy to give a few pallets of medium range drones
Or… use boats. They’re also sending a message.
It is partly about using the sea route to establish their disregard of China’s claim right?
Guys, let’s at least pretend like we know how to read
The voyages are not just symbolic, they’re a really important fundamental of international law.
Basically, if there’s no recognised authority to hand out titles for land (or ocean) then whoever uses the area or passage has a claim.
If China’s bullying goes uncontested and everyone just let’s them blockade parts of the yellow sea, then sooner or later it will be “Chinese waters”.