In this blogspot I quote different Chinese sources highlighting the actual rise of tensions between China and the Philippines. While China is still "policing" the South China Sea, Western powers and their East-Asian allies are increasingly interested in unrestricted traffic in China's "swimming pool".
Recent Development: Chinese and Philippine vessels have been locked in a high seas stand-off since China's PLA Navy prevented a Philippine warship from arresting crews of Chinese fishing boats near the Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Island, on April 8.
Reports in Japan said five Chinese warships – including two guided missile destroyers, two frigates and an amphibious landing ship – had passed through waters close to Okinawa moving to Philippine reefs.
Beijing also issued a travel advisory warning its citizens to keep a low profile while being in the Philippines.
As the dispute escalated, Leon Panetta, the US defence secretary, met senators in a push to ratify a treaty that would bolster legal backing for US naval patrols in dispute regions such as the South China Sea.
[Source: The Telegraph, London]
UPDATE from People's Network on May 16, 2012:
人民网5月16日电据外交部网站消息，2012年5月16日，中国外交部发言人洪磊主持例行记者会，就中日海洋事务高级别磋商、黄岩岛事件等答问。…… 洪磊首先发布[对黄岩岛的]消息：
People's Network telegram on May 16, based on news from the website of the foreign affairs ministry: On May 16, 2012, Hong Lei, the spokesman of China's ministry of foreign affairs, presided over a regular meeting of journalists, answering [their] questions on advanced consultations on the highest level regarding general maritime affairs between China and Japan. [Questions were answered as well regarding] the incident at Huangyan Island. ... Information [on Huangyan Island] released by Hong Lei in the first place:
问：中方对黄岩岛当前事态有何评论？将采取什么新的措施应对？
答：我们在黄岩岛当前事态上的立场是明确的。我们强调，黄岩岛是中国的固有领土，中国对此拥有无可争辩的主权，菲方应切实尊重中国的领土主权。同时，中方通过外交协商解决当前事态立场没有变化。
Question:
Is there any Chinese comment on the current situation of Huangyan Island ? Will the [military] command resort to some new responsive steps ?
Answer:
In the current situation of Huangyan Island, our position is clear-cut. We emphasize that Huangyan Island is China's inherent territory. China has there indisputable sovereign rights. The Philippines should earnestly respect China's territorial sovereignty. In the meantime, China tries to settle the current situation by means of diplomatic consultations while [its] position hasn't changed.
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UPDATE from People's Network on May 14, 2012: 菲称永不同意中方对黄岩岛要求 旅游业吁结束对抗 The Philippines state they would never approve of China's claim of the Huangyan Island [area] while tourism industry is pleading for an end of the fighting.
For additional background information on the South China Sea dispute, please refer to an earlier blogspot of mine dating back to January 2012:
New U.S. Strategy - Chinese View
People's Network, Beijing, quoting China's Journal of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) 《解放军报》 on May 12, 2012:
解放军报： 南海挑衅者希望中国因怒而战
Journal of the People's Liberation Army: Those who are provoking in the South [China] Sea are hoping that China gets angry enough to wage war.
近日，中菲黄岩岛事件成为南海问题的焦点。中国政府理性、克制和审慎的外交应对，似乎并未得到菲律宾政府的认可，菲方甚至大有孤注一掷、硬扛到底的味道。菲方这种狂妄、无礼和无知的言行，无疑使和平解决黄岩岛事件的前景充满变数，激起了中国民众的极大愤慨，考验着中国政府应对危机的战略智慧。
Recently, the incident of Huangyan Island [Yellow Rock Island] between China and the Philippines became a central issue of the South [China] Sea question. [As] the reasonable, self-restraint and careful diplomatic answer of China's government seemingly not obtained approval by the Philippine government, the Philippine side is now reaching for high risks on a single venture, obstinately [preferring] a final taste [of the matter].
The presumptuous, impolite and ignorant words and deeds of the Philippine side undoubtedly sent a perspective full of variables to the peaceful settling of the Huangyan incident and is stirring up China's masses to the utmost indignation, [thereby] putting at test the strategic knowledge of China's government when it comes to respond to [that] crisis.
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People's Network, Beijing, quoting China's Global Broadcasting Network in Chinese 《全球华语广播网》 on May 12, 2012:
印度首次卷入南海问题争端 劝诫中菲保持克制
India for the first time involved in the conflict of the South [China] Sea issue. - Admonishing China and the Philippines to maintain self-restraint.
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"Defend Yellow Rock Island !"
Philippine Piranha Claiming Yellow Rock Sandbank
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