Gabriel Emil Dominguez Cespedes的动态

??Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard Vessels Collide? What is happening whilst the world looks elsewhere ?? It seems China are using Ukraine, the Houthis and a tightening US election to continue their push into the South China Sea undeterred. On August 19, the South China Sea witnessed yet another alarming escalation when two Philippine Coast Guard vessels, BRP Cape Engano and BRP Bagacay, collided with Chinese Coast Guard ships during a resupply mission near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. This incident represents the most severe damage sustained by the Philippine vessels since tensions began in the Spratly Islands, with BRP Cape Engano suffering significant structural damage. While China accuses the Philippines of "intentionally sailing dangerously" and dismisses the collisions as mere "scrapes," Philippine officials have condemned the Chinese actions as "dangerous and illegal manoeuvres," citing the aggressive behaviour of the Chinese Coast Guard. Both nations have issued strong statements, further straining relations in a region critical to global trade and stability. This incident highlights the ongoing power struggle in the South China Sea as China continues its efforts to assert control over disputed territories. The Philippines remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining its presence in these waters, despite the rising tensions. As the United States stands in solidarity with the Philippines, this situation underscores the need for continued diplomatic engagement and a unified approach to securing freedom of navigation in one of the world's busiest and most contested maritime regions. #MaritimeSecurity #SouthChinaSea #Geopolitics #PhilippineCoastGuard #ChineseCoastGuard #SpotShip https://lnkd.in/eYmHwyhG

???????????? New heat between #Japan and #China in the East China Sea. ?? ?? CNBC [excerpt]: A Japanese #maritime self-defense force destroyer entered Chinese territorial waters recently in spite of warnings by Chinese vessels, Kyodo News reported Thursday. The Suzutsuki temporarily ventured into waters off China's eastern province of Zhejiang on July 4, according to Kyodo. China's Maritime Safety Administration, Zhejiang authorities had issued a no-sail zone from July 3 to July 5 where a live-fire drill was conducted in some waters in the East China Sea. Japan's #defense ministry has started an investigation into the navy destroyer's captain after Beijing raised "serious" concerns. The Suzutsuki, which was sent to monitor the live-fire drill, was asked by Chinese vessels to leave the area when it advanced within 22 kilometers off the coast of Zhejiang. Instead, the vessel "sped up and navigated" into the Chinese waters for about 20 minutes before leaving. The Chinese government considers the incident to be an act of "intentional provocation," Kyodo News reported, citing sources. The destroyer did not adhere to Chinese laws that foreign vessels need to seek prior authorization to enter, the report said, adding that Japanese destroyers in charge of surveilling Chinese vessels usually keep away from territorial waters off Zhejiang. During unofficial talks between the parties, a Japanese official suggested that the entry could have been a "procedural error." Japan is holding the position that the destroyer's entry into Chinese waters was not illegal, Kyodo News reported. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea grants the right of innocent passage to traverse through territorial waters so long as the vessel does not compromise the safety of coastal countries. China often sends its coast guard and military vessels into Japanese territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The uninhabited islands are controlled by Japan, but China claims them as its territory. #News #geopolitics #unclos

#China's new maritime patrol regulations, China Coast Guard Order #3, authorizes its coast guard to detain foreign ships and individuals if it suspects them of illegally entering what China considers to be its territorial waters. These regulations could ignite a conflict with the #Philippines in the #SouthChinaSea – we analyze the risks in our latest Insight ??

Japan Times [excerpt]: In a joint statement, the four leaders said their countries' coast guards will conduct a joint operation next year that will see Japanese, Australian and Indian coast guard members board a U.S. #CoastGuard vessel operating in the region. This first-ever “#Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission” is meant to “improve interoperability and advance maritime safety,” the leaders said, with future missions expected to take place on a rotational basis across the #IndoPacific. In another sign of the importance the partners put on securing Asia's critical waterways, the leaders, who claimed to be “more aligned than ever before,” reached a deal to expand the Indo-Pacific Partnership for #Maritime Domain Awareness initiative from Southeast Asia to the entire Indian Ocean region. The initiative, which acts as a check on a number of illegal activities at sea, was first launched at the Quad leaders’ summit in Tokyo in 2022. Together with the expansion, the program will include "new sophisticated technologies to improve the maritime domain picture" and associated programs, such as a maritime legal dialogue and the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI). But while officials in Washington have cautioned against seeing the work of the U.S.-led grouping as being directed at Beijing, comments made by Biden caught by a hot mic following opening remarks suggested that counterbalancing #China is still very much at the forefront of Quad policy. “China continues to behave aggressively, testing us all across the region,” he told fellow Quad leaders as he started the summit's group session. “At least from our perspective, we believe (Chinese President) #XiJinping is looking to focus on domestic economic challenges and minimize the turbulence in China’s diplomatic relationships,” Biden said, while adding that Xi is “also looking to buy himself some diplomatic space, in my view, to aggressively pursue China’s interest.” “It is true across the scope of our relationship, including on economic and technology issues.” Illegal #fishing is seen as a major issue in this regard, with experts such as MIT’s Eric Heginbotham saying that although Chinese boats are far from the only ones involved, the combination of Beijing’s assertive efforts to promote territorial and maritime claims together with the scale of contentious activities by its massive fishing fleet poses serious challenges for Quad nations and others. “These combined (Quad) coast guard activities will highlight to China and the world that neither the #SouthChinaSea nor other ocean areas in the Indo-Pacific are China’s playground, where its fishing fleets can act with impunity,” Heginbotham said. #news #Japan #Australia #India #US #geopolitics

A Vietnamese coast guard ship arrived in Manila for a four-day goodwill visit and joint exercises amid rising tensions with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The Philippines and Vietnam, both vocal critics of China's actions in the region, are collaborating despite their own overlapping claims with other Southeast Asian nations. During the visit, coast guard personnel from both countries will engage in discussions, conduct joint search and rescue drills, and practice fire and explosion contingency procedures. Officials from both nations highlighted the importance of cooperation for maritime security and the need for effective information sharing. In prior engagements, Vietnamese and Philippine navy forces participated in friendly sports activities, and Vietnam expressed readiness to discuss their overlapping claims in the area. Following a violent confrontation in June, the Philippines and China reached a temporary agreement to prevent further clashes. The Philippines remains committed to strengthening its defense capabilities and alliances with other countries. #AsiaRisk #SouthChinaSea #Japan Follow us for daily updates on risk and operations in Asia! https://lnkd.in/g5ZsRiuq

Chinese Ships Carrying Autocannons Trouble US Ally Japan - A Japanese coast guard patrol ship on Tuesday spotted four Chinese autocannon-armed coast guard vessels near a group of islets administered by U.S. ally Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan. - Newsweek?has emailed the Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese foreign ministries for comment. Why It Matters - The Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu Islands in?China?and the Tiaoyutai Islands in Taiwan, are located in the?East China Sea. They have been the subject of?assertive patrols?by Chinese?coast guard?vessels since Tokyo nationalized its control of them in 2012, a move that Beijing strongly protested. - What To Know On Tuesday the Japanese coast guard reported four Chinese vessels transiting the contiguous zone outside Japan's territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands, Kyodo News Agency reported. - The Chinese ships were armed with autocannons, capable of rapid-firing large-caliber armour-piercing, explosive or incendiary shells. - According to the?United Nations?Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which frames a regime of law and order in the world's oceans and seas, a zone contiguous to a nation's 12-nautical mile territorial sea may not extend beyond 24 nautical miles from its shores. - https://lnkd.in/ekpRfCxa

PCG Commandant Adm. Gavan claimed the Philippines was on track to be Southeast Asia's strongest coast guard in the next five to seven years. I shared my thoughts in Jeoffrey Maitem's article for South China Morning Post SCMP below. Vincent Kyle Parada, a former defence analyst for the Philippine navy, told This Week in Asia that the Philippine coastguard already ranks among the largest and most capable in Southeast Asia – though not when compared to?China’s. Under former president Benigno Aquino, the coastguard fleet’s tonnage doubled in just six years, and Japanese-funded acquisitions continued under his successor,?Rodrigo Duterte. With more ships on the way, Parada envisions a more assertive coastguard in flashpoints such as Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands. “We’re likely to see more frequent deployment to Scarborough Shoal and the Spratlys, much larger vessels shadowing errant Chinese coastguard vessels, and greater readiness in responding to natural disasters and transnational crime,” he told This Week in Asia. But he also sounded a note of caution. “A larger fleet will mean little to the average Filipino unless they see tangible results in the dispute against China,” Parada warned, adding that “a paradigm shift” was needed in the way Manila responds “to Chinese provocations at sea.” ... The Philippines isn’t just building a stronger coastguard for its own sake. By bolstering its maritime capabilities, it aims to reinforce regional stability and uphold international law in one of the world’s most contested waterways. But the task is daunting. “The real challenge lies in the fact that its opponent … is not like most coastguards,” Parada said. “It’s not only the largest coastguard in the world in both tonnage and in the sheer number of vessels … it’s legally empowered to utilise force in order to safeguard Chinese interests.”

Maritime Security Bulletin and Advisory Re: The Thai Navy is Seeking the Release of (31) Fishermen After the Myanmar Navy Fired on (2) Thai Fishing Boats. ( (1) Fisherman Has Died Due to Drowning) Date: December 1st, 2024 Issued by: Sanborn Analytics Contact: [email protected] | (+1)(617)539-6114 Sanborn Analytics issues this maritime security bulletin to advise the maritime shipping community and the armed naval forces at sea of an escalation of hostilities near Myanmar’s maritime borders. Incident Summary: On November 30th, 2024, Myanmar’s navy fired upon (2) Thai fishing vessels, resulting in: In the drowning of one fisherman; with two others rescued by the Thai navy. The detention of 31 crew members aboard one Thai fishing vessel. The Thai navy is currently negotiating the release of the detained crew with Myanmar’s authorities. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with Myanmar to assess potential violations of international law. Advisory: Thai fishing vessels are urged to exercise caution and avoid operations near Myanmar's maritime boundary. All maritime operators are advised to monitor developments closely and maintain clear communication with relevant naval or coast guard authorities. Given heightened regional instability, enhanced vigilance is recommended for vessels transiting near Myanmar's territorial waters. Context: Myanmar remains in a state of crisis since the 2021 military coup, with escalating armed rebellion, increasing control by ethnic armed groups, and ongoing instability. This bulletin is based on reports from Bangkok Post (No Media Collaboration). Sanborn Analytics #maritimesecurity #thailand #myanmar #southchinasea #china https://lnkd.in/eB-N6cpd

Mateusz Chatys, East Asia Forum [excerpt]: Amid escalating #maritime incidents surrounding the Second Thomas Shoal, tensions in the #SouthChinaSea are expected to persistently escalate. Events in the first quarter of 2024 further underscore this trend. In March 2024, two dangerous situations emerged in which the [Chinese Coast Guard] conducted dangerous manoeuvres and used water cannons, resulting in minor injuries to seven crew members on board a Philippine supply vessel. Despite #China’s adoption of aggressive measures in its grey zone activities, the Philippine resupply missions conducted in 2023 and early 2024 were successful. Beijing failed to achieve its objective of severing the BRP Sierra Madre outpost from essential supplies, a scenario that would have facilitated taking control over the Second Thomas Shoal. These developments suggest that Beijing has exhausted its repertoire of measures to deter the #Philippines below the threshold of armed conflict. The effectiveness of limiting China’s grey zone activities is linked to the Philippines’ new tactic of publicising China’s assertive conduct in the South China Sea, beginning in February 2023. The Philippine government’s systematic documentation and publication of Chinese vessel activities in the South China Sea and collaboration with media outlets have bolstered public support for sovereignty protection measures. Public disclosure of mission information is crucial. In 2021, only 43 per cent of missions were disclosed compared to 80 per cent in 2023. Public opinion surveys in December 2023 showed 61 per cent support the Ferdinand Marcos Jr administration’s response to the South China Sea dispute, reflecting a sustained increase from previous quarters. The Philippines’ #transparency efforts regarding the South China Sea dispute also advance #international objectives, increasing pressure on China. Reports of Philippine encounters with Chinese coercion garner increasing international attention. The CCG’s use of water cannons against a March 2023 resupply mission prompted special statements from the European Union and several nations. These statements express solidarity with the Philippines, concern over escalating tensions and condemnation of Chinese actions, bolstering Filipino influence internationally. Chinese activities near the Second Thomas Shoal have not succeeded in enhancing control over the disputed areas of the South China Sea. Instead, Beijing’s approach has deepened public scepticism in the Philippines toward China. According to a 2024 survey, if forced to align with either China or the United States, most Filipinos would align with the United States. #news #geopolitics