China’s maritime patrol ships deployed a suspected sonic weapon against Philippine government vessels on Saturday as they sought to obstruct a Philippines supply mission.
The assault using unspecified “acoustic devices” allegedly inflicted “severe temporary discomfort” on Philippine crew members, Manila said, and was accompanied by sustained water cannon blasts as well as maneuvering that risked a collision.
The incident happened near Scarborough Shoal, one of the most contentious features in the Philippines and China’s long-running territorial feud in the South China Sea since the latter achieved facto control there in 2012 by force.
China continues to block Philippine fishermen from accessing traditional fishing grounds at Scarborough Shoal, while the Philippines says it is their right to fish there under international law. Philippine fisheries bureau boats were attempting to deliver humanitarian supplies, including food and fuel, to the waiting fishermen.
Their behaviour suggests they want an escalation. If the Philippines responds with lethal aggression to the very dangerous and irresponsible ‘non-lethal aggression’ of the Chinese navy. This will provide China some PR/diplomatic cover to grab land/sea from the Philippines.
They are doing this because they want to use violence. But they don’t want the sanctions unprovoked aggression would lead to. Even if no one believes China it leaves an excuse to continue trade with China as it grabs land.
Unprovoked land grabs have caused many sanctions to be applied to Russia. However, Israel is grabbing land in Gaza without sanctions because the Hamas attack preceding the land grab gives Israel diplomatic cover. Even though many people believe Israel new about Hama’s planned attack earlier, deliberately reduced security and there are even accusations the Israeli government funded Hama’s prior to the attack.
I agree that they do seem to be fishing (couldn’t help myself) for casus belli