China's creeping invasion of Philippine EEZ: Mischief Reef, Sabina Shoal, Scarborough Shoal, what next?

GOOGLED IMAGE OF 'STOLEN' MISCHIEF REEF AND SABINA SHOAL both well within the 200-nautical mile Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and located exactly 130 miles (209 km) and 70 miles (113 km) away from Palawan respectively. In 1994, when the Philippine Navy was not looking, China invaded Mischief Reef and planted structures. The Philippines decided not to press for its recovery. China then took control of Sabina Shoal which was even nearer Palawan.

In 2012, China repeated their illegal exploits in Philippine EEZ by encircling Scarborough Shoal and declaring all of South China Sea (which overlaps our own West Philippine Sea) as theirs. What will be their "Sabina Shoal" this time? Will it be the Hermana Mayor island or the Hermana Menor Island which are found northwest off the coast of Zambales?

TIME ASIA REPORT ON CHINA'S ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF MISCHIEF REEF AND SABINA SHOAL:

TIME Asia 030899
MISCHIEF REEF

September 14, 1999

After several passes the pilots turned back toward Palawan, but on the way they descended to check out another reef, the Sabina Shoal, which is even closer to the Philippines and on which Chinese marker buoys have been foundand blown upby the navy before. The Chinese have a wellrehearsed routine when laying claim to a new reef first they put down buoys, then they build concrete markers. Temporary wooden or bamboo shelters follow, and if they are still not challenged, the permanent military forts go up. The Philippines tries to blow up the buoys or the markers before China has time to build and occupy larger structures. We cant demolish the inhabited structures because we dont want war in the Spratlys, says presidential spokesman Jerry Barrican.

We must NOT ALLOW what happened to Mischief Reef and the succeeding occupation of Sabina Shoal (because we did not react with determination) to happen again. We must guard our other islands in the Spratlys, patrol West Philippine Sea relentlessly to show bit of presence. Navy and Coast Guard do not need to patrol with guns blazing. All they need IS TO PERFORM THEIR JOB.

By not allowing our Coast Guard to patrol our territorial waters, i.e., Scarborough, Malacanang is sending a very bad signal to China, which will inevitably reflect very poorly on ALL, and we mean, ALL Pinoy citizens.

There is nothing to fear. PCG or PN patrolling our coast WILL NOT lead to war with China. In the first place, Pinas has no capability to enter into a war with China so there will be no war. If China becomes militarily violent against Pinas, they will be facing world condemnation.

Our vessels, however, do run the risk of being rammed, and worse, one of them sunk by China vessels. Should the President take risk of possibly (just possibly) sacrificing a govt ship with, perhaps, loss of lives? The answer is yes. If President Aquino is not prepared to do it, then he must formally abandon our claim and move on as in put the entire China stealing episode behind us.

By Anne de Bretagne

For the Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims

16 December 2012