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A Chinese Coastguard vessel patrols near the BRP Sierra Madre, a marooned transport ship which Philippine Marines live on as a military outpost, in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea March 30, 2014. The Philippine government vessel made a dash for shallow waters around the disputed reef in the South China Sea on Saturday, evading two Chinese coastguard ships trying to block its path to deliver food, water and fresh troops to a military outpost on the shoal. There, around eight Filipino soldiers live for three months at a time in harsh conditions on a reef that Manila says is within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). China, which claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, says the shoal is part of its territory. Filipino troops on the civilian vessel clapped as they came within a few metres of the marooned transport ship, the BRP Sierra Madre. Supplies of food and water were then hauled up to troops onboard. REUTERS/Erik De Castro (MID-SEA - Tags: MARITIME MILITARY POLITICS)

Let’s Avoid Conflagration Over Specks in the Ocean

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Demetri Sevastopulo’s report (“Philippines repairs ship at centre of South China Sea dispute”, Report, June 21) on the South China Sea escalation between the Philippines and China is a distressing reminder of the fast-deteriorating security situation in south-east Asia.

China’s obsession with preventing the reinforcement of a rickety Philippine warship with just a handful of Philippine troops is irrational, dangerous and self-defeating.

The US in turn has seized the opportunity to pursue other agendas, most prominently pulling in its other allies into cornering China and creating sites for the use of Philippine territory in a future Taiwan conflict.

Meanwhile, the Philippines, notwithstanding its strong legal maritime claim, plays Russian roulette by launching sailing assets to Chinese-controlled zones such as Scarborough Shoal, which have little chance of success.

Full piece in Financial Times

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