Over the past 15 years, China has expanded its once-minimal military presence in the South China Sea into a significant one.
China has used nonmilitary assets such as its Coast Guard, fishing vessels and maritime militia to bully its neighbors, blockade their ships and build Chinese military bases on disputed islands.
Like any unchallenged bully, China has become increasingly aggressive.
Last month, Chinese Coast Guard personnel attacked a Philippine supply vessel with axes and other crude weapons — Manila says a Filipino sailor and several others were injured — in one of the worst acts of violence between China and its rivals in the South China Sea in years.
The shoal lies about 120 miles off the Philippine island of Palawan and is well within the nation’s exclusive economic zone.
Persons:
—, Shoal
Organizations:
Coast Guard
Locations:
China, South, Beijing, America, United States, Philippine, Manila, Filipino, Sierra Madre, Philippines, Palawan