Biden to defend the Senkaku Islands, won’t do the same with the Kalayaan Island Group

Screenshot of the Nikkei Asia Article about Biden defending the Senkaku Islands

United States (US) President Joe Biden has committed to defending the Senkaku Islands which Japan is claiming to be theirs. Do you see the US doing the same thing for the Philippines’ claimed Islands in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the South China Sea (SCS)? 

The Answer is a big NO, because they DO NOT RECOGNIZE those Islands as belonging to the Philippines. What the US will commit to is defending are Philippine Forces within those Islands, but those forces can be recalled, just like what they did in 2012 in Panatag Shoal for example when they forbade former President AbNoy Panot Benigno S. Aquino III from sending Ships back to the Area.

Malampaya soon to be depleted, Joint Development of Reed Bank with China could be the way to go

Another excellent Article from Rigoberto Tiglao on the South China Sea (SCS) Issue. It covered a lot of ground, things which most of the Dilawan and Pro-American Philippine Press refuses to tell to the Filipino People. A Must-Read for everyone

Let me try to summarize some of the points of the Article: 

* The Malampaya-Camago Gas Field provides 20% of the Philippines’ overall Power requirements, it has been operating since 2002 but will be depleted by 2024. There are no solid alternatives yet as of now regarding this situation.

The US finally gets tough on China … After 7 Years, and in a Manipulative Way

So the United States (US) finally gets very tough on China, barring Chinese Officials and Business Executives, including Members of their Immediate Family from travelling to the US. 

They also blacklisted 24 Chinese State Owned Companies for their role in constructing Artificial Islands in the South China Sea (SCS). The big question for me now is, “Why only now?” 

China started building their Artificial Islands in the SCS in December of 2013, and from that time until recently, a period of around 7 Years, the US did not do any actions such as these as far as I know, at least not because of China’s construction in the SCS. 

All the PNoy Administration’s talk didn’t stop China from building Artificial Islands in the SCS

The Chief of the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. told the Commission on Appointments recently that the inaction of the PNoy Administration resulted in China building their Artificial Islands in the South China Sea (SCS) beginning in 2013. 

I disagree with the General, the PNoy Administration did do something a lot during their term against China, and that is they did a lot of TALK. Even up to now, those associated with the PNoy Government like Albert Del Rosario are still talking against China. 

The PNoy Administration from 2012 to 2016 was constantly talking against China and even launching Diplomatic Protests left and right. It was constantly in the News, all against China. 

Kalayaan Island Group claim by the Philippines not Legal, Pag Asa Island owned by Vietnam – Retired USN JAG

Here is one document from 2014 that most people in the Philippines likely have not heard of, probably because the Philippine Press suppresses it as it does not fit their narrative about the Philippines’ Territorial claims in the South China Sea (SCS).

This document was commissioned by the American Research Organization “CNA Analysis and Solutions” and is the result of the examination of the Philippines’ SCS claims by a retired Officer of the Judge Advocate Group (JAG) of the United States Navy (USN), Captain Mark E. Rosen.

Rosen is reportedly an experienced International Lawyer. The document is a bit long and full of legal terms, but here are his findings:

- The Philippines has a superior legal claim to Scarborough (or Panatag) Shoal.

- Reed (or Recto) Bank should be legally classified as a feature which is part of the Philippine Continental Shelf.

- The Philippines’ claiming all of the territories inside the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) does NOT have much legal basis. In fact, Rosen compares the KIG claim to be the same as China’s “Nine-Dash Line” claim which are BOTH NOT legal.

- Rosen also says that the Philippines’ KIG claim in whole were made MUCH LATER than that of China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

- He acknowledges though that the Philippines has a strong claims to some features in the KIG based on the principle of first discovery and effective occupation, and these are West York (or Likas) Island, Nanshan (or Lawak) Island, Flat (or Patag) Island, and Lankiam (or Panata) Cay.

- The Philippines he said is ILLEGALLY occupying two islands in the KIG that are the RIGHTFUL PROPERTY of Vietnam (based on the French Annexation Document), and these Islands are Thitu (or Pag-Asa) Island and Loaita (or Kota) Island.

So there you go. Again, these are the findings of an experienced International Lawyer who is also a retired USN JAG.

SOURCE: Philippine Claims in the South China Sea: A Legal Analysis

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Flashback: To 2012, when the US told PNoy not to send Ships back to Panatag Shoal

The Philippines and China had a standoff with China in Panatag Shoal (also known as Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc) in 2012, but the United States (US) brokered a deal for both sides to leave the area at the same time, and both sides complied.

However, China went back and the US did nothing to stop them from doing so. When then President Benigno Aquino III thought of sending Philippine Ships back also to Panatag, the US discouraged him, and PNoy followed their “advice”.

The Philippines has a Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the US, and sending the ships back to Panatag could’ve resulted in a situation where it could be invoked and drag them into a conflict with China.

Hence the US played it safe to keep such a situation from occurring by keeping Philippine Ships from going back to Panatag.

SOURCE: U.S to PH: stop anti-China rhetorics

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US tells Philippines not explore for Oil with China, but doesn’t offer an Alternative Solution

If there’s one thing I hate, it’s when Americans tell us what not to do with China, and yet offer no alternative solution instead.

For example the American think tank Rand Corp. is telling us not to proceed with a Joint Exploration with China in the South China Sea (SCS), but why can’t they go out and tell their government to offer a similar venture to us with the same or even better terms than what China is offering?

Why can’t they say, “Don’t do it with China, the US government should go and offer to take China's place”? Maybe the US doesn't need the Oil, but the Philippines does, and if they really wanted to help us out then they would’ve done something fruitful like take China’s place in the venture. 

SOURCE: Analyst warns PH vs joint exploration with China in disputed S. China Sea

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Aquino, Del Rosario Begged US to Use its Military in Scarborough Crisis

Another gem of an article about the South China Sea (SCS) issue by Rigoberto Tiglao. If it is true that PNoy and Albert Del Rosario begged the US for help, the Americans didn't and PNoy and Del Rosario STILL kept close relations with the US, then that is just incredibly pathetic.

By the way, if you are wondering why Albert del Rosario is so Pro-American and Anti-China, that is because he is an "Amboy", for "American Boy" or "America's Boy". He spent his High School and College in the US.

I read somewhere that the guy isn't even conversant in Filipino, although that is not confirmed. If true, though, combined with all the other facts, then you wonder why the heck PNoy would go and appoint such a biased "Feel-Am" as his Foreign Secretary? It boggles the mind ...

SOURCE: Aquino, Del Rosario begged US to use its Military in Scarborough Crisis

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