He sailed the seas and fought for decades and now he stands on a beach on his most sensitive mission. HE Sierra Madre This is an unlikely military br: a ship World War II brought scrap to be scrapped, the hull holed and eaten with rust, punished by the harsh tropical sun and storms, and a philippine flag. There, a handful of long-suffering soldiers resist China’s territorial claims.
Sierra Madre is now tighter on covers than before tough times. a ship China Coast Guard He collided with another Filipino nearby last week. It was a mild effect, but neither accidental nor sporadic, and it went viral. Records of Filipino journalists. Harassment repeats in Manila Send Sierra Madre troops provisions or materials for cleaning. The Philippines reported in February that a Chinese ship pointed a laser at its ship. It was a water cannon in August. The weekend incident led to predictable recriminations of irrational, irresponsible and provocative actions. Recalled in Beijing old Manila compromise He wanted to get the junk out of there, and his press published the document the next day. Ferdinand Marcos Junior, The Philippine president denied this: “There is no such agreement, and I will go further: If there is, I will terminate it right now.”
The ship was stranded on the beach of Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin in Tagalog, Renai Jiao in Mandarin). Spratly Archipelago, Wanted by Beijing and Manila. Reaching the Sierra Madre is a nightmare Because China controls the only nearby sea entrance mischief reef. It is now an artificial island of approximately 600 hectares. China air and sea br. It was the takeover of the then-reef through fait accompli in 1995 that convinced Manila to park the Sierra Madre there four years later. HE rickety shipIt acts as an extension of Philippine sovereignty, preventing China from claiming it as its own or attacking it without risking international conflict.
Pacific campaign
One hundred meters long ship set sail American shipyardsWhen World War II ended for the transportation of tanks Pacific campaign. He returned to his country with a medal with army star and was taken away decades later war Vietnam will serve southern troops helicopter service. After the Northern victory Thousands of refugees from Saigon He devoted his last decades to the American BRS in the Philippines and to the service of the Asian country. Her desperate wear and tear made navigation impossible for her, and the Chinese occupation of Mischief Reef extended her life.
The South China Sea is one of the most erogenous regions in the world. Half a dozen countries dispute sovereignty over some waters Almost all of it is claimed by Beijing. travels through them andl 20% of global trade, They are rich in fishing and hiding oil and gas reserves. No other country has had as many arguments in recent years as China has with the Philippines. Marcos’ rise to powerThe satrap’s son put an end to the dual harmony of times Rodrigo DuterteApproaching Beijing in search of yuan for infrastructure. now mAnila looks back at the USAhistorical ally since they signed an agreement mutual defense. President Joe Biden said this week that this deal was “tough” and would help the Philippines if it was attacked by China.
The situation in the region is complex. Many countries are suffering from both China’s excesses and America’s geopolitical agenda to encourage a war in which they will be the real victims. This balance is also affected by: economic dependence. One-third of Philippine imports come from China. This picture advises against stepping on the toes of Beijing, which sees Washington as interfering in distant issues.
A senator close to Duterte criticized the presence of an American drone During the recent resupply of the Sierra Madre, University of the Philippines Political Science professor Jaime Naval was recalled by phone. “And the drones just recorded what happened,” he emphasizes. “I don’t think this is the time joint patrols because it has disadvantages. If this agreement becomes institutionalized, China may intensify its complaints and even increase provocations in the region. “Unless there is a deliberate attack on civilians, the Coast Guard or fishermen, I don’t think it’s appropriate for the United States to get involved,” he adds by phone.
None China’s maneuver is at the limit of this seriousness. His likely intention is: Sierra Madre If you’re lucky, it will soon fall to pieces within months, or extreme circumstances will advise you to abandon it. Soldiers are interested heat waves and typhoons inside The ship is full of cockroaches, rats and mosquitoes. General Romeo Brawner recently promised to provide them with at least internet and adequate sleep and food. For now, that rusty skeleton will remain above the crystal waters of the tropics.