Philippines to begin exploring oil in contested waters in South China sea: Beijing warns Manila

Here we go.

Beijing warns Manila over oil bid in South China Sea

According to the AP, the Philippines invited foreign investors to search for fuel deposits in 15 offshore areas in the South China Sea, including two that are claimed by China.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario as saying that Manila refuses to jointly develop waters near the Liyue Tan, also known as the Reed Bank, of the Nansha archipelago.

"The Reed Bank is an integral part of the Philippines and, as such, cannot be jointly developed," del Rosario said, adding that Manila is open to allowing Chinese investors to explore the area under Philippine law.

China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei yesterday reaffirmed Beijing's indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters.

"It is unlawful for any country or company to explore oil and gas in sea areas under Chinese jurisdiction without the permission of the Chinese government," said Hong.

So IF the Philippines goes ahead with this plan... we'll see if China walks the walk or is just full of hot air... and also what will the US do...

Well let's look at what they are already doing.
Philippines flags greater US military presence

The Philippines announced plans on Friday to allow a greater US military presence on its territory, in a move analysts said was directly aimed at trying to contain a rising China.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines was looking for more joint military exercises with its former colonial ruler, as well as having a greater number of US troops rotating through the Southeast Asian country.

Yay more US involvement in foreign disputes!

Remember what Jefferson said...

Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto.

reply to post by Vitchilo

Open up more fronts for the US to get itself involved in. That is one way to weaken the US economy as well as US military. They can't be everywhere. The same happened to Britain in WW2 when she was fighting the Japanese in Asia and Germans in Europe. After that decline of British influence in world. The US needs to know that sometimes their friendship and presence bolster these countries courage to do silly things. They feel they have "big brother" by their side so they act tough. Time to take a rest and don't get involved. I'm sure most countries will behave while you're on a 20 years vacation. Well I think they will behave... just give it a try.

This is the energy future we are talking about, it's not states which are
the main protaginast here it's companies. securing power though energy
Iran ring any bells. the US is fiddling about down there because there are
companies in the US which belive it is there right to make the proffit down
there and not the chines companies. Unless people start to realise
that there are no national interests greater than money. boots on the ground
in parts of the world which have the resources is the new future. the old
imperial system is comming back. increase the land mass, people who you
have inside your system of control and the resources of the land. giving
up the old empires was the worst mistake European and US powers made.
the ecconomics you see today is a result of the limited capacity for those
countries to expand their growth. If the system breaks there will be a land/energy
grab like you haven't ever seen.

China starting the Big Bad Wolf approach?
I'll huff and I buff but I am never going to blow your house down!!!
maybe some day though, Western world is slowing
and the new world is Asia
and Somebody gets to be King of the hill
China or India? trouble is coming