In the South China Sea area, there are many countries. But of course, not all of them agree. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is the Philippine Secretary of National Defense. He has some things to say about China’s power in the South China Sea.
He says that China has been acting like a schoolyard bully to the other, weaker countries in the area. They are dominating with their strong navy and coast guard. Some worry that if something goes wrong, there could be a dangerous war, possibly with the U.S..
It’s not just the military that the Chinese are “bullying”. Regular fishing boats and just boats out on the water have been stopped by the Chinese. The Chinese have also been blocking trade routes for the Philippines, preventing lots of food and supplies fro reaching the island nation.
One video shows a Chinese Ship firing a water cannon at a smaller Filipino vessel, showing the hard water spray barely missing the small boat as it turns and retreats as fast as it can. If this video is real, then there is clear evidence that China is assaulting non-military vessels.
Another video taken by the Filipino coast guard shows white, dead coral in the sea, claiming that China was responsible.
For the United States, the Philippines, and all their allies, the area must be kept away from China and its allies. The reason is the huge supply of oil under the water. It could be worth trillions of dollars in the world economy, which could give a huge boost to whoever has access to the supply.
The sea is a very important part of the economy and the food and other necessities for the Philippines. And if China does not stop what the Philippines claim they are doing, we can only expect this crisis to escalate.
Source: CNN World News, CNN 10