As the world watches Israel’s military onslaught on the Gaza Strip, there is one development that has received close to zero attention: Israel’s granting of 12 new licences for gas exploration.
Palestinians say much of it falls within their maritime borders, under international law.
"Deliberately grounded on a tiny reef in the #SouthChinaSea, part of an island chain claimed by the two Asian countries, the #BRPSierraMadre is now the unlikely base for a detachment of Filipino marines who stand guard over the atoll, scanning the turquoise waters for Chinese ships." #AyunginShoal#SecondThomasShoal#Philippines
Linking the Philippine Air Force Saab #JAS39Gripen multi-role fighter (MRF) thread to the #WestPHSea thread. There is a strong possibility the #Philippines will be getting more than 14 MRF's (12 Gripen C & 2 Gripen D) since that number won't be enough to cover our #EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone).
Note that the PAF was also considering getting F16's from the US though that proved too expensive for the original budget. Delivery time was also longer.
The island is located 141 km (88 mi) southeast of the southern tip of #Taiwan's main island and 98 km (61 mi) to the nearest Taiwanese island, the "Lesser Orchid Island".
For reference, a flight from Manila to Baguio is 210km(130 mi) . #EEZ
#MANILA, #Philippines – Two Chinese navy vessels shadowed Philippine and US ships conducting joint patrols in the #SouthChinaSea, the Philippine military said on Thursday, January 4 as tensions flare in the region over disputed territorial claims.
The two-day maritime exercises involving Manila and #Washington, were the second in less than two months in the #WestPhilippineSea – within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (#EEZ). #China
Previously the Chinese vessels left from #LongxueIsland in #Guangzhou before moving through Benham Rise, which is inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. #EastPHSea#China
On Monday, #PCG deployed one of its biggest vessels, the #BRPGabrielaSilang, to the northeast corner of the resource-rich submerged landmass inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (#EEZ) for a two-week mission. #EastPHSea#China
The #Philippines, the #UnitedStates, #Japan, and #Australia will hold a “maritime cooperative activity” (#MCA) in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (#EEZ) on Sunday, April 7, “in support of a free and open #IndoPacific,” their defense ministers said in a joint statement. #WestPHSea
The MCA will precede a #TrilateralSummit among the Philippines, US, and Japan, which will discuss recent incidents in the #WestPhilippineSea.