this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2023
147 points (97.4% liked)

World News

40543 readers
2735 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News [email protected]

Politics [email protected]

World Politics [email protected]


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

China's maritime patrol ships deployed a suspected sonic weapon against Philippine government vessels on Saturday as they sought to obstruct a Philippines supply mission.

The assault using unspecified "acoustic devices" allegedly inflicted "severe temporary discomfort" on Philippine crew members, Manila said, and was accompanied by sustained water cannon blasts as well as maneuvering that risked a collision.

The incident happened near Scarborough Shoal, one of the most contentious features in the Philippines and China's long-running territorial feud in the South China Sea since the latter achieved facto control there in 2012 by force.

China continues to block Philippine fishermen from accessing traditional fishing grounds at Scarborough Shoal, while the Philippines says it is their right to fish there under international law. Philippine fisheries bureau boats were attempting to deliver humanitarian supplies, including food and fuel, to the waiting fishermen.

all 18 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Can’t wait for one of these Chinese sailors to get shot over this bullshit just for the CCP to act all surprised and victimized. Pricks.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Their behaviour suggests they want an escalation. If the Philippines responds with lethal aggression to the very dangerous and irresponsible 'non-lethal aggression' of the Chinese navy. This will provide China some PR/diplomatic cover to grab land/sea from the Philippines.

They are doing this because they want to use violence. But they don't want the sanctions unprovoked aggression would lead to. Even if no one believes China it leaves an excuse to continue trade with China as it grabs land.

Unprovoked land grabs have caused many sanctions to be applied to Russia. However, Israel is grabbing land in Gaza without sanctions because the Hamas attack preceding the land grab gives Israel diplomatic cover. Even though many people believe Israel new about Hama's planned attack earlier, deliberately reduced security and there are even accusations the Israeli government funded Hama's prior to the attack.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I agree that they do seem to be fishing (couldn’t help myself) for casus belli

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I think it's really time that China and Russia get a proper teaching in some kind of way. This fucking around without any major consequences needs to end.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Fool us thrice🥢

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I was thinking the same thing. Both of them have a loud bark, but if stood up to by a strong adversary (I’m thinking a coalition of strong powers, or a USA that is willing to go toe to toe and not through smaller proxies like Ukraine or the Philippines) they would most likely back down. Sure, they would play the victim and continue to bark, but would know where the line is. Right now they both are testing limits.

[–] Aurenkin 13 points 1 year ago

Fuck the CCP

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

What a mean thing to say about Chinese pop music. Only like 7 of the top 10 songs this year are “sonic weapons” that cause “severe temporary discomfort.”

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I don't know what WW3 will be fought with, but WW4 will be fought with glorified supersoakers and loud music.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

What were they using? LRAD?

[–] HootinNHollerin 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Title of article should just say Philippines

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


The assault using unspecified "acoustic devices" allegedly inflicted "severe temporary discomfort" on Philippine crew members, Manila said, and was accompanied by sustained water cannon blasts as well as maneuvering that risked a collision.

Ships belonging to China's paramilitary maritime militia fleet engaged in unsafe maneuvers and "deployed what is understood to be a long-range acoustic device" against the government vessels, the multi-agency National Task Force of the West Philippine Sea said Saturday.

Sometimes known as "sonic cannons," acoustic devices have been adopted as non-lethal defensive weapons by a number of militaries, as well as crowd control tools by some police forces.

The U.S. State Department, which said China's use of the sonic weapon showed a "reckless disregard for the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos," didn't respond to a request seeking further details about the nature of the acoustic devices.

A second confrontation occurred on Sunday near another hotly disputed South China Sea feature—Second Thomas Shoal—as Chinese ships sought to head off the Philippines' latest supply mission to a grounded warship where a group of sailors are based.

A minor collision also occurred when a Chinese coast guard vessel allegedly maneuvered into the path of another Philippine supply boat, although the latter managed to continue on its mission.


The original article contains 709 words, the summary contains 207 words. Saved 71%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!