Hmmm...
The Philippine vessels are operating according the the UNCLOS, and within their own EEZ, by the Scarborough Shoals (which we've sailed past on our Xena).
The Chinese navy and coast guard are harassing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel which is replenishing supplies for its fishing vessels operating in its own EEZ. Chinese vessels are operating in breach of the findings of a court case back in 2013:
The arbitration case between the Philippines and China regarding their maritime disputes in the South China Sea, specifically concerning the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), was conducted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).The Philippines initiated the arbitration on January 22, 2013, by serving China with a “Notification and Statement of Claim” over maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague served as the registry for the case.On July 12, 2016, the PCA’s Arbitral Tribunal issued its final Award, ruling overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines. The Tribunal determined that China’s “nine-dash line” claim and its asserted historic rights had no legal basis under UNCLOS.It clarified that certain maritime features, such as Scarborough Shoal and parts of the Spratly Islands, were not islands capable of generating EEZs but were rocks or low-tide elevations, thus falling within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile EEZ. The ruling also found China’s actions, including land reclamation and fishing activities, violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights and caused environmental harm. [Source]
But China's like, "yeah, but nah."
We're seeing Karma here, in the South China Sea, by the Scarborough Shoals. I'd like to think... if I believed in Karma... which I don't. But I sure as hell can say "they deserved it". And, by the way, what shocking seamanship is shown in the vid, by the Chinese Navy. Not only the crash, but then not offering immediate aid to their sister ship??! WTF?...
