What can you say about scarborough shoal?

Answer 1

A Reaction paper of Scarborough Shoal

Had China and the Philippines based their on-going dispute on security and threat, economic dimension, political and strategic military advancement, and territorial expansion over peace and security, commitment to mutual treaties and international laws, and plain RESPECT, then, a countdown to another Falklands War must be ticking!

Territorial dispute has been an old trick of Imperialism since time of greed unknown to man. History of the worlds never told a lie. War of aggression always has a price, and the price of waging war is expensive, too expensive for the Philippines to buy for it. On the verge of the on-going territorial conflict, where China and the Philippines are staunch in claiming the "piece of rock".

There may be only three issues underlying the standoff: firstly, the China's interest, secondly, the America's interest, and thirdly, the Philippines' sovereignty.

Why in all disputes either on territory, arm or military, or even on racism America has its unique or strategic presence? History provokes that it is because of America's interest-to remain the sole superpower over terrestrial, fluvial, and aerial domains on earth, where she can exercise control to the fullest. America's interventions in Gulf War, in Arab worlds, in Europe and in Latin countries, and of course in the Philippines (the only either a satrapy of America or a puppet for the imperialist in Asia's empire) are "least" humble indications of America's character as imperialist. However, this America's humble character has brought either good or bad, but evidently advantageous to her interest. If this is so, then still America is the benefactor of China-Philippines territorial dispute backwash.

According to china, Scarborough Shoal (as called Huangyan Island in China), a triangular-shaped atoll with a circumference of 46km, has been regarded as part of the Zhongsha Islands in China since 1935. China has been constantly emphasizing, asserting this fact when Scarborough Shoal became subject of dispute among the claiming parties. Hence, China claimed Scarborough Shoal and most islands in South China Sea based on historical ownership.

While Philippines says that the Scarborough Shoal (as called Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines) is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and the government of the Philippines claimed it as a part of the Municipality of Masinloc, Zambales province. Furthermore, the Philippines claimed Scarborough Shoal based on Philippine sovereignty under Public International Law and on Philippine sovereign rights under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

The Pillars of Claim, History recalls that Scarborough Shoal was named after the capsized tea-trade ship, Scarborough. Dispute between China and the Philippines over it has first started on April 30, 1997 when the Filipino naval ships prevented the Chinese boats from approaching the shoal. This historic event prompted China to express their strong protest against this Philippines' attempt. Meanwhile, the latest scuffle between the same sovereign states on the same subject of dispute erupted on April 10, 2012. China has been adamant in claiming over Scarborough Shoal even as early as 1935, in fact, China listed the Scarborough Shoal as part of the Zhongsha Islands. China, again, protested against the Philippines when the latter has claimed sovereignty over some of the islands in South China Sea in 1956 for geographical basis. Ergo, Philippines have made their claims over islands in South China Sea based on territorial proximity around Philippine archipelago.

Considering China being bullied by the Philippine government based on the latter 1956 claim, it could be possible that this has triggered China to promulgate its 1958 Declaration on the Territorial Sea that recognized the breadth of the territorial sea of China. This declaration covered the Zongsha islands, where Scarborough Shoal was a part of these islands. Moreover, the 1992 Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone reaffirmed the sovereignty of China over the Zongsha Islands.

On the other hand, the Philippines is confident in claiming over Scarborough Shoal primarily based on UNCLOS provisions and on the Philippine Constitution.

UNCLOS codifies a comprehensive governance of Law and Order in oceans and seas in the entire globe. Its salient tasks enforce coastal and archipelagic states to exercise sovereignty over their territorial sea, establish an exclusive economic zones or EEZs, subject parties to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in cases of disputes, and among others. The Philippines signed the UNCLOS on December 10, 1982 and ratified it on May 8, 1984 with reservations. China, on the other hand, ratified the UNCLOS on June 7, 1996 also with reservations obviously pertaining to territorial sovereignty and made clear its opposition to Section 2 of Part XV of the UNCLOS with respect to all categories of disputes.

Answer 2

they can claim it based on geography, history and relevance to the country's culture

Answer 3

well it realy is owned by the philipines