Recent events in the South Sea mean that tensions slowly mount in the region as China and its neighbours continue to eye each others attempts to exploit potential fishing, gas and oil reserves around the Spratly Islands, various parts of which are claimed by the PRC, RoC, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The danger now is that there is a distinct possibility that innocent bystanders such as passing container shipping or bulk freight vessels in the region may get caught up in the burgeoning crisis.
This week has seen the Philippines Navy Frigate the BRP Gregorio del Pilar involved in a stand off with two Chinese 'surveillance vessels' after stopping Chinese fishing vessels in the area, with the Philippine's recently dispatching another vessel to the region demonstrating that, despite assurances from both countries governments, this situation is far from resolved.
The Chinese have also stated that it hopes "irrelevant parties" will stay out of the South China Sea, a reference to Russian oil company Gazprom's recent deal with Vietnam to develop gas fields off the Vietnamese coast. |
