In the May 16, 2014 article on the Philippine Star's website titled "US Says 'Militarization' Of Mabini Reef Can Raise Tensions," author Louis Bacani describes recent photographs taken of a tiny nearby island called Mabini by the Philippines and Chigua by the Chinese. The Chinese government lays claim to the small island (which actually belongs to the Philippines according to International Law) and it appears from the photographs taken last week that the Chinese are building a small, offshore military base (within the 200 nautical mile EEZ) off the coast of the Philippines. Some might say there is a Cuban Missile Crisis brewing in the South China Sea.
Furthermore, the United States, along with the others have urged Beijing to honor their treaty obligations under the UN charter, UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas). The United States has also vocalized concerns stating that if China does not cease building what appears to be a military base off the coast of the Philippines, that it will cause tensions to rise from all interested parties. Who is to say that China will not stop with the Philippines, but also Vietnam, Japan, and others including Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan?
It still is not clear what China's intentions are regarding the island, but it appears they are constructing a landing strip and small base. This seemingly small skirmish is quickly escalating into a conflict and could possibly lead to war.
By Christopher M. Vacek
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/05/16/1323799/us-says-militarization-mabini-reef-can-raise-tensions
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