Philippines reinforcing rusting ship on Spratly reef outpost

[Dedworth]

The Philippine navy is quietly reinforcing the hull and deck of a rusting ship it ran aground on a disputed South China Sea reef in 1999 to stop it breaking apart, determined to hold the shoal as Beijing creates a string of man-made islands nearby.

http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/do/getGalleryImages?u=UKKCN0PN2IY20150714&i=2


http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN0PN2IY20150714?irpc=932

[Michael Parnham]

Very interesting, wonder what will happen long term! :Erm:

[Trefor]

Pity they can't spend a small amount building proper outposts on these various islands. A few ships of equipment including a dredger, a few JCBs, some workers, a cement product facility and there you go (I may have oversimplified the process a little).

[fred]

I think I, or someone else posted a documentary about an Aussie reporter that made a quick dash for this ship and managed to avoid the disgusting Chink coast guard scum to interview the soldiers there..
An incredible story he told.. Might be worth someone digging it out again to respect those brave soldiers serving their country so honorably.

[fred]

Actually,it was easy to find..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kz0JTEoXXc

[Dedworth]

I remember watching that. I posted this before:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29107792

[Tawi2]

China are going to win this one, they have some substantial islands being made, and how many pinoys work in China, remember what Chip Tsao said last time this flared up, "As a nation of servants dont flex your muscle at your masters from whom you earn your bread and butter".

[Longweekend]

I still believe the Philippines made a mistake in letting the US military leave years ago....

[Tawi2]

Sky news ran a story on the ship the Sierra Madre this morning,a brit reporter went in with a supply boat,the boat anchored offshore,a tiny Zodiac type rubber boat came out to collect the first freshwater supply they have had in 4 months.Theres a small contingent of filipino marines on the sierra madre,they wandered around in shorts,no uniforms in sight and one to.d the camera he would die defending the boat.The chinese are building a MASSIVE complex on the nearby subi reef,its even got a 3000 foot runway :smile: Duterte is now asking aquino and trillanes whats happened to scarborough shoal :Erm:

[tiger31]

I personally believe ww3 will start in the south China sea