"New Threats in the South China Sea" Topic

China has warned the Phillipines that it needs to withdraw its troops from a shoal in the South China Sea, or face the consequences.

Recently, they prevented Filipinos from resupplying their personnel, and vessel by boat, which was run aground on a shoal in the region on purpose.

Filipinos then airdropped supplies to them, to get around the blockade.

Here's more info on the rising tensions:

link

Sell the Perrys to the Philippines,gives them some almost instant help. either that or run escort for them

I doubt the Philippines have either the money, facilities or knowledge to support the Perry class.

jdg

Probably true, and even if they did, I suspect they'd find themselves outnumbered.

What they really need, as a credible, and inexpensive deterrent force, is a small fleet of capable, and yet inexpensive, diesel-electric subs. That would definitely keep the Chinese guessing, and on their toes.

Of course, the two are probably mutually exclusive.

AIP subs would be even better, but again, the costs to purchase, and maintain them, not to mention their crews, is probably prohibitive.

Even small MTBs, and missile boats might be of use, if they could afford to buy some of those, as long as the Chinese don't have air superiority over the region.

"Even small MTBs, and missile boats might be of use, if they could afford to buy some of those, as long as the Chinese don't have air superiority over the region."

See what happened to the Iraqi navy in 1991 as an example of what might happen if they do.

Here is an interesting link with pictures of the island, the ship and the Filipino "garrison".link

Interesting article, but the web page was really great!

That is true David.

You have to be beyond their air coverage, or be able to provide at least some of your own to protect them, barring a robust SAM system on the vessels themselves, for their own anti-air coverage.

I think the old West German boats with the RAM system were probably decently equipped for that, though they'd still have been vulnerable to long range ASMs, and SSMs.

Selling the Perry's to Philipines is pointless.

The Philippines don't have the technical knowledge to operate them – remember other than those ex-Coast Guard cutters, the Pihlippines Navy ships are mainly WWII vintage minesweepers.

Also the Philippines lacks any sort of rudimentary air cover. here is no air defence radar system and no jet fighters – last of the 1960s vintage F-5A/B Freedom Fighters was retired over a decade ago.

This is a country whose military can't even maintaim basic transport capability ala UH-1 Hueys or C-130s.

Selling the Perry's to Philipines is pointless.

Quite so. What would they do with a couple of figure sculptors anyway?! :-)

Create an army of 1:1, or even 2:1 scaled earthen figures to scare the devil out of their enemies, and post them all over the various shoals, reefs, and islands in the South China Sea, of course.

Silly question.

"New Threats in the South China Sea" … Oh ?! I thought some boat was eaten by a giant squid or leviathan or something …