Alarming facts
Victory. This is what the Chinese are claiming and making sure their whole country knows about it. That they successfully drove away an American military surveillance aircraft that was flying over their "territory." They are now patting themselves on the back for what they see as enforcing their sovereignty over disputed islands. A P-8A Poseidon aircraft flew over Fiery Cross Reef to see first hand what China was doing on disputed islands. A voice on the radio claiming to be the Chinese Navy issued eight warnings to the aircraft to leave the area. The pilot repeated its response that they were in international airspace. Obviously, China no longer considers anything on the West Philippine Sea, and now the airspace above it as international. The Poseidon aircraft, having taken all the pictures it could, left the area. What else is there for the aircraft to do? This is what they call a victory.
Analysts have noticed some alarming facts in this incident. The obvious one being China exercising its territorial rights over the whole area, which no country recognizes. Much like a bully or a thug claims a street, a block or a neighborhood. While there is no legal basis for this, no one contests him because of the threat of violence. Another aspect is that it was the Chinese Navy that issued the warning to the aircraft, not a civilian agency. It shows that China has already militarized the area, which is still being disputed with cases filed with the United Nations. China has proven to the world that the only thing it is willing to wield on this matter is a sword.
The US has vowed to step up military flights and even naval patrols on the disputed area. This only shows that the victory China has claimed was a hollow one. Everyone knows that the area is still considered international waters and airspace, no matter what China says. And so they will treat it as such. China has already begun its rhetoric against any future plans for the US, or any country for that matter, that plan to fly or sail into "their territory. "
Many may see these turn of events as an escalation of the already tense situation in the West Philippine Sea. But many see China's illegal expansionism as dangerous. Dangerous to stability, dangerous to peace. With the recent incident, it is clear how China's attitude to the whole issue is. If "Go away" are the only words it knows to utter, then it may be up for a rude awakening.
“Many may see these turn of events as an escalation of the already tense situation in the West Philippine Sea. But many see China's illegal expansionism as dangerous. Dangerous to stability, dangerous to peace. With the recent incident, it is clear how China's attitude to the whole issue is. If "Go away" are the only words it knows to utter, then it may be up for a rude awakening.”