Chinese troops to seize Zhongye Island back from the Philippines in 2014

Interesting - over the past couple of months, Chinese troops have occupied land in the Ladakh region of India. This is infact one of the largest political issues in the scheduled Indian general elections in April.<p>Looks like its happening all over Asia.<p>[1] <a href="http://www.firstpost.com/india/why-india-needs-to-be-more-wary-of-china-after-the-ladakh-incursion-1005467.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.firstpost.com&#x2F;india&#x2F;why-india-needs-to-be-more-wa...</a> [2] <a href="http://www.livemint.com/Politics/fHAd0H2KBmVMcJW0HvC75H/India-raises-troop-incursion-issue-with-China.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.livemint.com&#x2F;Politics&#x2F;fHAd0H2KBmVMcJW0HvC75H&#x2F;Indi...</a>

They are called the Pagasa Island by everybody but the Chinese propaganda ministry.<p>Anyway, I think this is all more Chinese interior policy, to divert public attention in China from the many problems the CCP currently has to maintain itself in power. As any government, the need a &quot;foreign enemy&quot;. Or, in China&#x27;s case, a handfull of foreign enemies: Japan, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, maybe Malaysia.

At some point prior to WWI, the Chinese built a small temple on the island. It&#x27;s doubtful they ever inhabited it. Then, in the 1940s, a private fishing magnate claimed the island and declared it (and some other nearby islands) an independent micronation. Nearby Vietnam, China, and Taiwan all objected but were too busy to do anything about it. He later found himself arrested by the Philipines and &quot;sold&quot; it to them for one peso. They built an landfill airstrip there later.<p>Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomás_Cloma#Free_Territory_of_Freedomland" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Tomás_Cloma#Free_Territory_of_F...</a>

I don&#x27;t find the bit where they say they will do it.<p>The militrary make plans all the time, so they are ready if the politicians demand action. This doesn&#x27;t mean they execute them.

Holy crap. On the other hand, China can do pretty much whatever it wants. Even if China was actively crazy <i>all the time</i>, it&#x27;s doubtful anyone would be willing or able to stop them. Which, incidentally, might be a theory <i>they</i> are testing on the world right now.<p>For everyone involved, I sincerely hope the Philippines does the right thing and avoids a hopeless military standoff, any outcome of which will only strengthen China further in a myriad ways.

&gt; <i>It will be an intolerable insult to China</i><p>Like little kids...

The USA might get into a war over this with China. It hopefully would end in a quick backdown and sanity on both sides. However the USA not standing up to China on this will lead to WW3 as Japan, S. Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, et.al. all make a run for a nuclear deterrent because the USA could no longer be resided on. The USA standing up to China is less of a risk then not doing so.

Is this for real or just a propaganda bluff?<p>What&#x27;s next, capture the Japanese Islands in the south that China is disputing?<p>Really hope this is just sensationalist news, as there are always plenty of them around. But there&#x27;s also been a stream of weird updates on this region for the last years, and it&#x27;s not just about rogue state North Korea.

It seems to me the Chinese are getting cocky and their using god old Chinese ego to fuel their propaganda.<p>I hate to say this but with all the military activity a full blown war is bound to happen soon.<p>Their picking fights left and right or taking strategic military points preparing for a war.<p>Neither sounds good to me.

This is what the UN was founded for, to handle disputes of territory in a civilized way.<p>Even the league of nations has managed to do it.<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%85land_Islands#History" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;%C3%85land_Islands#History</a>

Map: <a href="http://tiananmenstremendousachievements.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/map-of-the-island.jpg" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;tiananmenstremendousachievements.files.wordpress.com&#x2F;...</a>

and 19&#x2F;1&#x2F;2014 is the 40th year anniversary of the Battle Of Paracel Islands between China and the then Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Paracel_Islands" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Battle_of_the_Paracel_Islands</a>

Sounds eminently blusterous.

Just a crazy thought, if due to some chain of events of this or similar events China devalues Dollar - can a backup currency like cryptocoin(s) be used in result of such emergency?<p>Also I strongly disapprove of imperialist move by China, Filipinos are nice people and no need to be an aggressor against such a small country.<p>my 2c