The disputed Spratly Group of islands was a potentially 0il-rich area in the South China Sea which was claimed as a whole or in part by China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunie. The tensions escalates between the three countries China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The Philippines had protested to the United Nations about the bullying made by the Chinese vessels in the South China Sea which was now called by the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese vessels had already intruded one of the Philippine occupied reef in the Spratlys. The Mischief (Panganiban) Reef was under occupation last 2005 with the building of Chinese structures said to be a resting place for its fishermen.
Nations from the South East Asia had its own version about the discovery of the Spratly Islands and each of them claimed that they were the rightful owner of one of the most hotly contested territorial claims for the the past few years.
The name Spratly Islands, the famous English name of the group of islands in the South China Sea was derived from Captain Richard Spratly who sighted the islands on March 1843, and chronicled it on The Nautical Magazine on 1843. The group of islands was also named “Horsburgh’s Storm Island” by Captain James Horsburgh but the British admiralty favored the name Spratly Islands.
During the year 1956 Admiral Thomas Cloma from the Philippines claimed the Spratlys as part of the Freedomland and occupied the territory for a possible cannery production in the island. According to his claimed, he discovered the island in the year 1947. The adventurer, fishing magnate and founder of PMI Colleges claimed was used by the Philippines as the basis for its claimed of the Spratlys.
The claimed made by Thomas Cloma was one of the reasons why the Spratly Islands disputes escalated during the 1950’s. Taiwan had re(–foul word(s) removed–)erted its claimed of the islands by sending its forces. China on its part was maneuvering during those days. Vietnam also had its own reasons why they have to reoccupy the territories they were claiming.
The Spratly Islands disputes have been a hot topics nowadays with the Philippines warning the Chinese government to not to bullied the Philippine troops stationed on the islands claimed by the Philippines.
Vietnam on their part had performed a live drill exercise after their fishing vessels was fired upon by the Chinese Naval Ships. Protests were held in different parts of the cities of Vietnam to condemn the bullying made by the Chinese to its fishermen.
The renegade province of China, Republic of Taiwan was also preparing their troops for a possible arms race in the region. The escalation of disputes between China and the South-East countries could further lead to arms race and violence. Diplomatic measures should be carefully made especially for the Philippines who are not capable of engaging for a possible used of force.
