Field Reports: April 2024

April Showers

Do what you like. Like what you do.

Guadeloupe Beach, Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines

April Review

In order to have the most current information, I am sorting through the internet for details and stories which I may have missed during the month. From the oldest to the recent these are items of importance in The Philippians struggles with China.

"We are not the aggressors" in the West Philippine Sea, says The Philippians.
"China in for a rude awakening," says The Philippians National Security Council.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines would implement unspecified “countermeasures”
China-Philippines relations heat up.
Chinese Coast Guard harass Filipino Fisherfolk in the Philippians Exclusive Economic Zone,
Philippians Information Agency: The Philippians are not provoking China! China is the aggressor, and the people of the region are paying the price.*
US, Japan, and The Philippians create a Trilateral agreement in face of China's aggression.
Marcos limits US military to bases it already leased in a bid to slow down escalation with Xi.
Unsecured Chinese Site. Open at your own discretion. Be careful. China addresses the "Gentleman's Agreement" it claims to have had with the previous Philippine Administration.
Marcos says he is "Horrified" that such a secret "Gentleman's Agreement" might exist.
Duterte confirms that there is no "Gentleman's Agreement" with China/
The Philippians National Task Force - West Philippine Sea ramps up strategy to combat Chinese Misinformation.
Duterte says the West Philippine Sea issue is "propaganda" to drag the Philippines into a US-China war. Watch embedded video for your own determination.
Chinese students in the Philippines prompt questions of risk to National Security.
G7 calls out China!
US deploys mid-range missile system in Northern Philippians for the first time.
Trilateral Agreement about more than Chinese Aggression in the South China Sea.

Army Matters: China Vs Taiwan

*If the China-Philippians tension breaks out in a regional, or global conflict, it will not be due to the Philippians actions, but an error, or miscalculation, by the Chinese Coast Guard, or China's Maritime Militia.

Alas, Berlin

Recommended Listening

Listen to The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) by Ascension on Audible. You'll learn from the source what the Catholic Church believes.

Germany

Six alleged spies arrested in Germany. All six were tied to the German government in one form or another. How many more have infiltrate the German government where none should be? Congratulations, Germany.

China

China's Q1 numbers don't look like they are in recovery. This raises the question of China's willingness to wag the dog.

China is planning to use space to make US intervention in the Asian Pacific waters too expensive. The prohibited weponizing space seems to be becoming thin, according to the US Space Force.

China is using the frog in the kettle strategy. The temperature is rising, but no one is paying attention.

USA

Two Chinese National have been arrested for allegedly attempting to sell US chip technology to China. Whoops, caught again.

The Philippines

The Chinese are getting interested in the joint US, Philippines, exercise known as The Balikatan. This story seems a little strange.

Video Germany's DW files this report on the Chinese potentiomal response to The Balikatan 2024 exercises.

On Any Day

Like what you do. Do what you like.

Discussion: Does today's Philippines need a group like The Flying Tigers of World War II to bolster their Navy? Are the Turtle Ships of Old best suited for the Gray Area of today's Philippine Sea?

China

The Red Flags which signal that China will take unilateral action to reunify Taiwan with Mainland China under the Communist Party.

Is China Shock 2.0 reviving it's economy, or just raising the stakes for more economic instability?

To quote, "China debates current churn in South China Sea."

Trilateral Agreement

Video (3 weeks ago) China cannot stand up against this alliance. This has a very good explanation of what is ment by "The Gray Zone." I'd call it Chinese violence, but I'm not a country's leader.

Taiwan

In a childish display of nationalist defiance, Chinese jets prowl the sky's near Taiwan as Secretary of State Blinken leaves China. Is bias showing?

The Philippines

The Marcos Government denies any new model for easing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. More Chinese disinformation to play to it's supporters?

Video Replenishment drill in West Philippines Sea.

On this day

Top Movie on April 28, 1974

Top Song on April 28, 1974

Top Television Program on April 28, 1974

Promotion

Babies Crying in K-Plant and other true paranormal stories.

Laying Flat

Do what you like. Like what you do.

Philippines

"One day in early April 2012, a Philippine naval surveillance plane spotted eight Chinese fishing boats inside Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of reefs around 125 nautical miles (232 kilometers) from Luzon, the Philippines' main island."

China

Nonviolent youth rebellion in China in Vogue since COVID: Laying Flat.

China shares some of the same pressing socioeconomic pressures with the United States of America.

China dumps $74 Billion in US Treasury holdings. That certainly defies the prediction in the book Earth 2.0. It does raise other questions. Who is feeding China's grain hunger?

US Economy

Is the USA heading towards a 1970s style stagflation? Some seem to think so. Remember the last one? Or, what brought us out of it?

Pop History

#1 song April 26, 1973. Tony Orlando and Dawn.

#1 movie April 26, 1973. Soylent Green. The year is 2022....

Baby Boomer Advice

For the past 65 years I've found little in the way of pop financial advise I could relate to, or use. Knowledge is power but only if you can do something with it. Otherwise it is just trivia. This is the other side of that spectrum: Getting wealthy after retirement.

Retirement with cool. Seven activities for fulfilling retirement.

Promotion

Based on the analysis of his last 50 years, Clifford Allen Potts, Ph.D., brings another thought-provoking page turner as we delve once again into our world's dynamic human environment. Wealth, Women, and War

Shop Talk

Remember me writing about dull news days last week or so? Today is another one.

Pithy Headline Here

China

Xi is getting cocky, telling the US Secretary-of-State to cooperate or else. "Choose between stability and ‘downward spiral,’ China tells Blinken during Beijing trip," CNN Reports.

The Philippines

The human economic toll, Fisherfolk (as they are called in the Philippines) are being chased off their traditional fishing grounds by Chinese Cost Guard, and Maritime Militia.

Civilian boats are setting sail to show solidarity in the face of Chinese harassment. This article includes a very good explanation of that has occured in the West Philippines Sea.

USA

The CEO of JPMorgan Chase say the US is in a very good position to negotiate with China.

Missiles of April

China

China warns The USA, and the Philippines, on the dangers of putting intermediate SM-6 missiles in China's back yard.

They do have a point. The Biden Administration is forgetting the history of the Cuban Missile Crisis of the early 1960's during the Kennedy Administration. It is sad when an otherwise competent US Administration makes such a blunder.

The Philippines

International tourism is picking up in the Philippines this far in 2024.

Filipino group says the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan Region aids the Chinese students ability to speak English. (See Tagalog paragraphs below).

As Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains." *** The group mentioned in the article above may be suffering from the same affliction. If they are paid by the Chinese, it may temper their nationalistic concerns.

Northwestern University

I was a proud archivist for Occupy Chicago, and a faithful Twitter Reporter for many of the Occupy Wall Street affinity groups. I eventually left that behind because it's time had come and gone. It seems some of my cohorts in Occupy Chicago are continuing the tactics of the movement during this current bout of Pro-Palastine Protest at Northwestern University in Illinois.

My personal opinion on these encampments was written years earlier in Wealth, Women, and War (Wordtechs Press 2008 -- Lulu 2014) *

The Philippines & China

Sa kabila ng aking personal na pagkiling at pag-aalinlangan, malaki ang posibilidad na nais ng China na manatiling "mapayapa" habang iginigiit ang kanilang labag sa batas, hindi makatwirang pangingibabaw sa katubigan ng South China Sea, West Philippine Sea, Gulf of Tonkin, the East China Sea, at halos pababa sa Indiankaragatan.

Ang kapayapaang ito ng mga Tsino ay yaong sa isang gang sa kalye na kumokontrol sa isang kapitbahay, gumagawa ng mga ilegal na aktibidad, at nangangahas na pigilan ang sinuman. Sa kasamaang palad, hahantong ito sa salungatan.

Minimally, ang pangmatagalang pagbabala ay ang mga barko ay lulubog, at ang mga mandaragat ay mawawalan ng buhay.**

Remember: Opinions are like noses, everyone has one, said some great philosophers in the past.

* Purchasing of any of my published works supports what I am doing here now. A worker is with their wages, right?

** Translation software used.

*** Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence, who was later elected President of the United States.

Welcome to The Sandlot

Listen to The Fourth Turning Is Here by Neil Howe on Audible.

This is the companion volume to The Fourth Turning published in 1998 predicting a time of crisis and recovery in the near future of the United States of America.

China

China has a Navel Base on the Indian Ocean.

Chinese citizen going to jail in the US. Young men need to take care when you threaten people via the Internet.

Reuters Exclusive: China docks ships linked to Russia-North Korea weapons transfers.

Vietnam

Vietnam and the Philippines Coast Guard meet over common concerns.

As if this is a surprise to anyone, Americans work harder. However, Americans are not benefiting from their hard work. The EU investors are.

Japan

Map of Japanese interception of Chinese and Russian Aircraft.

Shop Talk

Hello to those in The Philippines who have visited this combined blog in the last 24 hours. Thank you for stopping by. Salamat!

Another Day in Paradise

Suggested Listening

Listen to Political Science for Dummies by Marcus A. Stadelmann on Audible.**

China

Chinese Commercial Satellite spies on US Navy base.

China exposes itself to the world while flexing it's nuclear prowess.

China blocks Energy development for Vietnam and The Philippines, according to independent observations.

Details on China's Militia Fishing (spy) Fleet off the cost of Palawan before war games are unusual.

Genocide continues in Xinjiang.

Chinese girl dips feet. Why is this a news story?

Video

If China invaded the USA: An hour by hour breakdown.

Other News

North Korea hacks South Korea.

Free Palastine Protest*

Who is this "... local health ministry" in Gaza? And how does this HAMAS run organization calculate it's total fatalities in Gaza? Are these numbers trustworthy at all?

Quoting the number of fatalities given by the Gaza Health Ministry is irresponsible, and as sited in the aforementioned link because the news media wants to appear to be transparent and accurate while having no method whatsoever to validate the information it is being given.

Conservative Marxous MAGA supporter headlines Free Palastine Protest. This proves you can't tell the players without a scorecard; Marx and MAGA don't usually go together.

NYPD investigating who is behind the Occupy type, Pro Palastine encampments in NYC.

Overflow protest harass citizens not involved with the HAMAS terrorists.

Palastine has been autonomous, unoccupied by Israel, since 2005.

*China is not the only country overrun by inept dependence on propaganda.

** As stated before, I don't get commission for the Audible recendations.

Side Note: I am enjoying sharing with you the news about our Chinese neighbors. They may not like it, but in time it will become evident that there needs to be a change in direction in China.

Germany's Trifecta

The US Navy plans to use old oil rigs as Air Defense platforms.

Banning TikTok is more US posturing.

US Secretary of State arrives in China.

Germany arrest aid to far right member of European Paralament for spying for China.

Damn, China's been busy! Germany arrest three for attempting to smuggle Naval Tech for China!

Nuctech of China under EU scrutiny.

EU investigates Chinese medical devise market.

Financial Times of London wraps up the German counter-espionage trifecta.

Blogging Updates

Peaceful Resolution

I'm picking this up where I started yesterday. China says they want a peaceful resolution to the tentions in the territorial waters of their neighbor's, but blames them for the tentions. This is ofviscation of the facts. There is no indication here that China is looking for a peaceful resolution. Am I missing something?

PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) to provide security during military exercises with the US. A noted minority, based on study released in the last seven, are saying such exercises put The Philippines in harms way. It has merit, but copulation to the Chinese may be a greater risk in the long run. This risk due to the destruction of fisheries.

Philippines absent from China's Navy Forum.

New Intel: There "was a 'surge' in the presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMV) in the previous weeks before the start of 'Balikatan' [US/Philippines] exercises this year.

Who are the CMMV?*

Business News

Rainy days are coming, and now is the time to get ready.

US businesses in China worried about the uptick in tension between the Superpowers (China and the USA).

US Politicians

1 in 4 Democrats will not vote for Joe Biden.

Hunger is increasing in Joe Biden's USA.

An empty stomach is a poor political advisor. -- Albert Einstein.

Shop Talk

Twenty-five years ago, if you were writing a blog, it was news. With very little effort, and eighth grade English skills, a blogger could even get a mention in the local newspaper. Those days a long gone.

Today, Google Blogger is blocked from most social media as a source of spam. Blogging in general is all but ignored. The majority of the web traffic is elsewhere. Much of it going to the aforementioned social media sights.

Into this environment I've combined all of my blogs into this one Field Reports linked through the web under the domain CliffPotts.Org.

The mission remains the same: Keeping up-to-date on China's encroachment into the territorial waters of it's much smaller neighbors.

I'll continue to offer analysis as is fitting.

P.S. Some of the old post have to be re-edited.

*Pochers and Pirates is the succinct educated answer.

Give Peace a Chance

China says they want to resolve the tension peacefully.

House passes TikTok ban.

China rethinks it's invasion of Taiwan after Iran attacks.

Now that US has the silent Catapillar Drive, China's scientist says they are next.

China starts on its 4th Aircraft Carrier.

Impressive Reach

China and Iran

The internals of the missiles, and drones, fired by Iran at Israel were made in China. As MAGA, and Walmart Shoppers commonly enjoy, Made in China has some reach while fanning the flames of conflict in another region of the world. Worse of all they couldn't get through to their target.

Does that tell us something about the dependability of the Chinese parts, or is is just an ill advise use of military hardware using Chinese parts?

Either way, China has some impressive reach serving the needs of Rogue Nations.

China scrambled two jets to follow a US Navy P8-A Posiden through the Taiwan Straights.

Europe is becoming aware of Chinese actions in the South China Sea, and does something about it finally.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr nixes any previous model of cooperation with China regarding the West Philippine Sea.

The Countries which are not taking the brunt of Chinese belligerence lean towards China by a statistical insignificant amount. This is a follow up to the story hyped up a few days ago.

Apple removes social media apps from its China App Store. China ordered the action due to alleged security threats posed by the apps. Sounds a lot like the US concerns over TikTok.

In Other News

Introverts can win in the workplace if they focus on the need of their selected small audience.

Cybersecurity Red Team resources.

Hide your IP address.

Developing Story

Chinese students are coming under more scrunity as tension rise with Adveserial China. This is a tough situation for the kids.

Chinese students and researchers are telling stories of US officials detaining or deporting them even if they have the correct visas.

Xi shakes up Chinese military organizations for the first time in 9 years.

Shop Talk

At some point I'm going to convert over to AI to scan the headlines for us. Or not. I'm still looking into it.

Today's Serving

The Philippines

India's BrahMos medium range, ram jet, cruse missile arrived in The Philippines this past Friday 19 April 2024 just in time bolster Philippines Marine Corps Coastal defense.

China sent it's WZ-7 Soaring Dragon spy drone to watch the delivery of India's BrahMos Missiles to The Philippines on Friday.

Chinese Maritime Militia (a.k.a. Chinese Pirates*) are forming a swarm in the West Philippines Sea.

Taiwan

If the Philippines BraMos Missile isn't enoigh Taiwan test launched a domestically built Land Sword II missile this past Monday (15 April 2024).

USA

The USA is investigating China's overcapacity at Ship Building and a world steel monopoly.

China responded by saying, “We have been asking the US to seriously respect the principle of fair competition, observe WTO rules, and immediately lift all trade protectionist measures against China,” he said. “China will do what is necessary to safeguard its legitimate rights.”**

Japan

Japan reports that it has intercepted more Chinese and Russian aircraft since the begining of the combat exercises.

China

More information on China's non-lethal AI water cannon.

Cybersecurity

"Anonymous issued a statement on Friday stating that it has hacked into the IDF [Israel Defence Force] and will reportedly showcase purported military documents." ***

Data Breach at Singapore Student Portal.

Android Trojan SoumniBot evades detection.

*You might call them privateers.

** Or to paraphrase, "Why is everyone always picking on me?"

*** Equivalent of a Pentagon Hack. I am skeptical about this one.

China's Extinction Fishing

China is fishing the planet to extinction, and you still think it is only about Al Gore's Global Warming?

The Clinton Administration was wrong about China. The US has beeen paying for it ever since. This is not to bash Bill Clinton. There is a line of Presidents starting with Nixon who have attempted to negotiate with China. It's doesn't work when the trading partner is negotiating in bad faith.

If this is true then maybe the US should let China have Asia, and work on keeping China out of the Western Hemisphere.

The Philippines and three other nations (including France) plan exercises in the West Philippines Sea to practice responding to a threat upon the Philippines. If the practice may also be a warning, no one is going to be too upset about that.

Hacker News

The US FBI says Chinese Volt Typhoon hacker group is ready to attack the US power, water, pipeline, telecommunications infrastructure.

Russian hackers linked to infrastructure attacks in the US, France, and Poland.

China or Russia? Which is it? Or is it both?

Weapons System

What does China have which might hurt the USA in a war? -- Infographics Video.

U.S. Speeds up Next Gen Interceptors.

BRICS

BRICS calls to ditch the dollar. Anything it can do to undermine the world's largest economy, right?

What is the location of the Second Thomas Shoal?

Today Makes Up For Yesterday.

1.)* China is the source of regional tension says, The Philippines.

2.) Singapore talkes with The Philippines about China's actions in the South China Sea.

3.) US and China have a discussion after the US sets up the Trilateral Agreement with Japan, and The Philippines.

4.) China shouldn't bully The Philippines.

5.) China chides The Philippines, "Don't Flex Your Muscles!"

6.) After US talks with China, don't expect much to change.

7.) China warns The Philippines not to get so cocky with the US in the South China Sea.

8.) Training Exercise prepares the Philippines Armed Forces for war.

*This brings us up to date. The oldest article is the first.

First Kill

US Navy SM-3 first kill.

China and Iran sitting in a tree...

August 2001 was the slowest news month of the seven months of my broadcasting diploma. It was hot, and nothing was happening. Yahoo News posted all sorts of feel good fluff. It stayed that way in Arlington, TX until 11 September 2001, and nothing slowed down for the next 20 years. Today has that August 2001 feel to it. Nothing much is going on today.

🎶 "Everything is beautiful in its own way," to paraphrase an old pop song (okay, a very old pop song).

How does the PLA match up against the USA troops? This is a topic we keep examining. This infographics video covers much I've briefly touched on, and much more.

China Lobbies the US Congress in support of TikTok.

China Attacks

Chinese Cyber Threat Actors are not going to stop anytime soon.

An Open Source backdoor discovered by Microsoft employee.

Thoyon set up in the Philippines complements of the red, white, and blue. And, Green BDUs.

Japan spots Chinese ship equiped with Autocannon.

China's version of Gun Boat diplomacy. Wonder if Chad, Gongo, or a Nigerian African Prince will ally with China in WWIII?

Chinese young don't feel compelled to get excited about CCP plans for economic expansion.

Drone Wars: the next step in the evolution of the battlefield. One step closer to Skynet.

55 Chinese ships spotted in the West Philippines Sea.

Truth Hurts

The chronic problem of too many US Navy ships needed and too few functional ship yards to produce them.

Previously: from China to the Philippines; a timeline.

Dispatch from the US Navy's 7th Fleet operating in the South China Sea.

China persecution of dissidents' families continues.

Island Hopping to China? It's all the rage these days. Does China actually think this can be stopped?

Granted I have a certain US bias, but the forces of the USA are battle tested. China, without any doubt, has technical prowess, but it is untested. That has been pointed out elsewhere.

There is also a question of how the son's, growing up in the privileged Single Child generation, are going to sacrifice themselves for China, as one article asked. That is part of the equation; they have never had to sacrifice for the welfare of others. Then again, maybe that is a none issue too.

The Sierra Madre, the risting WWII ship, it the flashpoint in the Wast Philippine Sea between the Allies and China.

No Surprises Here

U.S. Army skill at crossing a defended river has weakened since WWII (or Vietnam). The U.S. engaged enemies in desert countries, and the river skills went by the wayside for most.

China cuts off Australia. Looks like China is engaging in a little economic lesson for Auz.

India responds to China's force multipliers.

China blocks two Filipino vessels only 35 miles from The Philippines Costline. Yes. It pretty much looks like China wants a war.

I'm not going to be ready if it happens sooner rather than later. Oh, well. Like I've said I'm no independent journalist. I live here.

Trilateral Agreement and More

I wonder if anyone (other than the Chinese) are following these post? If you are, let me know.

Philippines Coast Guard "Assertive Transparency" is ment to pinpoint at risks marine habitats.

China also tracks commercial shipping in the West Philippine Sea.

China tracks US Aircraft Carriers in real time.

China should be paying attention to this too (from Tiktok).

Trilateral Agreement to change the dynamic in South China Sea.

Many U.S. officials believe the risk of war [against China] is rising.

China's Water Cannon is using AI.

In Other News

China says it has created a cellular system which does not require cell towers.

In another example of odd bedfellows, Vietnam and France are working toward a "vivid illustration of France’s adherence to the freedom of navigation."

China is helping Russia's military expansion.

From The Financial Times as well.

U.S. Navy's Catapillar Drive: Silent and Deadly.

Spy Wars

Chinese PLA sends drones over Taiwanese military outpost.

Looks like Newsweek is afraid of the truth so I'll rewrite the headline for them: Chinese warship in Japan's territorial waters.

China said, on Friday, that the US - Philippines defence agreement is not going to persuade them to change.

Quite The Mess

1.) Vietnam wants everyone to play nice.

2.) More Chinese vessels.

3.) US host summit on China.

4.) China need a breakthrough in technology.

5.) West Philippines Sea Naval engagements.

6.) China fishing in Philippines' Waters?

7.) Japan launches it's first Aircraft Carrier since WWII.

8.) US Navy Unstoppable Microwave.

9.) The Philippines fires back on Chinese allegations of reef destruction.

10.) CNN Exclusive: A trip on a B-52 to China.

11.) Chinese Cyber Threat Actors

12.) US says expect more patrols in the South China Sea.

It's a full day today.

War Games

The Philippines join Australian War Games for the first time because of China.

Suggested Listening

I guess you can call this Notes for BayBay Diary. One of three things will finish this

-- I die

-- China and other Nations come to an agreement which everyone can live with.

-- We go to war.

Hell, I know this will not be as rich in depth as Berlin Diary, but I'm not a journalist on any assignment here.

Suggestion: Listen to Nuclear Dawn: The Post-Apocalyptic Box Set by Kyla Stone on Audible.

I get nothing from Audible for suggesting books to listen to. This is pure public service. I gave up on revenue from the internet a long time ago.

Headlines

U.S. Marines littoral (coastal) regiment Is being successful copied by Filipino and Japanese forces.

Other News

What an Iranian attack on Israel would mean for the US, according to retired general.

Iran attacks Israel.

US airlines ask Biden administration to block additional flights to China

Mixed Signals

Today's headlines indicate there is some validity to the theory that this is all posturing.

1.) Us considers easing warnings for citizens traveling to China. Is this the shadow of an olive branch being offered to China as Japan, the Philippines, and USA meet to discuss mutual defense plans?

2.) China is trying to avert an economic slow down. Recessions happen. They do cause hardship. They can cause emotional trauma. The country will recover stronger than before.

3.) The Philippines and US Air forces practice sinking ships. This can't be a surprise to anyone.

4.) Submarines, and not Aircraft Carriers, may be the critical platform in the next Global War.

5.) Same article, I am not the only one who thinks that China is going to face off with the USA, and allies, if China keeps up with its current actions.

6.) US Coast Guard say it can, with local police authorities, board Chinese fishing vessels in the South Pacific to protect fisheries from poaching.

The West Rest or Not

There is little doubt that the USA is very concerned about China's attempt to strangle the economic zones of their smaller neighbors.

I know some people in China and Hong Kong -- why Google's analytics separated those two is beyond me, but I'll take it. How many people from those areas (or anywhere else) a re pretty few. I appreciate any readers who do stop by.

These are notes to myself anymore. Call it a Berlin Diary from a distance. It is not like I am near the disputed waters. However, it is still necessary for me to keep an eye on all these events. I may write about it someday. These are the notes.

I came across a story which I didn't capture about the size of The Philippines Navy. It is small. It is a decent size with the right mix of equipment for defense, but I'm not too sure they could sail into harms way and win the day. I know they can fight courageously. I don't know if they could keep the Chinese at bay long enough for help to arrive. Yet, they are going to have to. We all are.

Japan, The Philippines, and the USA are supposed to meed in Washington, DC to discuss mutual defence plans a capabilities.

As the same time The Philippines are trying to keep tension down The West Philippines Sea.

This part is understandable, but in the long term, it is delaying the inevitable clash in South East Asia over control of the South China Sea.

Ultimately, The Philippines is not going to be bullied.

Just Another Testy Tuesday

It seems that China is getting nervous about the closer relationships between Japan, The Philippines, and the USA.

However, The Philippines Cost Guard is not flapped by China's moves.

China is also harassing The Philippines Fisherfolk well within The Philippines uncontested territorial waters.

This should make China nervous. The US Army is holding combat training in The Philippines.

The US Navy is way behind schedule on its ship building program. It's probably time to buy up some cigarette boats and reoutfit them for blue water combat, huh?

Hacker News

China is not the only player out there with nationalistic hacking groups. There are are couple of stories coming out of Vietnam about hacking activities.*

We have one report of hackers allegedly stealing business data across Asia.

There is another one by Kaspersky detailing Vietnam's internal Cybersecurity threat.

West Philippines Sea

Fisherfolk join with Filipino Coast Guard, and BFAR on a wild fishery protected area.

Japan

"Amid China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea, Japan said it would embrace all opportunities to build up its partnership with the Philippines and other allied nations."

Read more: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/230914/fwd-japan-on-seizing-opportunities-to-build-partnership-with-ph#ixzz8WnMPVDRl
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

*Yes, I know that China's Hackers are state sponsored, and Vietnam's probably aren't. Probably.

Northern Luzon Command

"On Sunday, April 7, the “Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity,” which spanned the areas of operation of the Western Command and the Northern Luzon Command (that’s from Palawan all the way up north), took place with “no untoward incident,” according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)."

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/view-from-manila-joint-sea-patrols-philippines-japan-united-states-australia/

"China’s military said Sunday that it had conducted air and sea patrols and that all activities that “disrupt the South China Sea” are under control, an apparent response to naval exercises by the U.S. and its allies." -- AP 7 April 2024

In Other News

Japan believes the world is at another critical turning point, as Japan and the USA head towards a summit.

They Are At It Again

The Chinese were at it again. They harassed, facked out, and acted like a general PITA (Google it) to more Filipino Fisherfolk.*

In Other News

Marcos approves a 6 year Cybersecurity plan.*

*On some days it is hard to rewrite the headlines and summarize the story in one or two sentences.

Filipino Fisherfolk

It kind of goes without saying that the civilian Fisherfolk of the Philippines will continue to have to deal with China's harassment. These are the people truly paying the price of China's bullying.

One of the responses to the Chinese intrusions into the West Philippines Sea is the construction of shielded armed vessels like the Korean Turtle Ships of Old.

If there is any question at to who is playing the part of Chamberlain in this tension between China, and everyone else, we now know the part is being played by Malaysia. Their perspective on the situation is not wrong, but it is a minority opinion as far as an average Filipino Fisherfolk is concerned. Sorry, Malaysia.

In Other News

It would appear that the spike in Islamists in the USA if paying political dividends to HAMAS and Iran. The US is demanding a change in how Israel condicts the War started by HAMAS (a puppet of Iran), or see a change in policy by the US. This is a direct result of US Islamic political pressure, and the woefully self-righteous young progressives.

I hate to say it, but the conservatives were right about the rising influence of Islam in the US.

Still Friends

The USA again affirms that it is committed to coming to the aid of the Philippines in light of Chinese delusional aggression in the West Philippines Sea.

The West Philippines Sea is not China's territorial water.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in The Philippines has been hit by illegal hackers in the Philippines. The user community is lock.out of their critical business files.

China accosted of bribing Maldives with drinking water from Tibet according to Newsweek. I thought China was above such chicanery.

There is no "Gentleman's Agreement" between The Philippines and China. Once again, China lies. Sorry, China, I tell it like I see it.

China Hackers

China Hackers have deployed a new malware. If that's not enough a 20 second video of Japan's first Aircraft carrier since World War Two popped up on Chinese social media.

Here is one from the other side of the globe. From California, USA, a Chinese national forces his way onto a Marine base.

Microsoft is in hot water with the CSRB because their software had security holes in it. I'll refrane from any snarky comments about Microsoft. This is still an ongoing investigation.

In other news the U.S. House of Representatives bans Microsoft Copilot over security concerns. By applying a little inductive reasoning, there seems to be a pattern here.

AT&T is being sued for another data breach from 2021.

You can now rent Cybercrime Services for non-technical criminals. This one is a mind altering eye opener.

Side Note: Everyone has their own blogging style. My approach is similar to the old Dredge Report. I'll give you the teaser, and you can decide what rabbit hole 🕳️ you want to go down.

There is always something weird going on in China.

China: The government of China bares watching. They are deliberate encroaching on The Philippines territorial waters, and blaming the Philippines for resulting confrontations. It's a David and Goliath match, and China is playing the role of the Nasty, Mean Goliath very well. I'm just wondering about David's sling. When will we see that shot?

The Philippines: I live on Leyte. What happens in the Philippines is happening in my backyard.

Technical proficiency: I've been working on computers since 1977 with Apple's Model Apple II. Before that it was punchcards in a High School Computer Class. We'll leave the story there. There is more to the story.

First, Airspace

3 April 2024, The Philippines --

Today's surprising headline to come out of Asia is that Japan scrambled fighters to intercept a Chinese spy plain in Japanese airspace.

In one of the best articles I've read on the conflict with China, it looks like there will not be an armed conflict with China in the "foreseeable future." Guess I need to polish my crystal ball because I was sure there was a high probability this would lead to a regional war in the disputed waters. The EU has options to support The Philippines without being involved in a Naval Conflict. It also points out China gameplan of Psychological Warfare, Propaganda Warfare (which I've already noted) and Lawfair (as the article calls it, and has not done China much good yet -- China has paid damages on a Philippines vessel recently).

The response to China's aggression is a joint exercise to show force, and solidarity with The Philippines.

China's Innocuous Expansion

If is were not for the China's belligerent shenanigans around the West Philippines Sea, there would be little cause for alarm. However, China's unusual and atypical thirst for expansion there is cause for concern. This is the gist of the EurAsia Times article about Chinese based being built in Cambodia, and Bangladesh which appeared on their website on 2 April 2024.

China is attempting to bully The Philippines, Vietnam and other Asian nations into conceding sea lanes to China. They continually push to establish their illegal Nine Dash Ocean Territory drawn up in the 1940s. The Philippines has emphatically stated they will not ceed their ocean Territory to China. The link above has more details on the technical details on China's illegal assertions.

This has put Vietnam on the front lines of this struggle too. Japan is on alert as well as China squeezes out the freedom of navigation. And Japan has allied with the Philippines on this matter.

The whole world is watching, and China basically doesn't give a tinker's damn about world opinion.