conflict between two countries over a shoal

I believe that it is about time that the UN do something about the area. Why not turn it into something like the Antarctica where no country can claim it as their own. The area can be used for joint scientific exploration and research.

Actually, the matter could be resolved if China would only respect the international law regarding the 200-km radius rule on the territory jurisdiction. On the other hand, China is sticking to historical events that it has been their since territory since time immemorial. By the looks of it, international law making bodies should start looking into the issue before it gets out of proportion.

Hello Tess_Quinain, Don't worry too much about it, am sure the Chinese Government is the only soul responsible in this matter. Diplomacy is the only solution this kind of dispute because we are living in the 21st century and wars shouldn't be an answer to both countries that has excel in different ways.

I hate the war too and i hope it wont happen. There are many problems among countries nowadays...I don't know why all can't live in peace and help each other developing together...they always try to get more sea, more land, more island...it is so weird....

Hmm..I am quite worried about it too, but like you I am not really updated about the news and also don't really understand the whole story. Anyway,if they would be able to make a good deal or ways to find out who has the REAL "legal rights" on that shoal then it can be resolved. If the shoal is really for the Philippines, China should give way. If it is really for China then we must give way to them. I know it is impossible to share that by 2 countries. Anyway, if they get it from us, I know God will not abandon us and would give us something better if we do not fight or is peaceful with other nations.

My country is doing its best to get the Island. Altough we, Filipinos, cannot defeat a "sleeping giant" who's already awake, still find ways to fight of what is thought to be ours. They say the Island is rich in resources most especially the rumor of gas deposit. -- I don't really like conflict even though I'm part of one country. A single spark can ignite a war that may affect innocent people. If only given the power, I will let a volcano erupt in that area so that what they expect as resources and gas deposites will be consumed by it. If the Island is not there in the first place maybe the tourism and business between my country and China will still be okay. I pray that the conflict will soothe ASAP.

Currently the Philippines has misunderstandings to one country only and that is China. Yes it's true that China tried to reject and prevent imported products from the Philippines and I do believe that this is brought about the conflict between this two countries. However, though the said conflict remains unresolved, it doesn't mean that the Philippine economy will decline. As the Philippine president says, if China would continue in rejecting their products, He will find another country whereas He could export the Filipino goods. It's not yet the end for the Filipinoes. Filipinoes aren't dumb and weak. They don't live by depending on China and the Chinese people alone.

This conflict over a shoal has escalated into a bigger problem that goes to show that the Administration was not able to decide immediately on what the best course of action should be. This conflict should not have escalated into rotting export products because they just so happened to come from the Philippines. We used to be friendly neighbors but it is kind of surprising that it is only now that Chine has taken drastic steps to claim the shoal as theirs. This is a very uncomfortable situation in Southeast Asia especially since even tourism and exports are starting to be affected. However, China is not the only country that we are doing business with so it does not look like this will be the cause of poverty. There are many ways to overcome poverty and China is not the real issue but the reforms that the Administration should have undertaken. We have all taken a backseat and allowed the fight against corruption to take its toll not only on economy but with other more pressing concerns. Have there been inroads made against corruption? It seems to have worsened.