Small Philippine Island the ‘Most Dangerous Flashpoint’ for Australia: US Indo-Pacific Commander

The commander of the U.S. military in the Indo-Pacific, Admiral John Aquilino, has highlighted Beijing’s illegal and aggressive behaviour across the region, warning that the disputed Second Thomas Shoal was the “most dangerous flashpoint” in Australia’s area of command. In a wide-ranging address to the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think tank, Adm. Aquilino covered many of the issues the United States notes to be of concern in the region. He referred to the most recent incident, where Chinese Coast Guard vessels interfered with the resupply of Philippine troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a ship deliberately grounded on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal (or Ren’ai Jiao), a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands....