China, a U.S. Ally and the Fight Over an Old Rusty Ship

China, a U.S. Ally and the Fight Over an Old Rusty Ship Sea Shipping

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https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/china-aus-ally-and-the-fight-over-an-old-rusty-ship-daf24da3

SINGAPORE—A dispute between China and the Philippines, a U.S. ally, is rapidly escalating over an unusual military outpost: a World War-II era ship that is leaky, riddled with holes, covered in rust and sitting atop a reef in the South China Sea.

The decrepit ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, and the small detachment of marines aboard are defending the Philippines’ claim to Second Thomas Shoal, located about 100 miles off its west coast. The country grounded the ship on the reef 2½ decades ago to stave off China’s expanding control over the South China Sea.

Door To Door Cargo This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.

China, a U.S. Ally and the Fight Over an Old Rusty Ship - WSJ