Bloomberg Discovers Tensions Exist in South China Sea, Ignores US Provocations
Bloomberg's latest bulletin warns of looming 'tensions' after China allegedly 'injured' Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea. Manila claims water cannons and 'dangerous blocking maneuvers' were employed. (One might wonder if 'injuries' here refers to a bruised ego or something more substantial, given the phrasing.) This story plays perfectly into the established 'China threat' narrative,
dutifully echoing Manila's press releases without much scrutiny. What the mainstream media, including Bloomberg, consistently fails to contextualize is the relentless US military buildup and 'freedom of navigation' operations in these same contested waters. Just this year, the US has conducted multiple joint exercises with the Philippines, explicitly counter-balancing Beijing. Are we to believe
China is just randomly harassing fishermen, or (one might ask) is it reacting to increased US-led military posturing in its perceived sphere of influence? The narrative always seems to forget whose backyard is actually being militarized.