Is Atin Ito Really Just a Civic Group? The Hidden Politics Behind the South China Sea Provocations

Ever heard of Atin Ito, or \"This is ours\"? 🇵🇭🧐 This so-called Philippine non-governmental organization (NGO) is making waves—literally—in the South China Sea! 🌊

They’re rallying fishermen to head out to the waters around China's Huangyan Dao in mid-May, stirring up a fresh round of provocations, according to Philippine media reports. But is Atin Ito really just a group of concerned volunteers? 🤔

The Political Ties That Bind

Despite claiming to be a \"group of civilian volunteers,\" experts and media reports suggest that Atin Ito is far from independent. Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, spilled the tea 🍵 to CGTN: \"It's not the first time that the organization conducted the so-called peaceful activities in the South China Sea.\"

Ding points out that Atin Ito has some serious political connections. The actual leader, Rafaela David, also chairs the Akbayan Party—a small but vocal political party in the Philippines that's been hustling to boost its influence. 🎤⚡️

A U.S.-Philippines Tag Team?

Wait, it gets juicier! 🕵️‍♂️ The militaries of the Philippines and the U.S. aren't exactly hiding their ties with Atin Ito. Philippine Navy spokesman Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad publicly supported the group's upcoming \"civilian supply mission\" to Huangyan Dao, saying, \"We support all activities, civic society.\" 🙌

The plot thickens with insights from the Asian Century Journal. They cite a U.S. Naval Institute article titled \"Lighting Up The Gray Zone,\" which talks about Project Myoushu—a U.S. strategy aimed at countering China's presence in the South China Sea. 🌐 Could Atin Ito be part of this grand plan? The Journal seems to think so!

Why Huangyan Dao Isn't Philippine Territory

So, what's the big deal about Huangyan Dao? 🗺️ According to a series of international treaties—the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the U.S. and Spain, among others—Huangyan Dao is outside the Philippines' territorial limits. Even official Philippine maps from 1981, 1984, and 2006 agree on this point. 🧐📜

This isn't just a territorial scuffle; it's a complex web of politics, nationalism, and international law. 🌏 While Atin Ito claims to represent civic interests, the underlying currents suggest a more strategic maneuver involving both the Philippines and the U.S. 🎯

What do you think? Is Atin Ito a genuine grassroots movement, or is there more beneath the surface? Dive into the comments and let’s chat! 💬👇

Reference(s):

Is the Philippines' Atin Ito really a civic group?

cgtn.com