Minerva II.

This is coolbert:

"At sea one day, you'll smell land where there'll be no land, and on that day Ahab will go to his grave, but he'll rise again within the hour. He will rise and beckon. Then all - all save one shall follow. "

The gauntlet is thrown? All over a speck of land only visible above the water line at low tide.

Battle of the South China Sea? Second Thomas Shoal 

"China anchors 'monster ship' in South China Sea: Philippine coast guard"

From https://www.japantimes.co.jp | REUTERS  |  Jul 8, 2024.

"MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard said on Saturday that China's largest coast guard vessel has anchored in Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, and is meant to intimidate its smaller Asian neighbor."

"The Chinese coast guard's 165-meter [about 540 feet] 'monster ship' entered Manila's 200-nautical mile (370-kilometer) EEZ on July 2, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela told a news conference.

CHINESE VESSEL ESTABLISHING A KNOWN PRESENCE AT SECOND THOMAS SHOAL PERMANENT TO SEMI-PERMANENT. A PROCLAMATION OF SOVEREIGNTY! A BRAZEN CHALLENGE THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED.

To an extent this reminds me of the Minerva Reef Incident from way back when:

"In 1971, a wealthy Nevada real estate mogul, Michael Oliver, attempted to create a libertarian micronation on the reefs, which he declared as the Republic of Minerva. However, Tonga had already issued a claim over the land, and Oliver’s efforts were ultimately unsuccessful."

Michael Oliver and his compatriots their plans ambitious to say the least but resulting in very quick Tongan military intervention and ultimate expulsion.

"Some damn fool thing in the South China Sea" - Bismarck.

Let Ahab beware Ahab!

coolbert.