shoals

Calm captains of the ship of state struggle to navigate the world system’s waves and shoals.

Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine government ships over two disputed shoals have flared alarmingly since last year, causing collisions.

In nature, the collective motion of some birds and fish, such as flocks of starlings and shoals of sardines, respectively, can generate impressive dynamic phenomena.

Chinese and Philippine ships clashed last year as disputes over shoals and other outcroppings in the South China Sea flared.

Its name appears to refer to the perils of navigating the narrow waterway, which is rife with crosscurrents, unpredictable winds, reefs, and shoals.