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Activities of the Claimants

China

China opens new route for cruises to islands disputed with Vietnam

China is opening a new route for cruise ships to sail to the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, state media reported on September 2nd, in a move that is likely to irritate Vietnam. The Coconut Princess embarked on its maiden voyage to the islands from Sanya, a city popular with tourists in the southern island province of Hainan. On four-day cruises, tourists will visit three of the islets, Xinhua said, where they can "play beach volleyball, dive, fish and take wedding photos". China began cruises on a trial basis from Haikou, also located in Hainan, in April 2013, but the shorter route from Sanya will now take over, Xinhua reported. 

Vietnam

Vietnam demands China end tourism to Paracel islands

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Speaking in reply to reporters’ questions about Vietnam’s position on the Chinese launch of a new tourism route from Sanya City in China’s Hainan province to the Paracel islands archipelago, the spokesman emphasised that the move counteracts the Vietnam – China agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of issues at sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), further complicating the situation in the South China Sea and the region. He added that Vietnam has indisputable sovereignty over the Paracel islands archipelago, and the country demands China end such an unlawful act immediately.

The Philippines

PH, Japanese lawmakers sign document promoting rule of law at sea

Japanese and Philippine congressmen signed September 3rd a joint document calling for the promotion of rule of law at sea amid ongoing tensions with China. Hiroshi Nakada, head of the Japanese Delegation and a member of the House of Representatives of Japan, said that the document aimed to bring together congressmen from both countries in order to promote the resolution of conflicts in a peaceful manner. “[We want to] achieve peace and safety in the seas. [To do that] members of parliament should get together to discuss ways to resolve such conflicts,” Hiroshi said during the press briefing. Both the Philippine side, led by Representative Rodolfo Biazon, and the Japanese side agreed that there should be no “unilateral use of force to change the status quo” in disputed waters.

Regional Snapshots

Malaysian conference on sustainable use of the South China Sea

The Maritime Institute of Malaysia held the 3rd South China Sea conference in Kuala Lumpur on September 2nd – 3rd, debating the sustainable use of the South China Sea in an era of dynamic geo-strategic change. Some 160 scholars, researchers and diplomats from around 20 countries discussed the impacts of regional and international geo-politics on the South China Sea, measures to increase cooperation on resource protection, security challenges in the South China Sea, disputes and solutions, and measures to address challenges. During the conference, experts from Malaysia, Singapore, the US, China, the Philippines, Australia and Vietnam made concrete proposals to sustainably exploit the South China Sea and foster regional security and cooperation. They said the countries of the region should strengthen their ties to improve management of the sea and ensure peace and stability in these waters in the times ahead.

Vietnam, Russia boost oil and gas cooperation

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Russia’s Ministry of Energy is willing to support joint ventures in oil and gas between the country and Vietnam in the spirit of mutual benefit, a Russian official has said. Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Yuri Sentiurin gave the statement during a working session with Chairman of the Member Council of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) Nguyen Xuan Son, who was on a working visit to Russia on September 2nd-3rd. For his part, Son thanked the Russian Government for its support to the GazpromViet and RusVietPetro joint ventures, proposing the ministry continue to create favourable conditions for the two JVs’ effective operation. He affirmed that PetroVietnam is ready to invest in oil and gas projects in Russia, adding that Vietnam wants to act as a bridge for Russian oil firms to access the Association of Southeast Asian Nations market.

Singapore, Indonesia sign treaty on maritime borders in eastern Singapore strait

The foreign ministers of Singapore and Indonesia have signed a treaty demarcating maritime boundaries in the eastern stretch of the Singapore Strait, covering a 5.1 nautical mile (9.45 km) stretch between Changi and Batam. Mr K Shanmugam and his Indonesian counterpart, Dr Marty Natalegawa, inked the pact in Singapore at the Istana on September 3rd as visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong looked on. Both countries also signed two annexes to the agreement. The treaty relating to the delimitation of the territorial seas of the two countries in the eastern part of the Strait of Singapore is the second maritime boundary pact to be signed under Dr Yudhoyono's administration.

Singapore and Chinese navies carry out bilateral exercise in East China Sea

A bilateral exercise involving warships from the Singapore and Chinese navies was conducted in the East China Sea on September 3rd. During the half-day exercise, the Republic of Singapore Navy's Formidable-class frigate, the RSS Intrepid, and the People's Liberation Army Navy's (Plan's) Jiangkai II-class frigate, Yulin, performed manoeuvre drills and small-arms firing. Naval helicopters from both sides also landed on each other's warships. 

Chinese, Australian FMs hold new round diplomatic, strategic dialogue

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on September 7th co-hosted with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop the 2nd Round of China-Australia Diplomatic and Strategic Dialogue in Sydney. Wang Yi said Australia is a regional power with international influence and it is a key cooperation partner for China in its extended neighborhood. The current bilateral relations have maintained an optimistic momentum. During the Dialogue, Wang also put forward "Four Respects" in regard to the issue of the South China Sea. The first is to respect the historical facts, second to respect the international regulations, third to respect the direct dialogue and consultation between the countries involved, last to respect the joint efforts made by China and ASEAN on safeguarding peace and stability of the South China Sea.

East Sea (South China Sea) Studies