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Activities of the Claimants

China

China rejects Philippines' South China Sea protest

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China on March 10th confirmed that coast guard vessels had driven away two Philippine ships from the Co May Shoal (internationally known as Second Thomas Shoal, China calls Ren’ai Reef, the Philippines calls Ayungin Shoal). Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said coast guard vessels, patrolling the Ren'ai Reef, identified two ships loaded with construction materials and carrying the flags of the Philippines, approaching the reef on March 9th. China had no choice but to respond to the Philippines' moves, he said. On March 12th, China countinues to reject the Philippines' protest against the blocking of its ships from approaching a South China Sea reef. China urges the Philippine side to stop provocations, honor its words, pull away its ship from the reef and to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, Qin said.

China blasts U.S. comments on South China Sea reef

China on March 13th accused the United States of making misleading comments on a disputed South China Sea reef. Chinese coast guard vessels on March 9th drove away two Philippine ships from Co May Shoal. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on March 12th that China's move was "provocative." "The U.S. comments ignored the facts, ran against its status as a non-claimant, and violated its commitment to not taking sides over the dispute," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a press release. Qin said the Philippines' move violated China's rights and interests as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. "That indeed was provocative," he said.

China to enhance common interests, narrow differences with neighbors

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China will enhance common interests and narrow differences with neighboring countries for the sake of peace and stability, said Premier Li Keqiang on March 13th. China has unwavering commitment to pursuing peaceful development and unshakable will in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, both for the sake of upholding stability and creating a favorable environment for its development, said Li at a press conference after the annual parliamentary session ended. As a developing country, China needs a favorable neighboring and international environment for its modernization drive, he said. "When neighbors interact with each other, it is only natural that sometimes they will run into problems of some kind or another," Li said. "As long as they respect each other, properly manage differences and pursue mutual benefits, there will be harmonious sound instead of jarring noises."

Xi leads China's military reform, stresses strong army

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is head of a leading group for deepening reform on national defense and the armed forces, on March 15th stressed that the country's military reform should be guided by the objective of building a strong army. Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks during the first plenary meeting of the group under the CMC. "National defense and military reform are an important part and an important symbol of China's overall reform," Xi said. With "being able to combat and win battles" as the focus, Xi said the reform should target key problems in strengthening combat preparedness and weak links in honing combat effectiveness. The president urged deepening reform to modernize army establishments.

The Philippines

Phl can count on US over sea row with China

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The United States can be counted on to come to the aid of the Philippines in the event of an armed conflict with China over disputed waters in the South China Sea, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said on March 10th. He said the US has consistently professed commitment to its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines when reminded of a possible hostile scenario in the South China Sea. “We asked the US this question and their response is they will honor their obligation under the MDT,” Del Rosario told students and faculty of the De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Muntinlupa City, during a lecture on “Protecting and Defending the Philippine National Territory.”

Phl protests Co May Shoal incident

The Philippines on March 11th protested the actions by the Chinese Coast Guard that prevented the delivery of supplies to Co May Shoal on March 9th. “Ayungin Shoal (Co May Shoal) is part of the continental shelf of the Philippines and, therefore, the Philippines is entitled to exercise sovereignty rights and jurisdiction in the area without the permission of other states. Furthermore, the civilian vessels contracted by the Philippine Navy were only conducting rotation of personnel and resupply operations,” said Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman. China’s actions constitute a clear and urgent threat to the rights and interests of the Philippines under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).” The DFA has submitted a protest to the Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy on but the protest was immediately rejected, Hernandez said.

Phl drops food to troops after China ‘blockade’

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The Philippine military said on March 13th it had evaded a Chinese sea blockade by using an airplane to drop food to soldiers on Co May Shoal. “We confirmed there was an airdrop of food to our troops,” Philippine Defense Department spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said. He said the airdrop was “via airplane,” but did not say when it occurred nor give further details

Phl to stay at Co May Shoal, will not remove grounded vessel

The Philippines is not inclined to pull out its grounded vessel in Co May Shoal in the disputed South China Sea despite China’s allegation that it agreed to withdraw the ship that has served as Manila’s military outpost in the area for 15 years. The DFA, in a statement, said “the BRP Sierra Madre, a commissioned Philippine Naval Vessel, was placed in Ayungin Shoal (Co May Shoal) in 1999 to serve as a permanent Philippine installation in response to China's illegal occupation of Mischief Reef in 1995.”

Indonesia

Indonesia says China claims part of its territorial waters

China has claimed some parts of Indonesian territorial waters in the South China Sea, Indonesian government officials said March 13th. Marshall Fahru Zaini, assistant deputy to the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs said that China has included some parts of Indonesian territorial waters in the Natuna Sea, located in the South China Sea, into its nine-dash-line territorial map. He was referring to Beijing's U-shaped "uninterrupted line" enclosing the entire South China Sea. "This claim will very much affect the Natuna sea security," Fahru said, stressing that China has breached Indonesian territory.

The U.S.

US hits ‘provocative’ China move on Philippine ships

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The United States on March 12th accused China of raising tensions by blocking two Philippine vessels as it urged freedom of navigation in the tense South China Sea. The United States, a treaty-bound ally of Manila, said it was “troubled” by March 9th’s incident in which China prevented movement of two ships contracted by the Philippine Navy to deliver supplies and troops to the disputed Co May Shoal. “This is a provocative move that raises tensions. Pending resolution of competing claims in the South China Sea, there should be no interference with the efforts of claimants to maintain the status quo,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Regional Snapshots

Vietnam, China to promote defense cooperation

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Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh on March 11th met with Lieutenant General Qi Jianguo, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in Quang Ninh. Thanh said Vietnam is determined to develop its comprehensive cooperative relations with China , suggesting that both sides boost the exchange of high-level visits and young officers, together with expanding twin relations. Agreeing with Thanh’s proposal, Qi voiced his hope that the two armies will intensify delegation exchanges at all levels and collaboration in personnel training and border and marine work.

Phl offers US use of bases

The Philippines has agreed to allow the United States access to the country’s military bases under a new security deal being negotiated by the two allies, amid mounting concern over China’s increasing assertiveness in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. The offer was made during a sixth round of talks held in Washington last week on an accord that will allow increased US military presence in the country, officials said on March 14th. The two sides hope to finalize terms for an “Agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation” before US President Barack Obama embarks on a visit to Asia, including the Philippines, next month.

US-ASEAN Defense Forum Media Registration

On April 1st – 3rd, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will host the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers in Honolulu, Hawaii. This is the first meeting of its kind to take place in the United States.  The forum will provide an opportunity for defense leaders to discuss a shared vision for a dynamic, peaceful, and secure future for the region. Secretary Hagel and the ministers will address a number of issues including humanitarian disaster relief and regional security architecture.  They will also receive operational briefings and demonstrations of U.S. capabilities from United States Pacific Command (PACOM).