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Activities of Related Parties

China

China defends its test flights in the artificial island in Spratly.

Speaking in a regular press conference on Jan. 14 in regard to the protest of Vietnam that China’s civil aviation administration didn’t inform its counterpart in Vietnam and China’s flights endangered the safety of civil aviation, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said “Because of Vietnam’s unreasonable obstruction, China conducted relevant flights as state aviation activities. At 17:46 p.m. on December 28, 2015, the Flight Inspection Center of the Civil Aviation Administration of China informed the Ho Chi Minh Flight Information Region of the flight plan, route and other technical information of China’s inspection aircraft in line with relevant regulations and international norms.” Mr. Hong says that those test flights conform with international law and international common practices. Earlier, on Jan. 11, answered the question in this issue, Mr Hong said that China's inspection and test flights to the newly built airport on artificial island fall completely within China's sovereignty. The accusation claiming that China's test flights affected regional security does not hold water. On Jan. 13, regarding to the protest of the Philippine government, Mr. Hong said, “The Philippines' accusation is made with ulterior motives and is not worth refuting.”

China landed first tourist on artificial island in the Spratly

On Jan. 15, Hainan Airlines flew in the first batch of civilian tourists to the disputed Fiery Cross Reef in Spratly. The tourist are wives and children of soldiers stationed in the man-made island. This event happen just few days after Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry handed diplomatic notes on Jan. 2 and Jan. 7 to protest China’s test flights in the disputed island in the Spratly. On Jan.14, the United Nation endorsed these two diplomatic notes as official documents of 70th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Republic of China call for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea

ROC’s president-elect Tsai Ing-wen on Jan. 16 called for freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea and for a peaceful resolution of the dispute. She also said Taiwan will continue to strengthen the island's ties with Japan.

Vietnam

Vietnam demands China to stop test flight on artificial island.

On Jan. 11, in a response to the statement ofChinese foreign ministry spokesman’s statement on Jan. 11 regarding Chinese planes’ flights to an illegally built airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef in Spratly, spokesman for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Hai Binh said, “In terms of China’s recent flights, as the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has repeatedly said, the Ho Chi Minh Flight Information Region’s management agency did not receive any notifications of flight plans from China as the country stated.”

When a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi announced to a representative of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry on December 30, 2015, that Chinese civil planes would conduct flights to Fiery Cross Reef, Vietnam immediately objected to, and demanded China cancel that action, Binh noted.

The spokesman said China’s flights to Fiery Cross Reef, under any name, affected aviation security, safety and freedom over the East Sea and ran counter to international regulations, including the 1944 Chicago Convention (Convention on International Civil Aviation) and the annexes on rules of flights in international airspace, especially Annex 2 and 11.

Chinese spokesman’s arguments completely wrongful: aviation authority

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), on Jan. 12, said the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman put forward a number of wrong and dangerous arguments to defend the country’s recent test flights to a reef in the East (South China) Sea. The CAAV completely rejected Chinese spokesman Hong Lei’s statement on January 11 and determinedly opposed this action, demanding the Chinese side’s immediate cessation and that it not to repeat similar flights. They should have practical and concrete actions to help maintain aviation safety over the East (South China) Sea.

As the Chinese embassy’s statement said that they has sent Vietnam nofitications of the flights, for this matter, the CAAV and the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation have checked official documents, messages, faxes, emails and telegrams at all relevant agencies and units listed in Vietnam’s Aeronautical Information Publication and the phone call history of Vietnam’s relevant air traffic services units from 0:00 am of December 28 to December 29, and there were no such recorded notifications, the CAAV emphasised.The authority, in addition, stated that the Chinese diplomatic agency’s notification to a Vietnamese diplomatic agency could not replace the proper announcement of flights, nor the correct establishment of contact with the air traffic services provider, in a controlled airspace. On Jan. 15, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) issued a press release, once again affirming that it did not received any notice of flights to Fiery Cross Reef in Spratly from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Vietnam enquiring into sinking of fishing boat

In response to the report of the sinking of a fishing boat in central Binh Dinh province on January 9. Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department Ly Quoc Tuan on Jan. 13 said that under whatever circumstances, if a ship from any country caused the sinking - and did not attempt to rescue civilians, they must be condemned in both legal and humanitarian aspects. Vietnam’s authorised units are actively liaising with the fishermen in distress, international agencies and relevant countries to identify the culprit.

Vietnam requests ICAO correct Sanya FIR map in East (South China) Sea

In regard to the map, posted on International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s web page, writes Chinese words “Sansha city – China” and draws a symbol of an airport on Fiery Cross Reef in Spratly, with the English words “Yong Shu airport – Sansha”. Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh, on Jan. 15, stressed that Vietnam has many times raised a voice protesting China’s establishment of the so-called “Sansha city” and its building of artificial islands and an airport in the area, adding that such moves are a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Spratly and Paracel, as well as an infringement on Vietnam’s legitimate rights in the East (South China) Sea. Vietnamese agencies also sent letters to ICAO affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty and noting that China’s flights to Fiery Cross Reef has violated ICAO’s regulations on aviation safety and requested the International ICAO to correct the Sanya flight information region (FIR) map.

The Philippines

Philippine court allows military deal with U.S. as sides meet in Washington

On Jan. 12 Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te said " Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is not constitutionally infirm," he stated, "It remains consistent with existing laws and treaties that it purports to implement." The pact allows an increased U.S. military presence as tension rises in the South China Sea. The deal is widely seen as important for both sides, worried by China's increasingly assertive pursuit of territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. Signed in 2014, the pact allows U.S. troops to build facilities to store equipment for maritime security and humanitarian and disaster response operations, in addition to giving broad access to Philippine military bases. Meanwhile, on Jan. 13, the Philippine military spokesman, Colonel Restituto Padilla said that under new security deal, the Philippines has offered the United States eight bases where it can build facilities to store equipment and supplies. Three of these bases are on the main island of Luzon in the northern Philippines, including Clark airfield, a former U.S. air force base, and two are on the western island of Palawan, near the South China Sea.

PH wants to hold naval patrols in South China Sea with US

In his speech on Jan. 14, defense spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said, “there is a need for a more collaborative presence in the South China Sea.” “In addition to freedom of navigation operations of the US, we are suggesting that we also patrol the area together,” Mr. Galvez said. The proposal comes after the Supreme Court declared the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement as constitutional. This will allow an increased presence of US troops in the Philippines. Mr. Galvez also stated that “The US emphasized that it will not allow China to control the South China Sea….It committed to maintain presence in the South China Sea to include naval, sub-sea, air and special forces”

Philippines files protest against China's test flights in disputed sea

The Philippine Foreign Ministry Spokesman Charles Jose, Jan 13, said the Philippines has filed a protest against China's test flights on an artificial island in the South China Sea,  describing the actions as "provocative" and a violation of an existing informal code. "These actions by China have elevated tensions and anxiety in the region and are in violation of the spirit and letter of the Asean-China Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea," he added.

Malaysia worry China’s provocation in the South China Sea

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Jan. 11, asserted that China’s test flights on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly provoked tension and difficulty in resolving the disputed in the South China Sea as it exacerbates the trust and confidence among disputed parties. Mr Anifah emphasized, " It is important for all parties to adhere to the Convention on the Organisation of the United Nations on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982) and the principles and spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (COC)  in South China Sea. He urged "all parties must also seek to enhance mutual understanding and avoid any activity that could increase tensions.” "At the same time, all parties must remain committed to realizing the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea" he said.

The United States

The US reaffirms the importance of TPP

In his remarks on the State of the Union, the U.S. President Barrack Obama urged the Congress to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. He said, “With TPP, China does not set the rules in that region; we do. You want to show our strength in this new century? Approve this agreement. Give us the tools to enforce it. It's the right thing to do.” He noted that  “American leadership in the 21st century is not a choice between ignoring the rest of the world -- except when we kill terrorists -- or occupying and rebuilding whatever society is unraveling. Leadership means a wise application of military power, and rallying the world behind causes that are right. It means seeing our foreign assistance as a part of our national security, not something separate, not charity.”

Japan

Japan expanding aircraft patrols of contested waters amid China tensions

Japan has announced it intends to increase its presence in the South China Sea with aircraft patrols along key routes. Japan is expected to patrol areas around Vietnam and the Philippines with P-3C aircraft returning back home from anti-piracy patrols around Somalia. The P-3C aircraft normally refuel in Thailand on return flights.

Japan’s government announced that return flights would now prioritize patrolling the contested sea as tensions remain high in the region. The planes have advanced monitoring abilities and will likely scan a large portion of the South China Sea. Both Japan and the U.S. have raised concerns over China’s expanding role in the region in recent months. The two countries held their first joint naval exercise in the region in October. Japan and the Philippines have also carried out a joint naval exercise.

Regional Snapshots

The United States and the Philippines worry about China’s test flight in Spartly

On Jan. 12. Ministers of the two countries met in Two-Plus-Two Ministerial Dialogue at Washington, DC, discussed about different issues such as security, trade, and South China Sea..in their Joint Statement, the Ministers underscored the need for all parties to refrain from provocative, unilateral actions that aim to change the status quo in the South China Sea, and noted that the ruling of the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention arbitral tribunal would be legally binding on both China and the Philippines. The Ministers also highlighted the importance of parties taking active steps to reduce tensions, including halting the reclamation, construction on, and militarization of outposts in the South China Sea and to refrain from any actions that harass, coerce, or intimidate other parties in the South China Sea.

In particular, the Ministers shared concern over recent test flights at Fiery Cross Reef, which exacerbate tensions and are inconsistent with the region’s commitments to exercise restraint from actions that could complicate or escalate disputes.

The Ministers expressed concern regarding large-scale land reclamation of occupied features, as well as the construction of new facilities and airstrips on them, and their impact on the marine environment, and recognized the importance of the SCS to the welfare and livelihoods of the many people who have for generations depended on the living resources of the South China Sea.

Vietnam, Thailand join hands in fighting illegal fishing

The consensus was reached during talks between Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam and Deputy Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Sakchai Sriboonsue in Bangkok. The meeting took place as part of Tam’s working visit to Thailand from January 10-14 in order to realise the Government’s guidelines on forming a Vietnam-Thailand Joint Working Group to reduce and fight illegal fishing activities. The two sideshave agreed to complete their domestic procedures at an early date, in order to reach an agreement on setting up a hotline for their fishing activities in the first quarter of this year. 

India, Japan conduct joint exercise ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’ off Chennai coast

Ships and aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard came together to train for the 15th edition of ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’ joint exercise in the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai coast on Jan.15.

Addressing the media along with Vice Admiral Hideyo Hanamizu, the Vice Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard, Director General of Indian Coast Guard Vice Admiral H.C.S. Bisht said the exercise was aimed at fine-tuning the coordination between the forces. On his part, Vice Admiral Hanamizu said he was “extremely satisfied” with the coordination of the forces and hoped that the exercise in the future would not only be wider but also deeper.

THE EAST SEA STUDIES