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Activities of the Claimants

China

CNOOC receives new FPSO: Haiyang Shiyou 118

China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) announced on August 8th that it has completed construction of its 17th FPSO: the Haiyang Shiyou 118 will begin working later this month. The Haiyang Shiyou 118 FPSO is 266.64m long and 50.5m high, equivalent to a 17-story building. It displaces about 35,000 tonnes. It is capable of processing 56,000 bo/d. FPSOs are a large, offshore facilities integrating production, storage, transport, and power generation. CNOOC operates its fleet mainly in the South China Sea and Bohai Sea, at depths from 10m to 330m.

China publishes book to clarify nine-dash line claim

China recently published its first book on the theories of the nine-dash line of the South China Sea, China Ocean News reported on August 11th. The book, mainly illustrating the history, functions and legal basis of the nine-dash line, is authored by Chinese maritime experts from the China Institute for Marine Affairs, the School of Law at Tsinghua University and the International Law Association. The book states that the nine-dash line is a historical line of maritime rights, which include the right to claim Chinese sovereignty on islands of the South China Sea and the right for Chinese fishing and the exploration of mineral resources inside the line.

Vietnam

Vietnam condemns China’s South China Sea book printing

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Vietnam asserts its indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands, and China’s decision to print the book cannot distort this naked truth, Binh told reporters at a press briefing in Hanoi on August 14th.  The book says the nine-dotted line or U-shaped line is a historical route demanding its maritime rights to claim sovereignty over South China Sea islands, fish and exploit natural resources within the line. It even concludes that any act of denying what this nine-dotted line shows is illegal and politically incorrect.

The Philippines

Philippine military mulls cruise ship in South China Sea

The Philippine military is mulling the deployment of a cruise ship for tourists who want to see areas in the disputed South China Sea. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, newly-installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, said the planned cruise ship will go around six islands in the South China Sea. "We'll be able to hopefully have a cruise because that is also being done by other (claimant) countries. They have a tourism effort to go around the islands that they possess," he said. He said they will ask investors to help in the project. "It can be a public-private partnership if we are able to develop the area," he said.

New China incursion hit

Philippine President Aquino has sounded the alarm over the presence of two new Chinese vessels near the oil-rich Co Rong Bank (Reed Bank) in the South China Sea. Citing a military report, the President called attention to the presence of the Chinese hydrographic research vessels at this island despite a Washington-backed Philippine proposal for a freeze on activities that escalate tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. “What are they doing there? What studies are they conducting? I hope [their presence] will not lead to increased tension between [the Philippines and China],” Aquino told TV5, which had been airing an interview with the President in a series that started on August 13th. The network aired the full interview August 17th night. Aquino did not say when the military spotted the vessels and when he was briefed on the matter. But he said the incursion was the latest in what he described as China’s “seasonal” attitude toward its territorial dispute with the Philippines. “Whenever we deal with China, and with all due respect, it’s like [its attitude] is seasonal,” he said in Filipino. “There’s a season when China’s belligerent. There’s a season when it’s friendly. There’s a time when it goes on a charm offensive. There’s a time when it doesn’t,” he said.

The U.S.

US Says China, Not Washington, Responsible for South China Sea Tensions

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The United States says it is trying to lower tensions in the South China Sea and accused China of "fomenting instability" by its "aggressive actions." Washington’s comments came amid Chinese criticism of a U.S. plan for a voluntary freeze on provocative actions in Beijing's maritime disputes with Southeast Asian nations such as the Philippines and Vietnam. “We’re not the ones that are fomenting instability there (South China Sea). It’s the aggressive actions the Chinese have taken that are doing so. Everything we are doing is designed to lower tension, to get people to resolve their differences diplomatically, and not through coercive or destabilizing measures, like we’ve seen Chinese take increasingly over the past several months,” said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf on August 11th.

Kerry reaffirms ‘ambitious agenda’ of U.S. engagement in Asia and the Pacific

Outlining what he termed the United States’ “ambitious agenda” of long-term engagement in Asia and the Pacific, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on August 13th in a policy speech at the East-West Center in Honolulu that complex challenges such as climate change and maritime territorial disputes can be transformed into opportunities for such advances as clean energy development and regional cooperation. “We know that America’s security and prosperity are closely and increasingly linked to the Asia Pacific,” Kerry said. “That’s why President Obama began what is known as the rebalance to Asia in 2009, and that’s why he’s asked me to redouble my own efforts in the region.” Regarding U.S.-China relations, he stated that a “constructive” relationship between the U.S. and China is a key element in maintaining regional peace and stability. “President Obama has made it clear that the United States welcomes the rise of a peaceful, prosperous and stable China – one that plays a responsible role in Asia and the world and supports rules and norms on economic and security issues,” he said. “The President has been clear, as have I, that we are committed to avoiding the trap of strategic rivalry.” Turning to perhaps the most contentious issue in the region – territorial disputes between China and several other nations over small islands in the South and East China Sea, Kerry said the challenge is “to turn maritime conflicts into regional cooperation.” “These disputes are really about more than claims to islands and reefs and rocks and the economic interests that flow from them,” he said. “They’re about whether might makes right, or whether global rules and norms and rule of law and international law will prevail.” Kerry said he wanted to be “absolutely clear: The United States of America takes no position on questions of sovereignty in the South and East China Sea, but we do care about how those questions are resolved. … We firmly oppose the use of intimidation and coercion or force to assert a territorial claim by anyone in the region. And we firmly oppose any suggestion that freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea and airspace are privileges granted by a big state to a small one.”

Full remark

Indonesia

Indonesia ready to mediate sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea

Indonesia's president-elect, Joko Widodo, is prepared to play peacemaker between China and countries in Southeast Asia that have sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea. “Solutions through diplomacy are desirable. If necessary, Indonesia  is prepared to serve as an intermediary,” said Widodo, 53, referring to countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines, which are at loggerheads with China over maritime territories. “We reject solutions through military power,” he added. Widodo clearly intends for Indonesia to be a major power in Southeast Asia in helping to resolve regional conflicts.

Regional Snapshots

US, Australia sign military cooperation pact

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The U.S. and Australia signed an agreement August 12th that will allow the two countries’ militaries to train and work better together as U.S. Marines and airmen deploy in and out of the country. “This long-term agreement will broaden and deepen our alliance’s contributions to regional security,” U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on August 12th. He described the U.S.-Australia alliance as the “bedrock” for stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Hagel spoke during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and their Australian counterparts, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defense Minister David Johnston, at the conclusion of annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).. Kerry praised Australia as “a vital partner in so many different endeavors.” Ahead of the strategic talks, Australia's foreign minister Julie Bishop said the rotation of Marines into the northern city of Darwin was the "natural evolution" of their alliance. "It's aimed at supporting the long-term peace, stability and prosperity of our region, the Indian Ocean-Asia Pacific". "The United States is rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific so it's ways we can work together to support economic development as well as security and peace," she added. Also on August 12th, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the U.S. welcome the rise of China as a global partner, hopefully as a powerful economy, as a full participating constructive member of the international community. "We are not seeking conflict and confrontation. And our hope is that China will likewise take advantage of the opportunities that are in front of it and be that cooperative partner."

Vietnam, US armies to step up cooperation

The Vietnamese and US armies will boost cooperation in overcoming war consequences, search and rescue, disaster relief, training and law enforcement at sea. This was the result of talks held in Hanoi on August 14th between the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Do Ba Ty, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army, Gen. Martin Dempsey. Sen. Lieut. Gen. Ty described Gen. Dempsey’s visit as a great contribution to the development of the friendship and cooperation between the two armies, in line with the two countries’ comprehensive partnership. He expressed his wish that the two sides will continuously intensify their collaboration for peace and stability in the region and the world at large. For his part, Gen. Dempsey said he is pleased to visit Vietnam for the first time as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

VN praises Asian reconciliation council’s role

Viet Nam highly valued the role of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council (APRC) in assisting Asian Governments to settle disputes peacefully, contributing to beefing up peace and stability in the region. Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh made the statement while meeting with APRC Chairman Surakiart Sathiratha on August 13th. Mr. Surakiart said he shares Viet Nam’s peaceful approach to the South China Sea issue. He affirmed that the APRC would exert itself to make practical contributions to the promotion of reconciliation and peaceful resolution of disputes in Asia in general and in the South China Sea in particular, on the basis of international law.

East Sea (South China Sea) Studies