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Activities of Claimants

China

China Reacts Against the Concern of the U.S and Australia about the SCS

In a response to the recent concerns of the U.S and Australia at their ministerial consultations on October 13 about China's island construction in the South China Sea, saying China would not "militarize" relevant islands and reefs. On October 14, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said, in a regular press conference, that construction carried out by the Chinese side on relevant islands and reefs of the Spratly Islands is mainly to satisfy civilian needs, better fulfill China's international responsibility and obligation, and provide more public goods and services to the region and the international community. She said “there certainly are a limited amount of necessary military facilities for defense purposes only. They fit well with the security environment around relevant Chinese islands and reefs. There is no such thing of China "militarizing" relevant islands and reefs.” Hua added that “it should be pointed out that certain countries have been flexing military muscles in the South China Sea over recent period of times. That is the biggest cause of "militarization" in the South China Sea. The Chinese side is severely concerned about that.”

Regarding to the recent comment of US US Chief of Naval Operation John Richardson that driving U.S. warships near China's artificial archipelago is a routine operation and shouldn't be seen as provocative, on October 15 Hua responded that “we firmly oppose any country using the freedom of navigation and over-flight as an excuse to undermine other countries' sovereignty and security. We urge the US side to work with China and play a responsible and constructive role in maintaining peace and stability of the South China Sea.”

“However Strong It May Become, China Will Not Invade Neighbouring Countries,”  Chinese Defence Minister

Speaking in the opening remarks at the 5th informal China-ASEAN Defence Ministers’ meeting took place in Beijing on October 15, Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan said China wants to work together with the ASEAN to maintain security and stability in the region. He proposed building security mechanism to boost defence cooperation between China and ASEAN to enhance strategic trust. Regarding to the South China Sea issue, he said that China hopes to solve disputes through negotiations and peaceful consultation while respecting navigation and aviation at the South China Sea in line with international law.

Chinese top military commanders Trying to Ease Regional Concerns in the SCS

In his opening address to a security conference in Beijing on October 17, attended by defense officials and experts from around the world, Gen. Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, which controls China’s armed forces, appeared to be trying to ease regional concerns that China plans to assert its claims in the area by force. He said that China won't resort to military force “recklessly,” even on territorial issues, and will do its utmost to avoid unexpected conflicts. Gen. Fan said China advocated peaceful resolution of territorial issues and had resolved border disputes with several neighbors through negotiations. He also repeated China’s assertion that the islands are mainly for civilian purposes.

Chinese President Addresses Questions about China’s activities in the SCS

In his answer conducted in advance of the official visit to the Britain, posted on Reuters, Chinese President Xi Jingping responded to the question of China’s assertiveness in the SCS that “the islands and reefs in the South China Sea are Chinese territory since ancient times. They are left to us by our ancestors. The Chinese people will not allow anyone to infringe on China's sovereignty and related rights and interests in the South China Sea. The actions China has taken in the South China Sea are legitimate reactions to safeguard its territorial sovereignty.” He put it, “China will continue to work with its neighbors in the South China Sea to manage disputes through institutionalized dialogue, peacefully resolve disputes through negotiation and consultation, actively explore win-win results through cooperation and joint development, and safeguard the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by countries in accordance with international law.”

Vietnam

Vietnam protests China’s illegal lighthouse construction

On October 13, addressing in the press conference, Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Hai Binh stated that China’s construction of two lighthouses in the Cuarteron (Chau Vien) and Johnson (Gac Ma) reefs in Vietnam’s Spratly (Truong Sa) Archipelago is in serious violation of Vietnam ’s sovereignty. “The move was contrary to the common perspectives of countries’ leaders, complicating the situation and escalating tension,” Binh added. “Vietnam resolutely rejects and strongly protests that action by China,” the spokesperson declared. In later press conference on October 15, in a response to information that “the government of Sansha city” has been installing high-speed wireless broadcasting equipment on inhabited islands since October 1, the Spokesperson reiterated that China’s activities in the so-called “Sansha city” have no legal foundation and do not change the fact that Paracel (Hoang Sa) archipelago belongs to Vietnam. “Vietnam has rejected the so-called “Sansha city” many times. Under any form or for whatever purpose, China’s activities in the city have no legal foundation and do not change the fact that Hoang Sa archipelago belongs to Vietnam,” he said. 

Vietnam Voices Deep Concern Over Disputes in the South China (East) Sea at the UN

During two working days from 15 to 16/10 at the UN,  the Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Head of the Vietnam Mission to the UN expressed deep concern over recent sovereignty disputes in the East Sea at the Sixth Committee (Legal Committee)’s meeting in the framework of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly. She called parties involved to restrain from the threat to use force or use of force, and resolve all disputes through peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). She stressed the importance of fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and formulating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea as soon as possible.

During the discussion, the Vietnamese representative also affirmed Vietnam’s sovereignty over Paracel (Hoang Sa) and Spratly (Truong Sa) archipelagos, the country’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over waters in the East Sea accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS

The Philippines

Philippines Hits out at Chinese Lighthouses in Disputed Sea

The Philippines, on October 12, strongly criticised two lighthouses China constructed in the disputed South China Sea, charging that they were covert means of enforcing Beijing's claims to the disputed waters. "We are strongly opposed to China's construction and operation of lighthouses on Cuateron Reef and Johnson Reef," said Charles Jose, a spokesman of the Department of Foreign Affairs. "These actions are obviously intended to change actual conditions on the ground and aimed at bolstering China's territorial claim in the South China Sea. We will not accept these unilateral actions as a fait accompli," he added in a statement.

US Plan to Sail Through South China Sea Consistent with Int’l Law

Speaking on the state-run dzRB radio on October 16, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte stated that “The plan of the United States (US) to sail naval vessels through international waters, including the South China Sea, is consistent with international laws.” “We wish to emphasize that freedom of navigation and regional stability in that area is important because a good bulk of world trade passes through that region,” she said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on October 13, has earlier expressed support for the US’ plan to challenge China’s territorial claims by deploying a Navy ship near the Chinese-built islands in the disputed waters. DFA spokesman Charles Jose said the US’ move would be “consistent with international law and a rules-based order for the region.” “Failure to challenge false claims of sovereignty would undermine this order and lead China to the false conclusion that its claims are accepted as a fait accompli,” he said.

Malaysia

Malaysia slams China's 'provocation' in South China Sea

Speaking in a security forum in Beijing on October 18, Malaysia Armed Forces chief Zulkefli Mohd Zin stated that China's construction work on islands in the disputed South China Sea is "unwarranted provocation." He added "time will tell as to what China's intention is. In the meantime we have got to accept the reasons given by the government of the People's Republic of China as to the purpose of the development of these islands”. He expressed “I hope that it is for good purposes and the purposes of all human kind."

In earlier day, Malayisa’s Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein called for intensified consultations to ensure expeditious establishment of an effective COC. He added "Malaysia's position is that problems over the South China Sea should be resolved peacefully via multilateral platforms."

The United States

Sailing in South China Sea not provocative, U.S. says

John Richardson, the U.S. chief of naval operations, told reporters in Tokyo on October 15 that "It should not come as a surprise to anybody that we will exercise freedom of navigation wherever international law allows," he stressed that U.S. naval vessels sailing through international waters in the South China Sea, including areas claimed by China, cannot be considered provocative.

Some analysts in Washington believe the United States has already decided to conduct freedom-of-navigation operations inside the 12-nautical-mile limits that China claims around islands built on reefs in the Spratly archipelago.

Regional Snapshots

16 Defense Ministers to Attend Xiangshan Forum, Beijing, China

At a press briefing on October 12, Gen. Huang Bofu of the People's Liberation Army, who is also the deputy secretary-general of the sixth Xiangshan Forum secretariat announced that the defense ministers of 16 countries, include Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines and Indonesia, will attend the sixth Xiangshan Forum in Beijing from Oct. 16 to 18. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will also attend and speak at the event, according to Huang.

The forum was launched in 2006 and has been held once every two years from 2006 to 2014. From this year the event will be held annually and more foreign defense officials and scholars will be invited.

The U.S and Australia expressed concerns on the disputes in the South China Sea

From Oct. 12 to 13, in Boston, Massachusetts, the U.S. State Secretary John Kerry and Defence Secretary Ash Carter have met with Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne. According to the Joint Statement after a two-day meeting, the two sides “expressed strong concerns over recent Chinese land reclamation and construction activity in the South China Sea. They called on all claimant states to halt land reclamation, construction, and militarization. They urged claimants to exercise restraint, take steps to ease tensions and refrain from provocative actions that could escalate tensions. They noted the recent statement by China's President that China does not intend to pursue militarization of features in the Spratly Islands, and underscored the importance that China follow through on its commitment and take other similar steps to defuse tensions associated with its land reclamation program. They called on governments to clarify and pursue territorial claims and accompanying maritime rights in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also called for the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China to ensure practical implementation of commitments under the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea, and to reach agreement on a substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea as soon as possible. They emphasized the importance of the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea enjoyed by all states to fly, sail, and operate in accordance with international law.”

Philippines, India Meet to Strengthen Comprehensive Relations

Within the framework of the official visit to India, on October 14, Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and his counterpart, India Minister for External Relations Sushma Swaraj have co-chaired the third meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Commission (JCBC) in New Delhi. According to the Joint statement, both sides also agreed to further strengthen defense and security cooperation in the areas of maritime domain awareness, intelligence sharing, capability building, White Shipping and defense production.  

Regarding to the recent developments in the South China Sea, both sides reiterated the importance of the settlement of all disputes by peaceful means and of refraining from the threat or use of force, in accordance with universally-recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. The two Ministers asserted the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. In this regard, they reiterated the importance of an expeditious conclusion of a Code of Conduct and full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

South China (East) Sea issue draws French scholars’ attention

Recent tensions in the East Sea, disputes over sea and island sovereignty, and the employment of international law were discussed at a recent seminar which was held by the University of Bretagne-Sud, the Western Historical Research Centre and the Carrefour des Humanites Association in Lorient, in France’s Bretagne region on October 16. French scholars and experts, and representatives from French ministries scrutinised the issues from historical, economical, geo-political and geo-strategic angles.

Reports presented at the event briefly introduced the East Sea’s geo-strategic importance and maritime economic potential, as well as the economic, security and national defence policies of France and other countries in the region. The experts said the East Sea dispute threatened the peace, stability and development of many countries in the region and the world at large.

They suggested Southeast Asian nations not let the issue diminish maritime safety and freedom in the area. Security, peace and stability were crucial for regional countries’ construction and development.

THE EAST SEA STUDIES