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Activities of the Claimants

China

Enping 24-2 Oilfield Commences Production

CNOOC Limited announced on October 13th that its Enping 24-2 oilfield has commenced production. Enping 24-2 oilfield is located in the Pearl River Mouth Basin of the South China Sea with an average water depth of approximately 86~96 meters. The main production facilities include one drilling and production platform, one floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) and 17 producing wells. Currently there are 2 wells producing approximately 8,000 barrels of crude oil per day, and the project is expected to reach its peak production of approximately 40,000 barrels per day in 2017. Enping 24-2 is an independent oilfield which the Company holds 100% interest and acts as the operator.

PLA to build airfield on Fiery Cross Reef

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To further project its power into the disputed South China Sea, China has decided to build an airfield on Chu Thap Reef (Fiery Cross Reef) in the Spratlys after its land reclamation program according to the state-run China NewsWeek. The magazine stated that the land reclamation program on Chu Thap Reef, which China calls Yongshu Reef, indicates that China is constructing a new airfield as a forward base for the PLA Navy and Air Force. The PLA has constructed an airport on Phu Lam Island in the Paracels which extends the combat radius of the PLA Navy's fighters, but it is still too far for them to provide close air support to the Chinese garrison in the Spratlys. To prevent joint military action against China in the South China Sea which could potentially be launched by Vietnam and the Philippines with the support of the United States, the magazine said that it is critical for the PLA to have an airfield in the region.

PLAN commissions fourth Dahua-class vessel

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has commissioned its fourth Type 909 Dahua-class research ship at a military port in Zhanjiang, a PLA-sponsored news outlet reported on 11th October. The vessel, with pennant number 894, has been named Li Siguang and is described as a replacement for an earlier research vessel with the same name (but bearing pennant number 871). The previous vessel was retired from the PLAN on 16 November 2012 and now serves with China's Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) with the new pennant number Yuzheng 206. According to specifications provided by the PLAN, the newly-inducted ship measures 129 m long and 17 m wide, and displaces 6,096 tonnes at full load. Construction of the indigenously-built ship started in 2012, and it was launched in November 2013. No exact date was given for the vessel's induction.

China's Navy Chief Conducted An 'Unprecedented' Survey Of The Disputed Spratly Islands

China appears to have made headway in the reclamation of disputed areas in the South China Sea, a project to create new land masses using reefs in areas claimed by both Beijing and its neighbors. According to Taiwan’s Want China Times, which cited briefing given in Taipei by Lee Hsiang-chou, the director general of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, Chinese admiral Wu Shengli, the commander of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, completed a survey of five islands in Spratly Islands. Lee called Wu’s visit to the islands “unprecedented” even for China, a nation that continues to assert claims in the area by setting up oil rigs, military outposts and other structures. In addition, Hong Kong news source Takungpao wrote that Wu spent a week surveying the islands and reported that the approval for the mission came directly from China’s President Xi Jinping.

Vietnam

Vietnamese PM paid official visit to the EU

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On October 14th, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung paid an official visit to Germany at the invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel. In the meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the two prime ministers reviewed the successful progression of their bilateral strategic partnership and vowed to jointly organise celebrations for the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year. Regarding the South China Sea issue, Merkel said Germany sided with Vietnam’s position to settle disputes peacefully and in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. On October 15th, speaking at the Koerber Foundation in Berlin, PM Dung highlighted the complex developments in the East Sea, urging all sides to refrain from unilateral acts that further complicate the situation, refrain from the threat or use of force, fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and work together for early conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC). Regarding Vietnam’s stance, he said “building on the tradition of ‘peace and friendship’ and its consistent foreign policy, Vietnam always pursues peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law and regional norms of conduct.” On October 16th, PM Dung arrived in Milan, Italy to attend the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). In his speech during the closing session, the PM said Vietnam is making all efforts in line with international law to maintain peace, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. The PM emphasized the need to exercise restraint, not to use or threat to use force, prevent acts that can cause tensions, and resolve disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. All parties in the South China Sea should strictly comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the sea and work together to develop a Code of Conduct for the waters, he said.On the sidelines of the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held meetings with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.  Regarding the South China Sea issue, PM Nguyen Tan Dung emphasised his request for both sides to maintain control of the maritime situation, avoid actions that escalate the situation, foster negotiation mechanisms, seriously implement the agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between the two countries, respect international law, and jointly maintain regional and international peace and stability.

The Philippines

Philippines Intensifies Call on International Community to Support Triple Action Plan

The Philippines further intensified calls on the international community to support the implementation of the “Triple Action Plan” (TAP) that prescribes specific steps for the peaceful resolution of the maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. In a letter sent to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and circulated to 193 Member States of the UN,  the Philippines outlined the TAP and called on the international community to support steps for a peaceful resolution of maritime disputes. As an immediate approach, the TAP calls for the cessation of specific activities that escalate tensions, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), including inhabiting uninhabited features and massive reclamation. As an intermediate approach,the TAP highlights the need for the full and effective implementation of the DOC and the expeditious conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in order to manage tensions until a final resolution is achieved. As a final approach, the TAP underscores the need for a peaceful settlement mechanism to bring the disputes to a final and enduring resolution on the basis of international law.

Regional Snapshots

Philippines, Viet Nam Commit to Promoting Peace and Stability in South China Sea

The Philippines and Viet Nam assured each other of continued cooperation towards maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea and promoting the importance of the rule of law in addressing maritime disputes in the region. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario met on October 16th Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh of Viet Nam at the fringes of Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) 10th Summit. Both officials expressed concern on the escalation of tension in the South China Sea. Both countries will work together to bring the issue to the Leaders of Europe and Asia during the Retreat session slated for today, October 17th.  They committed to urge other ASEM partners to support the effective implementation of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the expeditious conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC).

China, U.S. agree to speed up talks on mutual reporting mechanism

China and the U.S. have agreed to speed up talks on establishing a mutual reporting mechanism on major military operations and a code of safe conduct on naval and air military encounter between the two sides. The agreement was reached when Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Wang Guanzhong and U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Christine E. Wormuth co-chaired the 15th annual Defense Consultative Talks in the Pentagon on October 15th. The two sides conducted a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the military ties between China and the United States, international and regional affairs as well as other issues of common concern. Both sides spoke highly of the major headways made in bilateral military relations since the last round of consultative talks and emphasized the importance of deeping cooperation in various fields and handling divergence in a constructive way.

US, China vow to manage rifts ahead of Obama visit

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The U.S. and China pledged October 18th to overcome mistrust, manage their differences and cooperate on key issues like combatting terrorism and the spread of the Ebola virus as President Barack Obama prepares to travel to the Chinese capital next month. Meeting in Boston, Secretary of State John Kerry and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi said the relationship between the two countries is mature enough to discuss disagreements while building on areas of shared interest. "There are many issues that China and the United States are cooperating on, even as we have some differences that we try to manage effectively," Kerry told reporters as he began a second day of talks with Yang. Yang, noting that Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping had made improved relations a priority, agreed. "We believe that we should continue to work together to deepen our mutual trust and to put our efforts to major areas of cooperation while, on the basis of mutual respect, we can properly handle many kinds of difference between us," he said.

China, Vietnam patch ties after tense standoff over territorial disputes in South China Sea

China and Vietnam agreed to resume military ties and resolve their maritime disputes in high-level meetings, China's official Xinhua News Agency said, marking the first signs that tensions over rival territorial claims may be easing. In a meeting with Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh on Friday in Beijing, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao called on the two countries to enhance political trust and manage maritime disputes, Xinhua said. Thanh also met with his Chinese counterpart, Chang Wanquan, and both sides decided to resume military ties and "play a positive role" in handling maritime disputes, the news agency said.

East Sea (South China Sea) Studies