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Activities of the Claimants

China

China spent $11.5bn to expand Fiery Cross Reef

According to China Times, for at least a year, China has been actively reclaiming land on seven islands in the Spratly islands. Chu Thap Reef, which has been expanded to become the largest "island" in the Spratlys with a total surface area of 0.96 kilometers, is said to have cost the Chinese government 73.6 billion yuan (US$11.5 billion), excluding buildings and other fixed equipment constructed on the reef. The cost was estimated by civil engineer scholars, who stated that it costs around 75 yuan (US$12.07) to deliver each cubic meter of earth and stone to Fiery Cross, with other materials costing about 41 yuan (US$6.60) per cubic meter.

Vietnam

Vietnam protests China’s reef expansion in Spratlys

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Vietnam once again declares that the country has sufficient legal and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly archipelagos, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh on April 16th. His statement was in reply to reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s response to the April 9th speech by Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Hua Chunying about the expansion of underground reefs in Truong Sa. On this issue, he said Vietnam has conducted a number of interventions, including high-level exchanges with China. Each construction and expansion project by foreigners on reef islands in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa that is not explicitly permitted by the Government of Vietnam is illegal and invalid, he stated.

The Philippines

PH slams China for destroying marine life with reclamation works

The Philippines on April 13th accused China of damaging rich marine environment by destroying 300 acres of coral reef systems in its massive reclamation activities in the South China Sea. The Philippine government said the destruction has taken away US$ 100 million in potential economic revenues annually from coastal states. “The destruction of 300 acres of coral reef systems resulting from the reclamations is estimated to lead to economic losses to coastal states valued at US$100 million annually,” said Charles Jose, DFA assistant secretary and spokesperson. He said China has pursued these activities unilaterally, “disregarding peoples in the surrounding states who have depended on the sea for their livelihood for generations.”

Philippines eyed for advanced US air, navy weaponry

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The United States wants to deploy advanced air and naval equipment to the Philippines, which is seeking “substantive support” from its long-time ally amid China’s massive reclamation activities in the South China Sea. This was according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, who cited US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s recent pronouncements. The type or kind of military equipment and materiel was not specified. “According to the new Department of Defense secretary in the United States, Secretary Carter, they are already looking at deploying to the Philippines various advanced equipment, air force equipment, naval equipment, maritime domain equipment. These were outlined by Secretary Carter recently and we welcome this,” Del Rosario said in an interview on ANC.

World should fear China's actions in South China Sea: Philippine leader

In an exclusive interview, Aquino also warned that China's increasingly assertive actions raised the spectre of other nations having access cut to international shipping lanes and fishing grounds in the sea. "Does it engender fear? Yes, I think it should engender fear for the rest of the world," Aquino said when asked to assess Chinese government moves in recent years to assert its sovereign claims in the sea. Aquino said that, while he did not believe China intended to engage in a military conflict over the territorial disputes with the Philippines and other Asian nations, that was a possibility. "The question of it escalating to something beyond everybody's control should be at the top of the minds of all world leaders," he said. In respone, China on April 15th refuted Philippine leader's South China Sea accusation, saying that: “the accusation made by the Philippine side is unfounded. It (reclamation activity) does not affect or target any country, and is even less likely to threaten the access to international shipping lanes and fishing grounds.”

Indonesia

Indonesia eyes regular navy exercises with U.S. in South China Sea

Indonesia wants to hold regular military exercises with the United States near the sparsely populated Natuna archipelago, an area of the South China Sea near China's claims, a navy spokesman said on April 13th. "It was the second joint exercise we have conducted with the United States in that area and we are planning another one next year. We want to make it routine in that area," said Indonesia Navy spokesman Manahan Simorangkir. Indonesian officials added the joint military exercises with the United States and planned military build-up in Natuna were not in response to any specific threat. "It is important to remember Indonesia is not involved in any disputes in the South China Sea," Simorangkir said. "We don't want an incident in the South China Sea and are committed to the diplomatic approach we have always taken."

The Philippines

U.S. marines arrive for 6 month deployment to Australia

More than 1,100 U.S. marines began arriving in Darwin on April 13th for a six month rotation to train with Australian troops in the far north of the country, local media reported. They are the fourth rotation of U.S. marines to arrive in Darwin after Australia and the U.S. struck a deal in 2011 to raise the number of U.S. troops based in Australia. The goal is to have 2,500 marines serving in Australia at Darwin - by 2017.

U.S. Commander: China could use reclaimed islands to deploy missiles, radar

The commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific told the House Armed Services Committee on April 15th that China has aggressive reclamation and construction projects at eight outposts in the Paracel and Spratly island chains, including what appears to be an airfield at Fiery Cross Reef. It's one of many disputed, tiny land features in that ocean. Locklear said the artificial islands would allow China to provide basing and resupply for its large and growing fleet of maritime security vessels. He said China eventually could deploy missiles and radar on them, providing a platform for enforcing an air defense identification zone if it tried to establish one in the South China Sea. "It allows them to exert basically greater influence over what's now a contested area," Locklear said.

Australia

Australia concerned about China’s reclamation activities

Speaking at a news conference on April 16th, Australia’s Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell expressed his government’s concern about China’s reclamation activities in the South China Sea, and urged claimant countries to clarify their maritime entitlements in the region. “We strongly oppose the use of intimidation, aggression or coercion to advance any country’s claims or the unilateral [disregard of] the status quo [in] the South China Sea. We urge all claimants to exercise restraint, to take steps to ease tensions and refrain from any provocative actions that could raise tensions [there],” he said. Even though Australia is not a part of the disputed area and has no claims in the region, the envoy added that they have “quite a legitimate interest in the maintenance of peace and stability in respect for international law, unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.”

Regional Snapshots

Japan, U.S., South Korea restate concerns about Chinese maritime moves

U.S., Japanese and South Korean diplomats on April 16th restated concern about China’s moves to strengthen its hand in maritime disputes and urged Beijing to preserve freedom of navigation in key waterways. Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken repeated America’s position that competing claims in the South and East China Sea should be dealt with according to the rule of law. Countries should “not take unilateral actions,” Blinken said. South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong said nations should “take advantage of the existing framework, that is, the (2002) Declaration of Conduct between China and ASEAN countries.” Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki added, “China has a responsibility to address properly the concerns which are being shared by the members of the region, in Asia.”

G7 foreign ministers hit China reclamation

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In a statement released on April 15th, foreign ministers from the world's 7 most industrialized countries slammed China's artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven, or G7, also called for a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. At the same time, they backed the ASEAN DOC in the South China Sea. "We continue to observe the situation in the East and South China Seas and are concerned by any unilateral actions, such as large-scale land reclamation, which change the status quo and increase tensions," the G7 foreign ministers said in the statement. China on April 17th rebuffed G7 statement, saying that: “the situation of this region is generally stable, and relevant cooperation has been moved forward with positive results. It is hoped that relevant countries would fully respect the efforts by regional countries to safeguard regional peace and stability, and do more things that contribute to regional peace and stability.”