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Activities of Related Parties

China

China to build International maritime judicial center

Chief Justice Zhou Qiang said in a report on the work of the Supreme People's Courtat a plenary meeting of the national legislature that international maritime judicial center shall work to implement the national strategy of building the country into a "maritime power." Besides, the center will work to safeguard China's national sovereignty, maritime rights and other core interests. Zhou stressed that "(We) must improve the work of maritime courts and build an international maritime judicial center."

China sets up tsunami alert centre in South China Sea

Wang Hong, chief of the State Oceanic Administration told reporters on the sidelines of China's annual meeting of parliament, on Mar. 16, that the tsunami alert centre is under construction but has already begun initial operations. "We have already begun issuing tsunami alerts to the international community, including countries on the periphery of the South China Sea," Wang said. "Cooperation in the South China Sea is one of our important focuses. We hope to collaborate with South China Sea countries and create a peaceful and harmonious sea," he added.

China calls on maintaining regional stability

Speaking to the press on Mar. 16 after the closing meeting of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said, "China all along believes in pursuing harmonious coexistence with its neighbors..It is up to the efforts of regional countries to maintain regional stability and harmony in the neighborhood. It is also natural that some differences may arise between neighbors. But we believe that as long as we all treat each other with sincerity and seek peaceful settlements to differences through diplomatic means, regional stability will be maintained." Mr. Li, however, stressed that "China will not waiver in its resolve to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity". He added, "We hope all countries from within this region and without will work together to uphold regional stability, not the opposite."

China responds to EU's statement on the South China Sea

Chinese Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Lu Kang said, on Mar. 14, "The statement mentioned non-militarization. I want to stress that non-militarization of the South China Sea requires the concerted efforts of countries both in and outside the region. It is hoped that relevant parties can respect history and efforts made by regional countries in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea." Regarding to the report saying that China will establish an international maritime judicial center this year, Mr. Lu said "Since 1984, when the first maritime court was set up in China, remarkable progress has been achieved in maritime trials in China. China has established a specialized system for maritime trials and put in place a sound system of adjudication for maritime affairs. It is learnt that China by far boasts the largest number of maritime judicial organs and handles the greatest amount of maritime cases around the world. In order to improve our work in this field, China will establish an international maritime judicial center this year."

Vietnam

China’s construction on Hoang Sa violates Vietnam’s sovereignty

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh, on Mar. 17, said in a regular press conference, that "China’s continued land reclamation and construction that have changed the status quo of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and its organisation of tours to the archipelago, regardless of concerns from Vietnam and the international community, seriously violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago." “Vietnam resolutely rejects and strongly opposes China’s above-mentioned actions, while requesting China to immediately end and not to repeat similar actions,” he stressed. Regarding to the recent reportsthat fishermen attacked by Chinese vessels, particularly those in the central region, Binh stressed that Vietnam firmly objects to inhuman behaviours, the use of force or threat to use force against Vietnamese fishermen, as they are unacceptable, in any circumstances.

Indonesia

RI confronts China on fishing

Indonesia's Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said, on Mar. 21, that her office would summon Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xie Feng on Mar. 21 to demand an explanation about the China's breach of Indonesian territorial waters, adding that she had asked Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi to prepare a formal protest letter to be sent to Beijing. The claim against China came after Chinese coast guard vessels that forcibly rescued a Chinese fishing boat that had been caught by the Maritime and Fisheries Monitoring Task Force fishing illegally near Natuna Islands on Mar. 20. Susi called Chinese Coast Guard's intervention 'arrogant' and said it hampered Indonesia's war against illegal fishing. Susi said "It [China] should have not have behaved in such a way because a national government should not step in to support illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing.' Susi added she would demand the Chinese government hand over the Kway Fey (fishing boat) to Indonesian authorities.

Malaysia

Malaysia, Australia to discuss China moves in disputed South China Sea

Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said on Mar. 14 he would meet Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne to ensure efforts are made to "hold China to their promise of not placing military assets in the area". "If the reports we've received from various sources regarding the buildup and placement of military assets in the Spratlys are true - this forces us in a pushback against China," Hishammuddin said. Hishammuddin would also meet with authorities in Vietnam and the Philippines as Malaysia "cannot act alone in stopping the aggressive actions, we need the support of other ASEAN countries, and I will continue to (seek that support)," Hishammuddin said. "This is important for us to maintain balance, and to curb the actions by superpowers, whether it is China or the United States."

The United States

US Navy admiral accuses Beijing of ‘might makes right’ attitude over South China Sea

The commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift said in a speech in Australia’s capital Canberra warned, on Mar. 16, China’s “might makes right” attitude and its militarisation of contested areas of the South China Sea are provoking an unprecedented arms buildup in the region. “The resulting climate of uncertainty not only threatens freedom of the seas and chips away at the rules-based system, it encourages nations to transfer ever larger shares of national wealth to purchase naval weapons beyond what is needed merely for self-defense,” he said. While not mentioning China by name, Swift said, “There is a palpable sense that an arc of ‘might makes right’ is returning to the region after more than 70 years of security and stability,” adding that what China has been doing “has no place among responsible nations in international waters”.

U.S. sees new Chinese activity around South China Sea shoal

The head of U.S. naval operations, Admiral John Richardson said The United States has seen Chinese activity around a reef (Scarborough) China seized from the Philippines nearly four years ago that could be a precursor to more land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea. "I think we see some surface ship activity and those sorts of things, survey type of activity, going on. That's an area of concern ... a next possible area of reclamation," he said. Richardson also raised concern that China could respond to the ruling by the court of arbitration in The Hague by declaring an ADIZ. "We will just have to see what happens," he said. "We think about contingencies and ... responses." Richardson said the United States planned to continue carrying out freedom-of-navigation exercises within 12 nautical miles of disputed South China Sea geographical features to underscore its concerns about keeping sea lanes open.

Australia

U.S. Military Buildup in Australia's North a "Natural Evolution"

Speaking to the press on Mar. 15, Royal Australian Air Force Chief Leo Davies said Australians should view a growing U.S. military presence as a “natural evolution” as the strategic alliance between the two countries comes to grips with rising tensions in the South China Sea. Davies said, militarization in the region “has accelerated at a level that has been difficult to” stay in step with. The U.S. began the so-called FON operations in October as a way to challenge China’s claims to more than 80 percent of one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. “This is about an international approach to international law and how that’s applied,” Davies said. “From an airman’s point of view, I will abide by the rules of the air, we will fly in the airspace we are entitled to, we will put our diplomatic clearances in for the places we need to cross into and we will operate as we have done for the past 30-plus years in the South China Sea.”

Regional Snapshots

ASEAN military officers’ unanimous stance on security challenges

At the 13th ACDFIM in Vientiane, Laos on Mar. 14, the heads of the participating delegations perceived the complication of such non-traditional security challenges as natural disasters, climate change, trans-national crime, human and drug trafficking, cyber security, navigation security and terrorism as threats to regional peace, stability, security and prosperity. Additionally, the East Sea tensions are also posing challenges to regional stability, they said. The ASEAN officers emphasised the need to maintain peace in the East Sea (South China Sea) in order to promote peace, stability, economic growth and affluence in the region. Therefore, it is a must to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and expeditiously finalise a code of conduct in the waters (COC). The event’s joint statement stressed that all concerned parties must pledge to seriously carry out the DOC and work towards a COC, which was mentioned for the first time in the joint statement of an ACDFIM

Thailand and Taiwan to cooperate in resolving IUU fishing

On Mar. 14, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Gen Chatchai said Thai and Taiwanese fishery officials met to resolve issues related to IUU fishing as both countries were yellow-carded by EU on fishing. According to Gen Chatchai Sarikulya, both countries would share important information on tuna fishing. He said a joint committee will be set up to inspect Taiwanese fishing vessels arriving in Phuket to offload their catch.

Japan and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste expressed their concern on the South China Sea issue

The joint press release of the summit meeting between Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe and President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Taur Matan Ruak, who visited Japan from 13th to 16th March 2016, affirmed that free, open, and stable seas are essential for peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the international community. They underscored the importance of the rule of law at sea, including freedom of navigation and over flight on the high seas, unimpeded lawful commerce, as well as resolving maritime disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Japan submarine to visit PHL, other ships to Vietnam

Japan’s navy said a Japanese submarine will make a port call in the Philippines for the first time in 15 years while accompanying naval ships will visit Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay for the first time ever. The Japanese submarine Oyashio and two escort vessels will visit Subic Bay in the Philippines for annual open sea drills, a spokesman for Japan’s Maritime Staff Office confirmed to AFP. The exercise, joined by some 500 personnel including officer candidates, is scheduled from Mar. 19 through Apr. 27.

18th ASEAN-India SOM voiced their deep concerns over the complicated developments in the South China Sea

The 18th ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) took place in Hanoi on March 17-18. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and his Indian counterpart Preeti Saran co-chaired the event for the first time since Vietnam took charge of the position of coordinator for ASEAN-India relations from August 2015 to August 2018. The meeting voiced their deep concerns over the complicated developments in the East Sea, stressing the need to exercise restraint and obey international law, including the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea (East Sea,) and they expressed hope that a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) will soon be reached. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung highlighted the maintenance of peace, stability, and navigational safety, freedom and security, as the common concern of all nations in and out of the region, including India. He said he hopes India will make more active contributions and enhance cooperation with ASEAN to deal with any disputes via peaceful means.

The United States-Philippines expressed their concerns on South China Sea Dispute in the 6th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue

The United States and the Republic of the Philippines held the sixth Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) on March 17-18, 2016, in Washington, D.C. The annual dialogue supported and reinforced the Alliance across a broad range of shared values, interests, and priorities. In their joint statement, both sides expressed their firm opposition to the ongoing militarization of outposts in the South China Sea and discussed their common view that the installation of new military assets on the outposts escalates tensions. They discussed options to address further militarization and unilateral actions in the South China Sea. The delegations from the United States and the Philippines reaffirmed that countries should clarify maritime claims in the South China Sea in accordance with international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention and peacefully resolve or manage disputes, including through the use of peaceful dispute settlement mechanisms, such as arbitration. Both sides restated their views that the ruling in the South China Sea case before the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention arbitral tribunal would be legally binding on both China and the Philippines. They reinforced the importance of close cooperation and consultation in international organizations and bodies that support a rules-based international order providing a framework for peaceful resolution of disputes.

French legislatures agreed to assist Vietnam in ensuring maritime security and protesting militarisation in the East (South China) Sea.

Vietnamese and French legislature leaders have pledged their utmost efforts to bring the two countries’ legislative ties to a new height by facilitating high-level visits.

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and President of the French NA Claude Bartolone made the promise during their talks in Hanoi on Mar. 18, which took place right after the welcome ceremony. NA Chairman Hung thanked the French NA for its support in global economic integration, bilateral collaboration and Vietnam – EU ties, saying that it is decisive for the two countries’ development.The French NA Bartolone, wished that the Party, NA and Government of Vietnam would continue reinforcing bilateral ties in political and diplomatic, as well as socio-economic and cultural aspects.

On the East Sea issues, the Bartolone described the respect for international law as crucial to preventing maritime trade losses in the East Sea as well as undesired tension, and informed his host that the French legislature recently approved a cooperation agreement between Vietnam and the European Union. He also agreed to assist Vietnam in ensuring maritime security and protesting militarisation in the East Sea.

Singapore-Australia underscored the FON in the South China Sea

Australian and Singaporean Ministers met in Sydney Mar. 18 to reaffirm the shared vision of both Governments to achieve new and ambitious levels of integration across the breadth of the bilateral relationship. The Joint Communique stressed, "Ministers also emphasised the importance of non-militarisation of features. Ministers underscored their shared interest in freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded trade in the South China Sea.  They emphasised the need for ASEAN and China to make substantive progress on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, as well as full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea."

Top Japan, France diplomats vow to boost counterterror ties, slam unilateral maritime moves

Japan’s foreign minister met his French counterpart in Paris on Mar. 20, where the two agreed to further cooperate in the international fight against terrorism. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan wants “to advance measures to counter terrorism with France” while Jean-Marc Ayrault, France’s top diplomat, stressed the need for enhanced international cooperation.The two said during the talks that both oppose any unilateral actions to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas, an apparent reference to China’s aggressive maritime actions in the disputed waters.

 

THE EAST SEA STUDIES