Activities of the Claimants

China

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China committed to upholding regional peace

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on April 14th that China is committed to upholding regional peace and stability and has the resolve to work with its neighbors to create a brighter future for Asia. Wang made the remarks when meeting journalists with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, after the fourth round of foreign minister-level strategic dialogue between the two countries. The overall relationship between China and its neighboring countries is good, he said, adding that China's development has brought huge opportunities and bonuses for its neighbors. As the overall situation in East Asia has remained stable, it is still the fastest growing region in the world with the biggest developmental potential, he said. "We should not allow individual disputes and differences to impact the friendly cooperation between China and its neighbors as well as the stable development of the region," he said.

China stresses need for stability at first meeting of new security council

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Chinese President Xi Jinping held the first meeting of a new national security commission on April 15th, saying China needed a coordinated approach to domestic and foreign challenges, including social unrest, in "the most complex time in history". China announced the formation of the commission in November at the end of a key party meeting to map out reforms. Xi told the commission's first meeting that China faced the "most complex time in history" at home and abroad when it came to its security, the official Xinhua news agency reported. China must "implement and put into practice an overall national security view, paying attention to external as well as internal security", Xi was cited as saying. While Xi listed areas ranging from economic to nuclear security, he also said the commission had to "take political security as its base" and "seek stability", references to protecting the ruling Communist Party's hold on power and dealing with domestic unrest. "Security is the condition for development. We can only build up our military power by making the country rich, and only with military power can we protect the country," Xi said.

Vietnam

Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force debuts

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The Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force made its debut on April 15th in the central city of Da Nang in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s General Department of Fisheries, the force’s key tasks include patrolling the country’s waters, monitoring and inspecting fisheries activities as well as detecting and handling violations. It will also assist fishermen in their operation, protecting the country’s aquatic resources and contributing to ensuring and protecting the security, order and national sovereignty in the country’s sea areas.

The Philippines

US-Philippines deal won't stop China in disputed sea

The new defense cooperation agreement between the Philippines and the United States will not deter China from conducting activities in the South China Sea, an international security analyst said. Rommel Banlaoi, chief of the Philippine Center for Intelligence and National Security Studies, said in a phone interview with Philstar.com on April 15th that China may step up its activities in the disputed waters with Manila and Washington about to complete a deal allowing the rotational presence of American troops in Philippine soil. Banlaoi explained that while China will not send naval or military vessels in the maritime region claimed by the Philippines, it may find the need to boost its civilian presence in the area using coast guard ships. "China considers the deal provocative," Banlaoi said, adding that Manila's move to invite a third party power amid the tension can be seen as controversial.

Malaysia will play key role in Asean peace

Malaysia is expected to play a more prominent role in ensuring the continued stability and peace in the region upon assuming the Asean chair next year, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. “The South China Sea disputes and the intercession of outside interests makes maintaining the security and stability of the region more complex. “These possible causes of conflict require more than the diplomatic efforts of our governments to diffuse tensions,” he said when closing the Putrajaya Forum on April 15th.

Singapore will not take sides in tussle over South China Sea

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Speaking to the reporters on April 12th, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that :” On the South China Sea maritime dispute, our position is quite clear, and that is: We don't take sides on the merits of the respective claims, because each country has got its explanation and its reasons and its historical narrative of why it has a good claim, and its legal basis. We are not in any position to judge or to take sides [on] who has a good claim, whose claim defeats whose and where the line should be drawn. But what we do have is an interest in the matter being resolved peacefully, in accordance to international laws, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; and that countries exercise restraint and we negotiate a Code of Conduct with China. And Asean plays an active role, constructive role, to help to manage the issues, because I don't think they can be solved.”

Obama to visit Asia from April 23rd-25th

U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Japan for three days from April 23rd on the first leg of a weeklong Asian tour that will also take him to South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines, the White House said April 14th. Obama will move on to South Korea on April 25th, Malaysia on April 26th and the Philippines on April 28th before departing for Washington the following day, it said. His visit to Malaysia and the Philippines will come after he canceled a trip to the two Southeast Asian countries — as well as Indonesia and Brunei — planned for October to deal with a partial government shutdown over budget issues at home.

Regional Snapshots

Vietnam, India further strategic partnership

Vietnam and India held their sixth Political Consultation and third Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi on April 16th-17th, focusing on measures to further boost the two countries’ strategic partnership. At the meeting, Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh and his Indian counterpart Anil Wadhwa spoke highly of the rapid development of the bilateral strategic partnership, particularly after Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s State visit to India in November 2013. They agreed to strengthen delegation exchanges in the coming time, and coordinate to ensure the success of President Pranab Mukherjee’s State visit to Vietnam slated for the second half of this year. The two sides also shared views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the maintenance of peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the East Sea, and agreed to continue supporting each other at regional and global forums.

President Xi calls for enhanced relations with Russia

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing on April 15th, calling for enhanced political mutual support between the two countries. Bilateral relations are at their best and have not only benefited both countries and their people, but also have an irreplaceable role in maintaining world peace and stability, said Xi. He welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to pay a state visit to China and attend the Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in May in Shanghai. "I expect to exchange views with him on bilateral relations and major issues of common concern," Xi said. The summit is very important for regional peace and stability under the current circumstances, he said. On the same day, Sergey Lavrov met with his counterpart Wang Yi. After the meeting, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said that China is willing to further strengthen cooperation with Russia and maintain the development of bilateral ties at a high level. Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing that the two nations' relations have entered a new phase of development of strategic importance. Hua said the two sides have discussed the arrangement of Putin's trip and explored new methods of providing more support for each other's country regarding national core interests and maintaining coordination on significant international issues.

Vietnamese, Russian FMs hold talks

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Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Hanoi on April 16th. The two sides reviewed the bilateral relationship over the past time and discussed measures for more result-oriented cooperation, especially in economics-trade, science-technology, culture-education, humanity, local cooperation and coordination at regional and international arenas. The ministers agreed that the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership has seen positive developments, bringing practical benefits to both sides. Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides shared the view on the need to solve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) while pushing for the building of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.