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Activities of Related Parties

China

China’s response to the annual report of the US Department of Defense to Congress

On May 16 in a regular press conference, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei responded to the annual report of the US Department of Defense to Congress which expressed concerns about China's military strength, and said that China is fostering regional tensions in its pursuit of maritime sovereignty. Mr. Hong said that “the US report made unfounded accusations against the development of China's national defense as well as China's legitimate acts to safeguard territorial sovereignty and security interests. The Chinese side is opposed to that, and has lodged solemn representations with the US side.” “It is hoped that the US would cast aside the Cold War mentality, adopt an objective and sensible view on the growth of China's military strength, and take concrete actions to ensure the steady development of the bilateral and military-to-military relations.” He added. On May 17, answering the question of reporter about the push from Japan for a strong statement on the South China Sea in G7 Summit in Hiroshima, (Japan) Mr. Hong said that “The G7 should play a constructive role in international affairs.” He stressed, “China will safeguard peace and stability of the South China Sea with ASEAN countries and resolve disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests through dialogue and consultation with countries directly concerned,” and noted that “We are dissatisfied with Japan's push for discussions on the issue of the South China Sea at the Summit.” Regarding to the report of the Pentagon saying that China’s fighter jets carried out an "unsafe" intercept of a US military aircraft in the South China sea on May 17, Mr. Hong said May 19, “The US Navy plane EP-3 was then conducting reconnaissance close to China's Hainan Dao. The two Chinese military aircraft followed and monitored the US plane from a safe distance without taking any dangerous actions. Their operation was completely in keeping with safety and professional standards. We demand that the US immediately cease this type of close reconnaissance and prevent this sort of incident from happening again.”

China imposes unilateral South China Sea fishing ban

China issued a unilateral fishing ban in the South China Sea from May 16 to August 1. Chinese fisheries official said the ban would cover Scarborough Shoal, also cover Chinese and foreign fishermen alike, including those from countries who are laying claim to parts of the Spratlys and other islands and reefs dotting the South China Sea. According to the source, China will confiscate boats, fish catch and fishing gear of fishing boats come into the areas.

Chinese Foreign Minister: US, not China, militarising the South China Sea

In an interview with Al Jazzera on May 18, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, “If one talks about militarisation, we have seen aircraft carriers coming to the South China Sea, strategic bombers flying over the South China Sea waters, and guided-missile destroyers coming close to China's islands and reefs, all to exert military pressure on China. I am afraid this is what militarisation really looks like, including large-scale military drills and the construction of military bases of all sorts in the Philippines.” “Such a move, to say the least, has added destabilizing factors to the South China Sea situation, if not further heightening the tensions, and we don't think it is constructive…Who is engaging in massive military exercises in this region? Who is sending a lot of advanced weaponry to the South China Sea and building new military bases? The answer is all too clear: the United States,” he added. According the Mr. Wang,” The South China Sea is originally peaceful and stable. As for the disputes left over from history over some specific islands and reefs, China is committed to seeking proper, peaceful settlement through dialogue and consultation even though its own rights and interests had been infringed upon. This process is still under way.”

China Deploys Tsunami Monitoring Buoys in South China Sea

According to China’s CRI on May 19, China can now carry out real-time monitoring and early warnings over potential earthquakes and tsunamis in the South China Sea after deploying tsunami monitoring buoys along the west side of Manila trench. China State Oceanic Administration says that China has set up a new-generation system of tsunami stats forecast for the Pacific, northwest Pacific and the South China Sea. At the same time, China is planning to deploy buoys for tsunami early warning in the South China Sea, the east side the Ryukyu trench and the seas to the east of Taiwan in order to provide early warning services.

Vietnam

Vietnam protests against China’s fishing moratorium in East Sea (South China Sea)

According to the report saying that China’s issued fishing suspension from May 16 to Aug 1, Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh has said on May 17, “Vietnam determinedly objects to and refutes this void decision,” He stressed, “Vietnam has sufficient legal foundations and historical evidence testifying to its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Spratly) archipelago, as well as its legitimate rights over its sea areas, which are specified in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” “That action by China has seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago, infringed Vietnam’s legitimate rights and interests in its sea areas, and run counter to the spirit and wording of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, Binh emphasized

Prime Minister stressed South China Sea disputed must be resolved by peaceful measures

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered a speech at the Commemorative Summit marking the 20 th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership in Sochi, Russia on May 20. On the South China Sea issue, The PM noted that Vietnam and other ASEAN countries consider peace and security in the East (South China) Sea critically important to peace and security in the region and the world. He emphasised that the current situation poses an urgent need that the relevant nations must exercise self-restraint, halt the above-mentioned unilateral actions, and not conduct militarisation. He called for promoting dialogues and negotiations to resolve the disputes and attain substantive results about the COC building, while respecting international diplomatic and legal processes and strengthening measures for building up trust and preventive diplomacy.

Vietnam's president calls for peace and stability in South China Sea

In answering questions in writing over the territorial disputes in the region posed by Kyodo News and other media organizations, Vietnam’s presidents Tran Dai Quang said, "We propose countries in the world, including Japan, continue to make practical and constructive contributions to maintaining peace, stability."  President Tran Dai Quang said conflicts in the contested waters are not the exclusive concern of those countries who claim territory there, but nations across the world. "Activities that caused destabilization, altered the status quo, violated international laws...have undermined the confidence and increased tensions," he said. He demanded countries in the world "respect international laws in the South China Sea region." "We pledge to do our best together with countries in maintaining this common target," He stressed.

The Philippines

Benigno Aquino Says U.S. Must Act if China Moves on Reef in South China Sea

In an interview in Manila on May 19, the Philipine President Benigno S. Aquino IIIsaid if China decided to develop Scarborough Shoal, the United States would be forced to defend the Philippines or risk losing its credibility in the region. “It has to maintain its ascendancy, moral ascendancy, and also the confidence of one of its allies,” Mr. Aquino said. Mr. Aquino said he had not seen any recent intelligence reflecting a Chinese buildup at the shoal, which China effectively took control of in 2012, after a long standoff. But he said the Philippines would be prepared for any action by China. “We don’t subscribe to the notion that it’s theirs,” he said. Mr. Aquino also brushed aside concerns that his successor, Rodrigo Duterte, would take a softer approach toward China, saying the president-elect might come to see things his way once he had a full briefing.

India

India’s Eastern Fleet Ships on deployment to South China and North West Pacific

According to the Press Information Bureau of Government of India on May 18, India’s Ministry of Defense said, “In a demonstration of its operational reach and commitment to India’s ‘Act East’ policy, the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet, under the command of Rear Admiral SV Bhokare, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, sailed out to the South China and North West Pacific.” During this overseas deployment, the ships of Eastern Fleet will make port calls at Cam Rahn Bay (Vietnam), Subic Bay (Philippines), Sasebo (Japan), Busan (South Korea), Vladivostok (Russia) and Port Klang (Malaysia). According to the post, the visits to each port will last four days and are aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing inter-operability between the navies.

The United States

4-star vows to continue U.S. operations in South China Sea

On May 16, Gen. Robert Neller, the commandant of the Marine Corps took a thinly veiled swipe at China's activities in the South China Sea, implying that they're upsetting regional stability, "Certain nations kind of take advantage or do things that are short of conflict, they are very subtle and very calculated, but they don't support the stability of the region," he said. Neller stressed the U.S. would continue its operations in the region, including closely-watched freedom of navigation patrols into regions like the South China Sea.

Regional Snapshots

India, US hold first Maritime Security Dialogue

India and the US held their first Maritime Security Dialogue at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan (India) on May 16 with the participations of diplomats and military officials from both countries. The discussion focused on strategic maritime security issues like Asia-Pacific maritime challenges, naval cooperation, and multilateral engagement. US Ambassador to India Richard Verma participated and said, “this dialogue is a further sign of the growing relations between our two countries.”

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds talks with Russian President Putin

On May 19 on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi. The two leaders agreed to strengthen coordination to implement key collaborative projects and programs, particularly in trade, oil, nuclear power, and tourism to lay a foundation for the expansion of bilateral affiliation into other fields. On the South China Sea issues, Mr. Putin said Russia is keeping a close watch on the situation in Southeast Asia and particularly the South China Sea and reiterated Russia’s standpoint of resolving any disputes via peaceful means and in respect of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while implementing fully and effectively the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Russia also supports ASEAN and China jointly building a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

Russia – Asean call for peaceful resolution for the disputes in the South China Sea

According to Sochi Declaration of the ASEAN - Russian Federation Commemorative Summit released on May 20, Heads of State/Government of the ASEAN and the Russian Federation agreed on ensuring maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded commerce. Promote self-restraint, non-use of force or the threat to use force and the resolution of dispute through peaceful means in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including as stated in the United Nations Charter, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the relevant standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The two sides support the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) on the basis of consensus.”

 

THE EAST SEA STUDIES