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Activities of the Claimants

China

China opposes U.S. suggestion about joint patrols in the South China Sea

In a regular press conference on March 20th 2015, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said: “What the US side has said does no good to peace and stability of the South China Sea, nor does it contribute to properly resolving relevant disputes. We hope that the US side can honor its commitment of not taking sides on issues concerning territorial sovereignty, stop making irresponsible remarks and do more things to enhance mutual trust and regional peace and stability.”

Vietnam

Vietnam’s Prime Minister paid official visit to Australia

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In his visit to Australia, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbot on March 18th in which the two PMs reviewed progress of the bilateral ties in recent years, pledged to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and maintain meetings between the two countries’ leaders and officials while optimising the existing collaboration mechanisms. In the joint statement, the two Prime Ministers “called on all parties to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could increase tensions in the region, including the use of coercion or force to unilaterally alter the status quo. Prime Minister Abbott and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung agreed on the urgent need to progress a code of conduct for the South China Sea (COC).”

The Philippines

Philippines counters China in new South China Sea Case submission

On December 16th 2014, the Arbitral Tribunal submitted 26 questions to the Philippines requesting additional argument and information. In respones, the Philippines on March 16th has submitted detailed responses and extensive additional information. The submission consists of 12 volumes totaling over 3,000 pages. Volume I consists of 200 pages of written argument. Volume II consists of a 200-page Atlas containing detailed information about 49 islands, reefs and other features in the South China Sea. “The Philippines is confident that its answers to the Tribunal’s questions leave no doubt that the Tribunal has jurisdiction over the case and that the Philippines claims, including in particular its claims concerning the nine-dash line, are well-founded in fact and law”, said a statement on Philippine Department Of Foreign Affairs website.

Philippine Navy supports joint patrolling of South China Sea with US, ASEAN navies

Regarding the recommendation of United States Navy Seventh Fleet Vice Admiral Robert Thomas to conduct joint patrols in the South China Sea with navies of Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, and Malaysia, Philippine Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jesus C. Millan said “We have supported combined and joint patrolling for anti-piracy purposes, like in the Straits of Malacca, and this have been a successful one. We can support it if this will be the objective – preserving stability and freedom of navigation of international/domestic shipping”. He added that framework should be established and supported by parties involved. However, he noted “for the disputed areas, I cannot comment on the position of the Philippine government as this must be addressed by concerned agencies.”

PHL calls on int'l community to press to stop reclamation in South China Sea

The Philippines has called on the international community to press for a stop to massive reclamation activities in the South China Sea that could increase tension in the disputed area. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Undersecretary Evan Garcia said at the 17th ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) held in New Delhi on March 14th that “such unbridled reclamation activity worsens an already sensitive geopolitical situation and raises the specter of increasing militarization.” The DFA also said that Indian Minister of External Affairs Anil Wadha assured the Philippines "that India will encourage the peaceful resolution of the dispute." 

Malaysia

Malaysia proposes joint Asean peacekeeping force

Malaysia proposed that Southeast Asian countries form a joint peacekeeping force, saying it would help rebuild trust after bitter arguments over how to handle China’s territorial challenges in the South China Sea. “We need to find matters where we can unite,” Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said March 18th at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition. “If we continue to look only at dotted lines and competing claims, the future looks very bleak.” Establishing the force will be a key focus of Malaysia’s 2015 Asean chairmanship, said Mr. Hishammuddin. Its size and makeup have yet to be determined, he said.

Thailand

Thailand to promote Code of Conduct in South China Sea

On March 20th, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang hosted a reception for Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thanasak Patimapragorn. The president praised Thailand's role in the ASEAN community, and called on the kingdom to take practical actions with other members for building a prosperous ASEAN that fosters unity in diversity. On his part, Thanasak Patimapragorn said that Thailand, as the co-ordinator of ASEAN-China relations, would work to speed up substantive consultations for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. He also said that Thailand would work with other ASEAN members to maintain the regional bloc's central and leading role in settling strategic matters in the region.

India

India should play bigger role in South China Sea, says Singapore

Singapore on March 16th said it wants India to play a bigger role in the South China Sea as China hastens land reclamation in the disputed waters that carry some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. “We hope that their presence and participation will increase -- that really adds up to engagement and confidence building and mutual understanding,” Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen  said, referring to Asia’s third-biggest economy. “India is a big country and it’s an influential country.”

Indonesia

Indonesian president says China's main claim in South China Sea has no legal basis

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In an interview with Yomiuri newspaper on March 22nd on the ocassion of his visit to Japan, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said one of China's main claims to the majority of the South China Sea had no legal basis in international law, but Jakarta wanted to remain an "honest broker" in one of Asia's most thorny territorial disputes. "The 'nine-dashed line' that China says marks its maritime border has no basis in any international law". In addition, he noted that "We need peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. It is important to have political and security stability to build up our economic growth. So we support the Code of Conduct (of the South China Sea) and also dialogue between China and Japan, China and ASEAN.”

The U.S.

U.S. Navy urges Southeast Asian patrols of South China Sea

The commander of the U.S. Navy Seventh Fleet called on Southeast Asian nations to form a combined maritime force to patrol areas of the South China Sea, said Vice Admiral Robert Thomas on March 17th at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia. “Countries could streamline cooperation on maritime security while respecting sovereignty and coastal space, as in the case of counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden.” “Perhaps easier said than done, from both a policy and organization perspective, such an initiative could help crystallize the operational objectives in the training events that Asean navies want to pursue,” Thomas said at a panel session with navy chiefs. “If Asean members were to take the lead in organizing something along those lines, trust me, the U.S. 7th Fleet would be ready to support.”

Senators seek U.S. strategy to stop China's South China Sea reclamation

Leading U.S. senators expressed alarm on March 19th at the scale and speed of China's land reclamation in the South China Sea and said a formal U.S. strategy was needed to slow or stop the work. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Republican Senators John McCain and Bob Corker and Democrats Jack Reed and Bob Menendez said that without a comprehensive strategy "long-standing interests of the United States, as well as our allies and partners, stand at considerable risk." They said China’s land reclamation and construction in the South China Sea's Spratly archipelago gave it the potential to expand its military reach and was "a direct challenge, not only to the interests of the United States and the region, but to the entire international community." The senators, who head the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the strategy should lay out "specific actions the United States can take to slow down or stop China’s reclamation activities... ."

U.S. affirms national interest in freedom of navigation in the South China Sea

Regarding the Senators’ letter ringing alarm about China’s recalamtion activities in the South China Sea, U.S. Department of State Spokeperson Jeff Rathke said that “The United States has a national interest in freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, respect for international law, and the maintenance of peace and stability in the South China Sea. Now we have consistently and frequently raised with China our concerns over its large-scale land reclamation, which undermines peace and stability in the South China Sea, and more broadly in the Asia Pacific region. The United States continues to take additional concrete steps to support peace and stability in the South China Sea, and we are frank in expressing our concerns about problematic behavior. And we are undertaking supportive actions, including diplomacy, increased maritime security cooperation and assistance with Southeast Asian claimants, our support for crisis management tools and strengthening our roles as an Asian Pacific power in our relationships with allies and partners in the region.”

Regional Snapshots

Singapore, Malaysian navies conclude bilateral maritime exercise

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) have conducted the Malapura Exercise, a bilateral maritime exercise, from March 4th to March 15th. Conducted since 1984, this year's Malapura Exercise involved about 600 personnel from the RSN and RMN. In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said the exercise, hosted by Malaysia, also saw both navies carrying out joint planning and training at the Changi Naval Base (CNB), and conducting drills in conventional naval warfare and maritime security in the Melaka Strait. The regular interaction strengthened mutual understanding and professional ties among the personnel of both navies, and underscored the warm and long-standing defence ties between both navies.

Xi meets with Kissinger, calls for more trust between China, U.S.

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President Xi Jinping on March 17thcalled for more strategic trust and reciprocal cooperation between China and the United States. Xi made the remarks as he met with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing. Xi praised the veteran diplomat as an "ice-breaker" for China-U.S. diplomacy in the 1970s and for his continuous contributions to the relationship over the past decades. "China attaches great importance to ties with the United States and is ready to make joint efforts with the U.S. side to take care of the relationship," said the Chinese leader. To advance the China-U.S. relationship, the two sides should learn from history, bear in mind the overall situation and enhance mutual understanding to build strategic trust in each other, according to the president. 

 

THE EAST SEA STUDIES