alt

Activities of the Claimants

China

China warns U.S. surveillance plane

alt

The Chinese navy issued warnings eight times as a U.S. surveillance plane on May 20th swooped over islands that Beijing is using to extend its zone of influence. A CNN team was given exclusive access to join in the surveillance flights over the contested waters, which the Pentagon allowed for the first time in order to raise awareness about the challenge posed by the islands and the growing U.S. response. CNN was aboard the P8-A Poseidon, America's most advanced surveillance and submarine-hunting aircraft, and quickly learned that the Chinese are themselves displeased by the U.S. pushback. "This is the Chinese navy ... This is the Chinese navy ... Please go away ... to avoid misunderstanding," a voice in English crackled through the radio of the aircraft in which CNN was present. This is the first time the Pentagon has declassified video of China's building activity and audio of Chinese challenges of a U.S. aircraft. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei on May 22nd said that Chinese troops had acted upon the rules, "It must be pointed out that the reconnaissance conducted by the U.S. military aircraft poses a potential threat to the security of China's maritime features," Hong said. "We call on the United States to act in strict accordance with international law, and refrain from taking any risky or provocative action," Hong added. 

The U.S.

U.S. vows to continue patrols after China warns spy plane

Speaking at a media briefing in Washington, The senior U.S. diplomat for the East Asia, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said that the U.S. reconnaissance flight was "entirely appropriate" and that U.S. naval forces and military aircraft would "continue to fully exercise" the right to operate in international waters and airspace. He said the United States would go further to preserve the ability of all countries to move in international waters and airspace. "Nobody in their right mind is going to try to stop the U.S. Navy from operating - that would not be a good bet," he said.

U.S. Admiral calls on China to Explain South China Sea land reclamation

In an interview on May 19th, The U.S.Navy’s second-most senior commander Adm. Michelle Howard said that “I think it’s now time for China to talk about what the reclamation of land means.” “From my perspective, no one is saying they are putting a resort out there, so someone needs to explain what they are putting out there,” she said.  She added the U.S. would stand with the ASEAN if its 10 member countries decided to work together to counter China. “If the Asean nations want to get together and do something to demonstrate their united purpose we’ll be supportive of that,” she said.

U.S. says South China Sea reclamations stoke instability

China's land reclamation around reefs in the disputed South China Sea is undermining freedom and stability, and risks provoking tension that could even lead to conflict, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a conference in Jakarta on May 20th. "As China seeks to make sovereign land out of sandcastles and redraw maritime boundaries, it is eroding regional trust and undermining investor confidence," Blinken said. "Its behaviour threatens to set a new precedent whereby larger countries are free to intimidate smaller ones, and that provokes tensions, instability and can even lead to conflict." "We need to manage competing claims diplomatically ... We don't take sides but we strongly oppose actions that aim to advance a claim by force or coercion," he added.

U.S. Senators want China disinvited from naval exercises

Sens. John McCain and Sen. Jack Reed, respectively the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the panel’s top Democrat, wrote Defense Secretary Ash Carter May 21st, asking the Pentagon chief to reconsider inviting China to the 2016 “Rim of the Pacific” — or RIMPAC — naval exercises in Hawaii. “We think this decision is misguided,” the two wrote in a letter, a copy of which was provided to The Wall Street Journal. “Given the [People’s Republic of China’s provocative actions in the East and South China Seas, our government should be considering policy options that impose costs on China’s disruptive behavior, not reward it.”

U.S. planes keep distance from Chinese ‘islands’ in Spratlys

US surveillance aircraft and naval ships have yet to test China's territorial claims around artificial islands built in the Spratlys in the South China Sea, but the Pentagon warned on May 21st that could be "the next step." Asked if the military would move to within that sensitive zone, he said: "We don't have any announcement to make on next steps. We are going to continue our routine flights."

U.S. Vice-President criticises Beijing over policies in South China Sea

alt

The United States Vice-President Joe Biden has criticised Beijing's increasingly assertive policies in the South China Sea, saying they are adding to tensions and the potential for conflict in the region. Biden told a graduation ceremony at a naval academy in Maryland that freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes were being tested by Chinese actions in the disputed waters, the source of territorial disputes among several countries, and that the United States' role was to keep the peace. "They're building airstrips, the placing of oil rigs, the imposition of unilateral bans on fishing in disputed territories, the declaration of air-defence zones, the reclamation of land, which other countries are doing, but not nearly on the massive scale the Chinese are doing," Biden said. "Tensions run high. As I speak, they run high, but you will be there to keep the peace," he told the naval cadets. Biden also said that as part of the pivot in US foreign policy towards the Asia-Pacific there would be a significant shift of its military forces into the region. "That's why 60 per cent of the United States naval forces will be stationed in the Asia Pacific by 2020," he said.

Vietnam

Hoang Sa is Vietnam’s traditional fishing grounds

Answering reporters’ queries on Vietnam’s response to China’s unilateral ban on fishing in the East Sea at a regular press conference on May 21, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh said that Vietnam will intensify management and closely monitor Vietnamese fishermen’s fishing activities in the waters of Vietnam in order to timely address arising incidents. He added that Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago is an integral territory of Vietnam and its waters have long been the traditional fishing grounds of Vietnamese fishermen.  Regarding CNN’s launch of a video capturing Chinese naval ships chasing US aircraft flying above the international waters of the East Sea (South China Sea), Binh said that maintaining peace, stability, aviation and maritime security and safety in the East Sea, which forms an important international maritime route and aviation corridor, is the common interest and aspiration of nations inside and outside the region. Vietnam calls on countries concerned to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, aviation and maritime security and safety in the East Sea in a responsible and active manner, while respecting the sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction of coastal nations on the basis of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and avoiding complicating the situation, he stated.

Russia has completed the construction of two frigates to Vietnam

Zelenodolsk plant in Tatarstan has completed an order for the construction of two frigates of Project 3.9 "Cheetah" (Project 11661) for the Vietnamese Navy, told RIA Novosti on May 19th, the official representative of the company Rafis Fatykhov. Project 11661 patrol ships is type of patrol ships for Russian and Vietnamese Navy. The lead ship is “Tatarstan”. In 2003, they were reclassified in rocket ships.

Indonesia

Indonesia flexes muscle, sinks Chinese boat, a big one

The Indonesia government has responded to criticism that it has caved to China's might as it destroys a 300-gross-ton (GT) Chinese vessel caught fishing illegally in Indonesian waters near the South China Sea. According to Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, the steel-made Gui Xei Yu 12661 was sunk on May 20th in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, after it was detonated by the ministry with a low-explosive devise planted on its haul. The boat was among 41 vessels that were simultaneously destroyed to commemorate National Awakening Day. "This is not a show of force. This is just merely enforcing our laws," said Minister Susi. Beijing expressed concern on May 21st,  asking the Indonesian side to make clarifications.

Indonesia

Asean, China should conclude pact to ease tensions in South China Sea

Asean and China should "expeditiously" ink an agreement that is aimed at easing the tensions in the South China Sea, urged Singapore Defence minister Ng Eng Hen. China and the claimant states should "expeditiously conclude" the Code of conduct, a pact that would forbid the first use of force in potential conflicts and reduce miscalculations at seas, he said. This will also allow all sides to peacefully settle the disputes in the fiercely-contested waters based on internationally-accepted norms and legal frameworks, said Dr Ng on May 19th. As a non-claimant state, Singapore takes no sides in these maritime disputes, said Dr Ng, but the Republic is concerned that the risks of incidents and even conflicts have gone up. 

Regional Snapshots

UN chief urges peaceful solution of South China Sea dispute

alt

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on May 22nd for a peaceful solution to territorial disputes in the South China Sea.  Ban told reporters in Hanoi that he and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang discussed regional security concerns, including the territorial tensions. “I have consistently called on all parties concerned to resolve their disputes through dialogue in conformity with international law,” he said. “It is important to avoid actions that would provoke or exacerbate the tension.”

Vietnamese Defence Minister visits India

Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh is paying an official friendly visit to India from May 23rd to 26th at the invitation of Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The visit is to share views on international and regional security issues of each country and discuss measures to lift up bilateral defence collaboration to a new height.