Activities of the Claimants

China

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China again dismisses Philippine court case in sea dispute

China on June 4th rejected an arbitration tribunal's ruling giving it six months to respond to a case filed by the Philippines over disputed waters, saying it has no plans to take part. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, rejecting rival claims to parts from Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei in one of Asia's most intractable disputes and a possible flashpoint. It also has a separate maritime dispute with Japan over islands in the East Sea. The tribunal in The Hague gave Beijing until December 15th to reply to the first international case filed against China related to the energy-rich waters. In giving China time to respond to the Philippines' filing, the tribunal was fulfilling its obligation to assure "each party a full opportunity to be heard and to present its case", it said in a statement on Tuesday. China has said all along it will not participate in the arbitration proceedings, preferring a bilateral approach to resolve the conflicts.

PLA to deploy its largest supply ship to South China Sea

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The People's Liberation Army Navy is set to deploy at least one of its Type 903A comprehensive supply ships to the disputed South China Sea to strengthen its force projection capability in the area, reports China's nationalistic Global Times tabloid. China recently launched its fifth and largest Type 903A supply ship, the Fuchi, on May 31 in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province. With the capability to carry 11,000 tonnes of cargo, the 23,000-tonne Type 903A can provide fuel and rations to Chinese warships operating in the open sea. It can fuel two warships simultaneously during the operation, while it can also carry two Z-8 helicopters, which can be used to airdrop supplies to other vessels.

Chinese ships for reclamation spotted in 2 more reefs

President Benigno Aquino III revealed on June 5th that he has received reports of "movements" by Chinese ships in at least two more reefs in the South China Sea. In a televised interview with reporters in Manila, Aquino said that the ships were located in the Gaven Reef (internationally known as Gavin Reef) and Chau Vien Reef (internationally known as Cuarteron Reef), which are disputed low-tide features in the Spratlys. "We are again bothered that there seems to be developments in other areas within the disputed seas," Aquino said at the sidelines of the Asia Europe Meeting Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Aquino said the Chinese ships seem to be similar to those doing land reclamation activities in the Mabini Reef. "'Yung pictures that I saw were just ships that can be used for reclamation," he said.

China’s response to the Philippine allegation of Chinese reclamation in South China Sea

In a regular press conference on June 3rd, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei stated that “China exercises indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands (Spatly islands) and the adjacent waters. China strictly abides by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and remains a staunch champion for regional peace and stability.” In a regular press conference on June 5th, regarding the concerns over maritime tensions between Beijing and its Asian neighbours made by Group of Seven leaders, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the territorial disputes should be resolved by negotiations between the nations directly affected, and the involvement of external forces would only complicate matters. "External countries should respect objective facts and bear a fair attitude in the dispute rather than stirring up tensions and creating divisions, and making complications to the regional situation," he said. Regarding the footage released by the Vietnamese side showing Chinese vessels ramming and sinking Vietnamese fishing vessels, Spokesman Hong Lei said that “Chinese vessels are only carrying out escort and protection mission close to the drilling platform in the south to China's Zhongjian Island. Chinese vessels are in a defending position, and it is the Vietnamese vessels that marched as far as over 100 nautical miles to enter relevant waters and attempted to forcefully ram into Chinese defending vessels”.

Vietnam

More details of China’s illegal East Sea (South China Sea) acts emerge

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As many as 24 of Vietnam’s law enforcement ships have been damaged and 12 fisheries surveillance officials have been injured by the Chinese side in the last month, revealed Ngo Ngoc Thu, Vice Commander and Chief of Staff of the Vietnam Coast Guard at an international press conference in Hanoi on June 5th. He stated that of the total, 19 fisheries surveillance ships and five coast guard vessels of Vietnam were destroyed after being rammed and fired with water cannons while performing their mission of demanding China withdraw its rig, named Haiyang Shiyou-981, from Vietnam’s waters, where it is illegally standing.  Thu noted that apart from deploying coast guard, patrol and logistics ships around the rig, China has so far sent a large number of big iron-made fishing vessels, together with many different kinds of warship and aircraft. “Chinese ships have grouped together and formed three circles around the rig, enabling them to encircle and ram Vietnamese vessels making an approach,” Thu said. Along with using high-power water cannons to damage Vietnamese ships and equipment on board, Chinese ships also used loudspeakers and powerful lights, affecting the health of Vietnamese coast guards and fisheries surveillance officials, stated Thu. Meanwhile, Vietnam has only used peaceful measures, including spoken words and banners in Vietnamese, English and Chinese to protest China’s illegal act and demand it remove the rig out of Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, Thu noted. According to Tran Duy Hai, Deputy Head of the National Border Committee, during the past month since China illegally placed its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters, there have been more than 30 talks in different forms between the two sides. Ignoring Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, China not only continued their illegal actions but also gave a negative response by slandering and blaming Vietnam, he said.

Vietnam sends another diplomatic note opposing China

Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations Ambassador Le Hoai Trung on June 6th transmitted to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon a Diplomatic Note of the Foreign Ministry addressed to its Chinese partner opposing China’s continued illegal operation of the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The Note, dated June 4th, quoted the competent agencies of Vietnam and the announcement of Chinese Maritime Safety Administration, as saying that on May 27th, 2014, the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 was moved to the location at 15-33.38N/111-34.62E, which is entirely within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam. The operation of China’s oil rig and its escorting ships constitutes a continued serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as defined in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. China’s action also violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, the Vietnam - China Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues and other relevant agreements between high-level leaders of the two countries, gravely undermining the political trust between the two countries. Vietnam resolutely protests against China’s illegal action.

Vietnam’s stance on East Sea issue welcomed

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Delegates to the 13th Shangri La Dialogue have welcomed Vietnam’s stance on settling the East Sea issue by peaceful means in line with international law, said Defence Minister, General Phung Quang Thanh. He told a Singapore-based Vietnam News Agency reporter in an exclusive interview that Vietnam presented an accurate and objective account of the latest developments in the East Sea, one of the concerns dominating the agenda. Vietnam has made clear its consistent policy of exercising the utmost restraint and abiding by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), rather than using force or threat to use force, he said. According to General Thanh, a majority of countries expressed hope for peace and stability in the East Sea as it is a key international navigation route, exerting a big influence on economies in and outside the region. To this end, they called on ASEAN and China to work out a legally-binding Code on Conduct in the East Sea (COC) as soon as possible.

The Philippines

PH wants ‘continuing stability’ in South China Sea

In a news conference on June 3rd, Philippine Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. reiterated that relations between the Philippines and China did not hinge solely on their territorial dispute in the South China Sea. “We still would like to envision a situation where there will be continuing stability in the South China Sea, as we have pointed out its strategic importance not just to regional, but [also] to global commerce and trade,” Coloma said.  “And we have also emphasized that the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea does not define the totality of our relations with China, and other countries in the region also view it that way,” he added.

PH ‘concerned but not nervous’ over China, Vietnam tensions

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Amidst the rising tension between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea, the Philippine Department of National Defense is on calm waters despite the volatile situation in the region. During the induction of the new officers of the Defense Press Corps on June 4th, Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said they would still continue their job of bringing supplies and changing the men in the stationary BRP Sierra Madre who are defending the Philippines’ claim on the Ayungin Shoal. “We are concerned but not nervous because it is still our responsibility to resupply and change the troops stationed there,” Gazmin said.

PHL may file protest vs. China over new incursions

The Philippines will file a protest against China once it has verified that Beijing is building new structures on two reefs in the South China Sea. “If in fact it’s clear to us that the status quo is being changed then we will take a look at a formal protest,” Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario told reporters at the sidelines of an international disaster response meeting in Manila on June 5th . Del Rosario said the Philippine government is in the process of validating intelligence reports it received on the presence of undetermined number of Chinese vessels in Gaven and Calderon Reefs—a move Manila fears could be a prelude to another Chinese construction in an area in the South China Sea that officials say is well within Philippine territory. “Right now we aren’t sure and we are taking a good look,” Del Rosario said, adding the reported presence of the Chinese vessels is "concerning."

Malaysia

Rule of law is paramount in handling South China Sea issues

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the rule of law must reign supreme in resolving issues in the South China Sea. The prime minister said he was "concerned and deeply worried" that measures taken by the engaged parties to affirm their declared rights, no matter how small they might be, would only complicate matters and would not be in anyone's interest in the long run. "We must hold steadfast to the principles of non-use of force and the peaceful settlement of disputes. "There should not be any action taken to further aggravate the situation and increase tensions," he said when opening the 28th Asia Pacific Roundtable.

Japan

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Japan hits back at China after Abe's remarks spark row

Japan on June 2nd hit back at China's denouncement of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's speech at a regional security forum, firing the latest salvo in an ongoing tit-for-tat row. On June 1st, Lieutenant General Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of the general staff of the People's Liberation Army, told the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore that the comments made by Abe and US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel at the conference were "unacceptable". But Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters in Tokyo: "We believe the Chinese senior official made claims based on mistake of facts and defamed our country." Suga said the Japanese delegation in Singapore immediately made a "strong protest" against the remarks to the Chinese side.

India

India to continue exploration in Vietnam oil block

In a move that will strengthen Vietnam’s case in its dispute with China over the South China Sea, India’s state-owned ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) plans to continue exploration in its oil block there. The field is the South China Sea hydrocarbon block No.128 and OVL’s inclination for renewal is being seen as India’s attempt to assert its presence in the region. OVL had earlier agreed to continue exploring the block for two years after China had put it up for global bidding. This extension ends in June.

The U.S.

China tensions bad for Asia business

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A senior U.S. official said June 4th that Washington wants to expand economic ties with Asia, the world's fastest growing region, but warned that China's provocative conduct in the South China Sea raises tensions that are bad for business. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker told American and Filipino business groups that the United States has overinvested its diplomatic, economic and strategic resources in other parts of the world. She said it was committed to policies "to correct the imbalance and to deepen U.S. engagement" with Asia. She told reporters that American companies are optimistic about the region. But China's deployment last month of an oil rig accompanied by government vessels in South China Sea waters also claimed by Vietnam and its incursions into areas claimed by the Philippines "are provocative and they raise tensions." "We're very concerned about that," she said. "Actions like these create uncertainty, which is not good for the business environment."

US urges China to participate in sea row arbitration

The US State Department said it hoped China would avail itself of the opportunity to clarify before a United Nations tribunal the legal basis for its maritime claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines has taken its claims, which conflict with those of China, to the tribunal but China has rejected the tribunal’s directive that it submit by Dec. 15th evidence to support its position. “This specific tribunal request is a good opportunity for China to clarify the legal basis for I think what we would call the ambiguous nature of its maritime claims in the South China Sea and to align those claims with international law,” said State Department spokesperson Marie Harf at a press conference on June 5th.

Germany

Germany calls for peaceful settlement of sea row

Germany called yesterday for respect for the rule of law and a peaceful settlement of maritime disputes in East and Southeast Asia. German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski to the Philippines said his government is closely monitoring developments in the East and South China Seas, where China is locked in disputes with its neighbors including the Philippines. “We encourage everyone to work on a peaceful settlement and respect the prominence of the rule of law,” Ossowski told The STAR on June 3rd.  “Germany as a trading nation is very much interested in maintaining the security of sea routes.”

Australia

Australian Defence Department Secretary says risk of conflict in South China Sea is real

The head of Australia's Defence Department says there is a risk of conflict in relation to territorial disputes in the South and East China seas. Defence Department Secretary Dennis Richardson has told a Senate estimates committee that no nation wants conflict, but it is possible. "I don't believe that either China, Japan or the countries of ASEAN want conflict," he said. "However, there is always the risk of an accident or a miscalculation. It is that concern about miscalculation that could lead unexpectedly to something."

Tony Abbott issues clear signal to China saying government 'strongly discourages' unilateral actions in the region

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Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Australia "strongly discourages" unilateral actions in the South China and East China seas, urging no change to the status quo in the region, in a clear signal to China over its recent territorial claims. The comments come as Mr Abbott prepared leave for Indonesia on June 4th morning to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and step up efforts to repair diplomatic relations after controversies over Australia's hardline asylum seeker policies and the leaking of classified documents that showed Australia spied on the Indonesian leader. "There's a lot that we can discuss on the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The Australia government has long had a consistent position. We discourage unilateral actions, we very strongly discourage and we disapprove of unilateral actions,'' he said. 

Regional Snapshots

G7 'deeply concerned' at tensions in East, South China Seas

Group of Seven leaders expressed their concern about tensions between China and a number of other Asian countries over resources in the East and South China Seas and warned against any use of force. "We are deeply concerned by tensions in the East and South China Sea. We oppose any unilateral attempt by any party to assert its territorial or maritime claims through the use of intimidation, coercion or force," the G7 leaders said in a statement after evening talks in Brussels. "We call on all parties to clarify and pursue their territorial and maritime claims in accordance with international law."

Full statement

South Korea to Donate Corvette to Phl Navy Before Yearend

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwang-jin told Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin at a meeting in Seoul last May 30th that the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) will decommission a Pohang-class corvette (PCC) by yearend for donation to the Philippine Navy, yet another sign of the two countries’ growing defense cooperation, according to the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. Secretary Gazmin said the warship follows the acceptance by the Armed Forces of the Philippines of an earlier ROKN donation of a landing craft utility and 16 rubber boats.

Philippine, Vietnamese troops drink beer, play volleyball on Spratly isle

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Vietnamese and Philippine troops got together on a disputed island in the East (South China) Sea on June 8th to play soccer and volleyball - as well as drink beer - in a display of unity that will not go unnoticed in Beijing. Philippine naval officials billed the event on the Vietnamese-held island as a chance to show the world there can be harmony in the East Sea despite a web of overlapping claims to the potentially energy-rich waters. The gathering on Southwest Cay in the Spratly, which Vietnam calls Truong Sa, archipelago also symbolizes how once-suspicious neighbors are cooperating in the face of China's growing assertiveness in disputed waters. About 40 Philippine naval personnel sailed to the island for the day-long event, Philippine naval officials said.