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Activities of Related Parties

China

China’s response to the U.S. President Barack Obama’s comment on South China Sea disputes

Speaking in a press conference on May 24, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said, “I can't help but noticing that the US and certain countries talk about big or small countries over and over again. It is our position that a country should not be judged right or wrong merely based on its size. Since the founding of the new China, we have defined the shared boundary with 12 out of our 14 land neighbors through bilateral negotiation and consultation based on historical facts and basic principles of international law. What I am trying to say here is that a country's size is not the crux of relevant issue. What really matters is the sincerity and resolve of countries concerned to jointly settle mutual disputes through negotiation and consultation.” On May 26, in a response to British Prime Minister David Cameron’s statement that China should respect the ruling of the arbitration tribunal in the Hague, Ms. Hua said, “The crux of the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines is territorial and maritime delimitation issue, which is not applicable to the compulsory dispute settlement procedure of UNCLOS. China’s position is clear that for any result coming from such an unlawful, null and void tribunal, China will by no means accept or acknowledge it.” On May 27, Ms. Hua disregard G7 Summit’s joint declarationupon the South China Sea issue, saying that “as a host of the G7 Summit, Japan’s hyping up of the South China Sea issue and regional tension does no good to stability of this area, and is incompatible with the role played by the G7 as an economic governance platform for developed countries. China is strongly dissatisfied with what Japan and the G7 have done. It is hoped that G7 countries would take an unbiased and just position, honor their commitment of not taking sides on territorial disputes, stop making irresponsible remarks and do more things that contribute to regional peace and stability.”

China says G7 summit should focus on economy, development

Speaking at a press briefing on May 26 about the preparation for the upcoming G20 Hangzhou Summit, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, G7 to focus on economic, financial and development issues of global concern instead of exacerbating regional tensions related to the South China Sea issue. "It is their own business what they discuss. However, they should maintain a fair and just stance on whatever they discuss and avoid double standard," he added. Mr. Wang also reiterated China's stance on the South China Sea, saying the disputes should be peacefully settled through dialogue and negotiation between directly-involved countries, based on international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

Vietnam

The Philippines

Philippine arrests 10 Chinese fishermen in latest sea spat

Local broadcasters said on May 27, two Philippine coast guard vessels intercepted a Chinese fishing boat with 10 crew off northeastern Luzon after a two-hour chase, accusing them encroaching into Philippine territorial waters. Lieutenant Jeffrey Collado told broadcasters ABS-CBN and GMA the steel-hulled Chinese fishing boat, flying a Philippine flag, tried to escape after ramming the Coast Guard boat but another vessel arrived to help stop the Chinese boat. "The Chinese fishing boat was in Philippine territorial waters, they are not in disputed seas," he stressed

Laos

Laos urges dialogues on South China Sea rows

In his interview with Nikkei Asian Review on May 28, Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said he will "urge the countries concerned to hold dialogues toward the peaceful settlement" of territorial rows. "As chair of ASEAN, Laos will make efforts to create a favorable environment for positive dialogue among countries concerned," Thongloun said. He also said Laos will urge countries to refrain from any actions that could further raise tensions. Relating to the question whether ASEAN issue a joint declaration in response to the ruling, Thongloun showed a cautious stance, saying ASEAN nations should make a decision on the matter "carefully while taking into account the situation."

The United States

U.S Secretary of Defense: China’s actions could erect a Great Wall of self-isolation

In his speech at Naval Academy graduation held by the United State Naval Academy held on May 27, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said, “China’s actions could erect a Great Wall of self-isolation, as countries across the region – allies, partners, and the unaligned – are voicing concerns publicly and privately, at the highest levels, in regional meetings, and global fora. Such a model reflects the region’s distant past, rather than the principled future we all want for the Asia-Pacific. Secretary Carter stressed that the US is determined to stand with partners in upholding core principles, like freedom of navigation and overflight, free flow of commerce, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, through legal means, in accordance with international law, noting “China has suggested that we separate the issues involved in the South China Sea from our broader relationship. But the United States cannot do such a thing. China’s actions there challenge fundamental principles, and we can’t look the other way.”

England

David Cameron: China must abide by ruling on South China Sea

Speaking as he arrived in Japan for the G7 summit on May 25, Cameron adopted his toughest stance yet on China’s claims, following criticism from the White House that he has been too accommodating towards Beijing. Cameron said China must respect the ruling, expected in a few weeks, by the permanent court of arbitration in The Hague in response to a case brought by the Philippines challenging the construction of military bases in disputed waters. “Because we are in Japan, the regional picture will be a feature of this G7,” the prime minister said.

Regional Snapshots

Laos hosts 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting

In his opening remarks, May 25, Lao Defence Minister Chansamone Channhalat affirmed that over the past decade, ADMM has contributed to maintaining peace, security and development in the region and has become an integral part of the ASEAN Political-Security Community. This year’s theme of “Promoting Defence Cooperation for a Dynamic ASEAN Community” conformed with the goal of boosting the group’s commitments, strength and unity and aimed to intensify defence and security cooperation within the ADMM framework in order to counter non-traditional security challenges in the region and the world, he said. According to the Joint Declaration of the Meeting, the defense ministers reiterated the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security as well as upholding freedom ofnavigation in, and over-flight above, the South China Sea as provided for by universally recognizedprinciples of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);

President Obama arrives for three-day visit

This is the third US President to visit Vietnam since the two countries normalised their relations in 1995, following Bill Clinton in 2000 and George W.Bush in 2006. After official welcome ceremony for US President Barack Obama took place at the Presidential Palace on the morning of May 23, President Tran Dai Quang and President Barack Obama held a discussion, focusing on ways to boost bilateral ties in Presidential Palace. According to the joint statement after the meeting, both sides agreed to intensify the comprehensive partnership in a more practical and effective manner, and to consider development cooperation a focus of bilateral ties. The statement also reiterated that both the US and Vietnam support a regional order, including in the East Sea, in accordance with international law and rules, in which freedom of navigation and aviation, and lawful trading will be ensured. All disputes should be resolved by peaceful means in line with international law. Also on May 23, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held a meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss about the regional situation, including the East Sea issue, as well as non-traditional security challenges which are affecting peace, stability and development cooperation in the region and the world. They agreed that disputes in the East Sea should be solved by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. They also emphasised the need to work towards the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, ensure maritime and aviation security and safety, and not use force.

Member States of the SCO call for peace and stability in the South China Sea

On May 23 and 24, 2016, the Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Tashkent. The meeting was hosted by Uzbekistan. According to Press Communiqué of the Meeting, on the South China Sea, “the Foreign Ministers confirmed that maritime law and order should be maintained on the basis of principles of international law including the “United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea” (UNCLOS). All relevant disputes should be peacefully resolved by the relevant parties through friendly negotiations and consultations, and internationalization and external intervention are opposed. To this end, the Foreign Ministers called for abiding by all articles in the UNCLOS, the “Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea” (DOC) and the “Guidelines for the Implementation of the DOC”.

Japan, Canada share 'serious concerns' on South China Sea

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaking in joint press conference with his Canadian counterpart, Mr. Justin Trudeau in Tokyo on May 24, Mr. Abe said "as for the South China Sea, we share serious concerns over unilateral actions that raise tensions, such as large-scale reclamation, the building of facilities and militarization, it is a significant achievement that we have agreed to cooperate to secure rule-based, free, safe seas."

US-Japan call for peaceful resolution for the disputes in the South China Sea

U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting ahead G7 Summit in Ise-Shima, Japan on May 25. Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Obama stressed that “And we would very much like to see a peaceful resolution of those disputes.  We would welcome China and Vietnam having a conversation and being able to resolve those disputes.  We're not taking a position on those claims.  So it's entirely within China’s power to resolve those disputes.  And our goal with respect to our own interest in the South China Sea is simply to maintain freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, and the maintenance of international rules and norms because we thing that benefits everybody, including China.” On his part, Mr. Abe proposed three-pronged principles.  First, if you are to make a claim you have to make a claim based on international law.  And also, second, you should never intimidate others through the use of force or coercion, or you should not unilaterally change the status quo.  And third, you should settle the disputes in a peaceful manner in accordance with international law.

Pentagon says China aircraft intercept violated 2015 agreement

The Pentagon has concluded that an intercept of a U.S. military aircraft by Chinese fighter jets last week over the South China Sea violated an agreement the two governments signed last year, a U.S. defense official said on May 17. "The review of the Chinese intercept of one of our reconnaissance aircraft has assessed the intercept to have been unsafe based upon the Memorandum of Understanding with China and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards," U.S. Defense Department spokesman Bill Urban said. The incident took place in international airspace last week as a U.S. military plane carried out "a routine U.S. patrol," the Pentagon said. However, Senior Colonel Yang Yujun, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, May 26, said, “The Chinese military aircraft conducted identification and verification in accordance with relevant regulations and rules. Their maneuver was in line with professional standard, and accorded with the Rules of Behavior for Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters signed by China and the US… China urges the US to stop the close-in reconnaissance activities to avoid such incidents from happening again.”

G7 Summit reiterated on peaceful resolutions for South China Sea disputes

According to the G7 Ise-Shima Leaders’ Declaration, released on May 27, the leaders reiterate their “commitment to maintaining a rules-based maritime order in accordance with the principles of international law as reflected in UNCLOS, to peaceful dispute settlement supported by confidence building measures and including through legal means as well as to sustainable uses of the seas and oceans, and to respecting freedom of navigation and overflight. We reaffirm the importance of states’ making and clarifying their claims based on international law, refraining from unilateral actions which could increase tensions and not using force or coercion in trying to drive their claims, and seeking to settle disputes by peaceful means including through juridical procedures including arbitration. We reaffirm the importance of strengthening maritime safety and security, in particular the fight against piracy, through international and regional cooperation. We are concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas, and emphasize the fundamental importance of peaceful management and settlement of disputes. We endorse the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Maritime Security.”

 

 

THE EAST SEA STUDIES