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Activities of the Claimants

China

China publishes new vertical map

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On June 23rd, Hunan Map Publishing House unveiled a new map of China — a vertical representation of the country that includes the vast body of water south of Hainan Island. The new map gives equal weight to both land and sea, with the islands and waters of the South China Sea presented on the same scale in one map with the nine-dash demarcation line clearly marked. Previous national maps were horizontal in orientation and focused on the country's land area, while the South China Sea was separately featured in a small box in the bottom corner.

China countinues to provide wrong information about the situation in the South China Sea

In a regular press conference on June 24th, in respone to the footage released by Vietnamese TV showing the collision between Chinese vessels and Vietnamese ones in the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said that “on the morning of June 23, the Vietnamese side organized vessels on the site to once again break through the cordon-off area where Chinese company operates. One of the towboats took the first move to ram into Chinese government vessels and caused damage to Chinese ships.” Regarding the new edition of Chinese map, Hua told that “China's publishing houses in some regions published various kinds of Chinese maps with the purpose of serving the public, and there is no need to over-read it.” About the recent meeting between President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Hua said that “relevant countries should show sincerity and move towards the same direction with China, rather than deliberately stir up tension and bring additional complicated factors to the regional situation.”

PLA stands firm over South China Sea disputes

The People's Liberation Army is committed to protecting China's maritime rights in the South China Sea. It is also committed to building trust and improving communication in dealing with security threats at sea. These remarks were made by a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on June 26th. "The current tensions are a result of provocative behavior by some countries. It’s in the common interests to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. China has always proposed to resolve the disputes with the relevant countries involved, on the basis of respecting history and international laws. If any country intends to continue to create confrontations, they will take full responsibility and face consequences," Ministry Of National Defense spokesman Yang Yujun said. In addition, he said that China opposes the Philippines’ accusations of Chinese building military facilities on some islands. “Beginning in the 1970s, the Philippines violated the UN charter and norms, illegally occupying Zhong Ye Island and other islands in the South China Sea. At the end of last year, the Philippines announced that it would build military facilities on ZhongYe Island (internationally known as Thitu Island). We strongly oppose such actions," Yang said.

Xi pledges China will never seek hegemony

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China will never seek hegemony, no matter how strong it becomes, President Xi Jinping said on June 28th at a high-profile meeting to mark the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. "China does not accept the logic that a strong country is bound to become hegemonic, and neither hegemony nor militarism is in the Chinese DNA," Xi said in a speech, as he played host to leaders from Myanmar and India to commemorate the anniversary. Citing poems and old sayings from the three countries, Xi called for dialogue based on equality to resolve disputes and joint efforts to preserve regional peace. He also announced the establishment of a friendship award and an outstanding scholarship related to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. In addition, he stated that no infringement upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country is allowed, and countries should respect each other's core interests and key concerns. He told all countries have the right to participate in international and regional security affairs on an equal footing and shoulder the shared responsibility to maintain security both internationally and in various regions. "It is unacceptable to have security just for one country or some countries while leaving the rest insecure, and still less should one be allowed to seek the so-called 'absolute security' of itself at the expense of others' security."

China tests long range unmanned Mini Sub

Researchers with China's Tianjin University have completed a test of the autonomous underwater unmanned vehicle (UUV), named "Haiyan," in the South China Sea, the Qingdao News reports. During the test, the vehicle worked consecutively for 21 days and reached a depth of 1,094 meters. With an endurance of 30 days, the torpedo-shaped vessel moves at a maximum underwater speed of close to six kilometers per hour. It has a length of 1.8 meters and a diameter of 0.3 meters, with a weight of about 70 kilograms. The Haiyan is currently a civilian vessel, targeted for purposes of scientific exploration of marine biology, seabeds and to aid search-and-rescue missions. However, the UUV can be upgraded to serve as an underwater combat and patrol vessel, taking on lengthy and dangerous missions like minesweeping and submarine detection, and offer protection for Chinese ships and oil platforms.

Vietnam

PCA legal status in Viet Nam acknowledged

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Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ho Xuan Son and Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Hugo Hans Siblesz on June 23rd signed the Host Country Agreement and an Exchange of Letter on cooperation between Viet Nam and the PCA. Accordingly, Viet Nam officially confirmed the legal status of the PCA in Viet Nam, allowing the PCA to launch peaceful measures on international conflicts and provide suitable assistance for inter-governmental organizations and entities in Viet Nam. These two documents are expected to boost up the cooperation between the two sides, especially in terms of information exchange, training and consultancy. Mr. Hugo Hans Siblesz revealed that the signing of these two documents will help Viet Nam get access to arbitration procedures, enhance the respect of law and contribute to dealing with regional conflicts.

Vietnamese Journalists Association opposes China’s wrongful acts

The Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA) on June 29th issued a statement requesting China to immediately stop its provocative acts and violations of Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty. The statement said after China illegally positioned its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s waters, on May 10, the VJA President sent a letter to the Chairman of the All-China Journalists Association strongly protesting against China’s violations of Vietnam ’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction. The VJA President also demanded that China immediately end its illegal actions and withdraw the rig together with escort ships and aircraft from Vietnam’s waters.

Vietnam has firm evidence to prove China’s wrongful actions

Vietnam has adequate evidence to prove and confirm that Chinese ships had intentionally rammed and damaged its vessels, heard a regular press conference of the Foreign Ministry on June 26th. None of Vietnamese ships deliberately attacked Chinese ships, did intentional ramming acts, and encroached on China’s waters, as claimed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson at the June 24th press conference, stated Ha Le, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stated. “Vietnam vehemently opposes and rejects the Chinese statements,” Le said. In addition, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh voiced that Vietnam strongly condemns dangerous actions taken by China in the South China Sea and demands the country promptly stop hindering Vietnamese law enforcement ships’ operation. Binh also asked the Chinese side to compensate for the damage its vessels caused to the Vietnamese fisheries surveillance ship KN-951 and other boats.

The Philippines

Philippines seeks 4-nation meeting in sea disputes

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The Philippines has revived its plan to call a meeting among four ASEAN claimants -- itself, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei -- to disputed islands in the South China Sea to hammer out a common position on how to deal with increasingly assertive rival claimant China, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said on June 25th. Aquino, who flew to Japan for a day-long working visit, said he briefed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about the Philippine plan to call a special four-way claimant meeting. "We told them that we're talking with our ASEAN brethren, especially the three (other) claimant countries leading up to a meeting with China so we have a common stand," Aquino told reporters aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Tokyo to Hiroshima.

New ‘10-dash line’ map shows China’s expansionist ambitions

The Philippines on June 25th rejected a new map drawn up by China that puts offshore territories also claimed by Manila within Chinese “national boundaries,” saying such a move demonstrates Beijing's expansionist ambitions in the region. "We reiterate that such a publication only shows China's unreasonably expansive claim that is clearly contrary to international law and UNCLOS," Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said in a text message. "It is precisely such ambitious expansionism that is causing the tensions in the South China Sea," Jose said.

Laos

Laos worried about South China Sea developments

The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 23 sent a diplomatic note to the Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane, voicing their concern over the current South China Sea situation. In the document, the ministry said the South China Sea is an important and sensitive area, thus it is of paramount importance to maintain and further promote peace, stability and cooperation. Laos is closely following and worried about developments in these waters, the note stated, adding that the country demands all parties concerned to restrain from actions that may escalate the tension. The country calls on all sides to not use or threaten to use force and to solve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it said.

The U.S.

China’s behavior offshore hurts its standing

China's coercive efforts to enforce its territorial claims in disputed waters are not just raising tensions but damaging its international standing, a senior U.S. official said June 25th. Top diplomat for East Asia, Daniel Russel, was speaking at a congressional hearing, two weeks ahead of high-level talks in Beijing, where he said Washington would seek to build "strategic trust" with China and economic cooperation, but would also push for the release of political prisoners. Appearing before lawmakers, Russel criticized China's recent actions in the East and South China Seas which he said had left its neighbors "understandably alarmed." "A pattern of unilateral Chinese actions in sensitive and disputed areas is raising tensions and damaging China's international standing," Russel said in prepared comments for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "China, as a strong and rising power, should hold itself to a high standard of behavior. To willfully disregard diplomatic and other peaceful ways of dealing with disagreements and disputes in favor of economic or physical coercion is destabilizing and dangerous," he said.

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Ex-US admiral: 'Equally forceful' Philippines needed in sea row

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The Philippines has to stand up to China's gray-zone challenges in the hotly contested South China Sea, instead of only reacting to its behavior. Dennis Blair, retired chief of the United States Pacific Command and former Director of National Intelligence, said the Philippines, Japan and Vietnam "can't just sit there" and watch as China encroaches in what they consider sovereign territories. "Of course, you need to think them through carefully, but if the Chinese want to play a game of 'I'll poke you here, and I'll poke you there,' then you have to respond and say, 'Game on’. "Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam need to take initiatives of their own and be equally forceful in that space," the acknowledged Asia expert advised. Blair said China will keep on forcefully asserting its claims through unilateral declarations, but will not step beyond the "upper limit" of heightening tensions to become a major conflict. "On the Chinese side, I think there is a similar sort of a ceiling because China knows that if a major conflict were to occur in the East China Sea or the South China Sea, the effect on China’s economic development would be terrible," Blair said. "Below that limit, though, the Chinese are sitting around, thinking, “Now, what can I do next? Let's see, I can extend the ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone), I can declare a new fishing zone, etcetera," he added. Neighboring countries should then take advantage of China's self-imposed limit even as it grows in power and believes it can get its way, Blair said.

US backs PH protest over Chinese reclamation, twits '10-dash' line

US Ambassador Philip Goldberg backed the Philippines’ protest over Chinese reclamation in disputed South China Sea territory while twitting China’s new “10-dash” map, saying it had no basis in international law. "The basic principle remains the same on the nine-dash line which is that it's not basis in international law to decide these issues, that it is something that the Chinese have articulated as a historical reason on their side, but we don’t see that as that basis." Goldberg said the Philippine government is right to seek a resolution issues through diplomatic means and lodging protests before the appropriate tribunal, in this case the United Nations.

Singapore

Might not right in handling sea disputes

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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long has underlined the need to resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea in accordance with international law rather than the notion “might is right.” "I think international law must have a big weight in how disputes are resolved," Lee told the Council on Foreign Relations during a visit to Washington on June 24th.  He said Singapore is not a claimant state in the South China Sea, but it supports ASEAN’s ongoing effort to work on a more legally binding code of conduct (COC) with China, in order to manage and resolve the territorial disputes. Lee noted that China says its claims have a historical basis that predates international law. "I'm not a lawyer so I presume there's some plausibility in that argument, but from the point of view of a country which must survive in the international system where there are big countries and small, outcomes cannot be determined just by might is right.”

Regional Snapshots

PH, Japan eye collective self-defense in sea row

In a joint press statement after their meeting on June 24th, Philippine President Benigno Aquino 3rd and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the Philippines and Japan are discussing the right of collective self defense along with other approaches to peace. “In the face of the regional situation becoming increasingly severe, both nations are closely coordinating. I reaffirmed with President Aquino today the significance of the three principles of the rule of law, which I outlined at the Shangri-la dialogue and at the G7 meeting,” Abe said. For his part, Aquino stressed the challenge of safeguarding Asia’s security by advancing the rule of law to protect our global and regional common interests. He also welcome changes in Japanese Constitution, saying that “We (the Philippines) believe that nations of goodwill can only benefit if the Japanese government is empowered to assist others, and is allowed the wherewithal to come to the aid of those in need, especially in the area of collective self-defense.”

Biden, Lee discuss South China Sea disputes

US Vice President Joe Biden and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have agreed on the importance of finding peaceful resolutions to territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Both sides discussed their concern over the situation in the region, in apparent reference to China. The White House says Biden and Lee discussed their concerns over a pattern of destabilizing behavior in the South China Sea. It said the 2 leaders reiterated their mutual interest in international law and the peaceful resolution of maritime and territorial disputes. The White House said Biden reaffirmed US commitment on its rebalance toward Asia. Biden also mentioned US efforts to deepen its engagement with the region in the areas of politics, security and economics.

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Philippines, US begin annual joint naval exercises

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Top navy officials from the Philippines and the US launched the annual six-day naval exercises in Subic Bay on June 26th. The exercises are aimed at strengthening the capabilities of both sides in amphibious operations, special operations and enhancing information-sharing, the Philippine Navy said. "This exercise we are in now -- Carat Philippines -- is designed to improve our inter-operability, build our relationships, so we know each other better and be able to do more complex things in support of one another, whatever the event might be," said U.S. Navy Fleet Commander Stuart Musch. Five warships, including a U.S. guided-missile destroyer, and about 1,000 troops will take part in week-long Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises, which include live-fire drills 40 miles (64 km) off Zambales, on the western shores of the Philippine island of Luzon. The drills are to be held about 80 nautical miles offshore, near a patrol of Chinese coastguard ships stationed at the entrance to Scarborough Shoal, a disputed reef.

Asean Senior Officials Meet On Bloc's Central Role

A special Senior Officials Meeting of ASEAN (ASEAN SOM) on June 27th discussed ways to maintain the bloc's central role in protecting the region's strategic interests. The officials also discussed the regional structure of the bloc after the planned ASEAN Community takes shape next year. The Ha Noi meeting, initiated by Viet Nam at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Myanmar's capital city of Nay Pyi Taw in May, assessed the impact of recent geostrategic developments in the region and challenges posed by these to ASEAN's central role. The officials also discussed a strategy to help ASEAN better adapt to a new strategic environment while enhancing its common voice and responsibility on issues related to the region's strategic interests. They agreed that the geostrategic circumstances were changing rapidly in the region with many complicated developments "deeply affecting the environment of peace, security, stability and development."