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Activities of the Claimants

China

China blames Philippines for latest South China Sea incident

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China on February 26th accused the Philippines of "deliberate provocations" over an incident in disputed waters in the South China Sea that drew a protest from Manila about what it called Chinese ships' use of a water cannon on Filipino fishermen. The Philippines lodged a protest with China on February 25th  over the issue, saying the Chinese were trying to keep the fishermen from fishing in Philippine waters around the Scarborough Shoal. China's foreign ministry, which has already rejected the complaint, said its boats had every right to respond to "provocative" acts in its territory. China suspected the aims and identities of several Philippine fishing boats that recently appeared in the waters around the Scarborough Shoal, as some of them appeared to just "hang around", foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. The Philippine boats ignored calls from the Chinese ships to leave, with some aboard even adopting a "provocative posture of appearing to spoil for a fight" in activities showing "a strong level of organization and confrontation," Hua said.

China says ready to work with ASEAN on disputes

China on February 28th said it is ready to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) to be able to maintain peace, stability and economic growth in the region. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying, in her regular press conference also said China and the ASEAN countries will tackle the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. Hua said “China is open to the formulation of the COC and is in smooth communication with ASEAN countries.” She stressed “China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to maintain the hard-won momentum, carry on with the full and effective implementation of the DOC and actively press ahead with the consultation on the COC in a steady manner.”

Beijing dismisses report of planned South China Sea ADIZ

Whether China sets up air defense identification zones depends on the extent of threats it faces from the skies, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on February 27th. As a sovereign country, China, is entitled to establish ADIZs," Yang Yujun said. Yang was responding to a question about a report from Japan's Asahi Shimbun that China has drafted proposals for an ADIZ over the South China Sea. Yang said at the monthly news briefing that many factors have to be considered in deciding whether to establish an ADIZ. An ADIZ is neither sovereign airspace nor a no-fly zone, he said. Establishing an ADIZ does not necessarily mean a change of territorial land, sea and airspace.

China on 'offer' to PH: 'Sheer fabrication'

The Chinese Foreign Ministry flatly denied a report that China offered the Philippines incentives to stop it from filing its memorial, or written pleading, in its historic case over the South China Sea. In a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang denounced reports on these incentives as “sheer fabrication.” “No one can shake the Chinese government's resolve of safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. We will never trade away our sovereignty and territory,” Qin said on February 28th.

The Philippines

Aquino asks China to explain ‘water cannon’ incident

25th February | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippine President Benigno Aquino demanded an explanation from China February 25th over a report its coast guard had fired water cannon at Filipino fishermen in the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Aquino said Manila would file a “diplomatic message” to ask China “what this incident was all about, what their intentions are.” The Philippines needs to check first if the water cannon incident is now part of China’s standard operating procedures, especially since there were no other reports of fishermen being harassed in the area, he said. “We don’t want to react if this is one of the incidents that, you know, they probably will say was acting under their orders but was actually acting only on orders of the captain of that particular boat,” Aquino he said in a televised press briefing in Cebu for the commemoration of Edsa People Power.

Philippines Summons China Envoy Over Water Cannon Use

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The Philippines summoned China’s envoy in Manila to protest the use of water cannons on January 27th to drive Filipino fishing boats from a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, calling it an act of harassment. “We call on China to respect our sovereignty and the rights of our fishermen in that area,” Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a televised briefing in Manila February 24th. The Philippines “strongly protests the acts of harassment and the manner by which these were committed.”

Scarborough shoal put under jurisdiction of Western Command

The Philippine military further bolstered its external defense by moving Scarborough shoal under the jurisdiction of the Western Command. “This is so to enhance our external defense capabilities which is now being concentrated at the Western Command and unity of effort and unity of command so that our external defense efforts will just be under one commander,” military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo on February 25th.

Manila asks Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi to join case against Beijing's South China Sea claims

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The Philippines on February 27th pleaded with Malaysia and Vietnam to join its case before an international tribunal challenging China's vast claims over the South China Sea. "We wish that Malaysia and Vietnam will join us. We wish they can join us in our case or file their own cases," the Philippine government's chief counsel Francis Jardeleza said at a roundtable discussion at the University of the Philippines.

Philippine Coast Guard prepared to return to Scarborough

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is ready to send its ships back to the disputed Scarborough Shoal if ordered by President Aquino. PCG commandant Vice Adm. Rodolfo Isorena said the Coast Guard is ready to protect Filipino fishermen at the shoal if needed. Coast Guard ships pulled out of the shoal in July 2012 following a dispute with China over control of the area.

Philippines 'rejects China deal on disputed shoal' - as China denies making any such offer

The Philippines has rejected a Chinese offer to withdraw its ships from the Scarborough Shoal, if Manila did the same and delayed international arbitration on the territorial dispute. China's offer was made "informally through back channels", Roilo Golez, a former congressman and presidential national security adviser told the South China Morning Post on February 28th. Citing a "very reliable source", Golez said: "The carrot is that there's going to be mutual withdrawal [of ships off Scarborough Shoal] provided the Philippines will not file the memorial [a "memorandum" setting out the Philippines' position on the dispute] on March 30th." Another source said the offer had been made in January. In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang rejected claims that such a proposal had been made regarding Scarborough Shoal, known in China as Huangyan Island.

The U.S.

'No such thing as 9-dash line' – US envoy

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"There is no such thing as 9-dash line," United States ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg told reporters on February 24th, reiterating his country's rejection of China's basis for claiming portions of the South China Sea that are closer to the Philippines. "We do not believe that the 9-dash line claim passes the legal test for determining or resolving disputes over South China Sea matters," Goldberg said during the annual prospects forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines in Makati City. He stressed “We reject unilateral attempts to alter the realities on the ground, the air or the sea. We take no sides on regional territorial disputes but we do stand on our principles. Consultations with neighbors, adherence to codes of conduct, respects for freedom of navigation - should be the byword of the 21st century”.

US committed to defense pact with Phl

The United States is committed to fulfill its obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines even as there is full support for diplomatic resolution of territorial disputes with China and other claimant countries in the South China Sea. Adm. Harry Harris Jr., commander of the US Pacific Fleet, reiterated this commitment February 24th as he met with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista and Philippine Navy commander Jose Luis Alano. The reiteration of US commitment came a few days after Adm. Jonathan Greenert, naval operations chief of the US Navy, made a statement that stirred some controversy. “Greenert reiterated the strength of the Mutual Defense Treaty. He reaffirmed the US commitment to the Philippines with the Mutual Defense Treaty and I agree with that completely,” Harris stressed, quickly adding: “And I want to underscore the US-Philippine treaty obligations and we live up to that obligation.”

DOD Asia Policy Nominee Encourages Close Watch on China

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The man nominated to be the Defense Department’s top policy official for the Asia-Pacific region said on February 25th he believes the United States must do more than just watch and analyze China’s military, and he called for encouraging Taiwan to develop a defense force capable of thwarting Beijing’s efforts to coerce its rival. “We are paying particular attention to Chinese investments in technology development, as well as what they are fielding,” David Shear said in written answers to questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is considering his nomination to be assistant secretary of defense for Asia and Pacific security affairs, adding that it’s also necessary to understand what is shaping those investments. While Shear said Washington welcomes the rise of a peaceful China, the growth of the Chinese military remains a concern, especially Beijing’s investments in technology. He described China’s increasing defense spending as part of a long-term military modernization program lacking transparency but aimed at winning high-intensity, short-duration regional conflicts, primarily focused on Taiwan.

Water cannon incident in Scarborough Shoal 'not a permissible route'

The United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg on March 1st said the water cannon incident in the Scarborough Shoal was not a permissible course of action in the disputed area. "That coercion and use of force is not at all a permissible route," he said, when asked by reporters to comment on the issue. "We made it clear that we want to see legal, peaceful, diplomatic solutions to any issues related to the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea conflict," he added.

Indonesia

Indonesia to increase its forces around natuna waters

The Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) will deploy additional forces around the Natuna waters as a preemptive measure to avert an instability in the South China Sea, TNI Chief Gen. Moeldoko stated on February 27th. "Deployment of the TNI forces around the Natuna waters aims to anticipate possible infiltration as a result of instability in the South China Sea," Moeldoko added. "Since Natuna is strategically located, the increase of its forces at sea, on the ground, and in the air is necessary to anticipate any instability in the South China Sea and serve as an early warning system for Indonesia and the TNI," Moeldoko explained.

Regional Snapshots

Vietnam-China army hotline to be available this year

A direct telephone hotline, for which preparations are underway, is necessary to strengthen ties between the Defense Ministries of Vietnam and China, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) Vo Van Tuan has said. Lieutenant General Tuan made the statement at a meeting with Miao Hongbo, head of the Zhong Nanhai telegraph office in Hanoi on February 25th, during which Tuan said  the security hotline will help the two armies promptly share information on issues of mutual concern. For his part, Miao Hongbo told his host of the outcome of his working session with the VPA’s Information and Communication Arm, which discussed preparations for the hotline establishment. It is expected that the hotline will be put into operation in 2014.

‘China action in sea row unacceptable’

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A former president and the longest serving member of the European Parliament called China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea “unacceptable,” and said no power should be allowed to dominate in the region. Hans-Gert Pöttering, chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and member of the European Parliament representing the Christian Democratic Union (CDU Germany), said maritime disputes in the South China Sea “should be solved on the basis of international law.” “I think as Europeans we have to be very aware of the situation in the South China Sea. No power shall be dominant in this region and the relations between the concerned countries have to be peaceful,” Pöttering told The STAR. “Unilateral actions are not acceptable,” he added. “All countries have dignity and the Europeans have learned from their own history. In Europe, the law has the power and it is not the power that dictates the law. And this means that we have to respect the smaller countries too,” he stressed.

Malaysia, Philippines agree to settle sea disputes peacefully

The Philippines’ President Benigno Aquino III on February 28th announced that his country and Malaysia have agreed to address disputes in the East Sea peacefully in line with the rule of law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Philippine leader made the remark at a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Both nations believe that compliance with the rule of law, positive engagement and sincere dialogue are significant factors to build a truly prosperous and peaceful Southeast Asian region, he added.

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