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Activities of Claimants

China

China's first high-temperature, high-pressure deepwater well completed

On August 24, China National Offshore Oil Corp.(CNOOC) said that it had completed drilling of the country's first high-temperature, high-pressure deepwater exploration well. The Lingshui 25-1S-1 deepwater well, drilled by CNOOC 981, the country's first deepwater drilling rig, is 140 kilometers south of Hainan Island, at a depth of 1 kilometer below sea surface and a temperature of over 150 degrees Celsius. Xie Yuhong, a manager with CNOOC said "The well [...] will solve problem we have faced with oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea,"  as more than half of the resources in the South China Sea are found in these environments.

China oil rig to keep drilling in waters disputed with Vietnam

On August 24, state media said the rig had completed an exploratory well at its earlier placement. However, In a new notice posted on its website (www.msa.gov.cn/), the Maritime Safety Administration said that the rig will continue drilling at a position slightly to the north until October 20. The rig's intended coordinates put it roughly 110 nautical miles east of the Vietnam coast and 72 nautical miles south of the resort city of Sanya on China's Hainan Island.

Philippines

PH won’t snub China parade

In a text message on September 2, Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, the Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said “Our ambassador to China will be our official representative [in the parade].” The Philippines will not snub China’s military parade to mark Japan’s defeat by the Allies during World War II, despite the growing tensions between the two countries over competing claims in the South China Sea.

Beijing is reportedly staging a huge military spectacle in Tiananmen Square, with some 12, 000 soldiers, 500 pieces of military equipment, including tanks and missiles and its 200 military aircraft, paradin before Chinese President Xi Jinping and visiting world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korea’s Park Geun-hye and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Philippines seeks 'real-time' U.S. help in disputed South China Sea

A military spokesman said on August 27, amid China's rapid expansion in the South China Sea, that the Philippines has sought help from the United States to monitor "real-time" developments in the South China Sea, providing surveillance and reconnaissance.

Colonel Restituto Padilla said the defense ministry had asked U.S. Pacific Command chief, Admiral Harry Harris, to provide air cover to a Philippine civilian ship that regularly delivers supplies to Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed waters. "We want the U.S. military to watch over our ships, which China attempts to block every time we rotate troops and bring supplies to a ship that ran aground on Ayungin shoal," Padilla said.

Thailand

Thai PM vows to uphold code of conduct in South China Sea

In a two-day official visit, met with President Aquino in Malacañang on August 25, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of Thailand and his counterpart have exchanged views on Asean and China relations and the situation in the resource-rich South China Sea. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has vowed to uphold the code of conduct in the South China Sea between Asean and China, which is expected to ease tensions stemming from territorial disputes in the area.

He also thanked the Philippines for supporting Thailand in its role as country coordinator of Asean-China relations. Saying, “I expressed appreciation to the Philippines for supporting Thailand in the role of country coordinator for Asean-China relations, and affirmed to cooperate with the Philippines and Asean countries in fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and promoting consultation in the [Code of] Conduct in the South China Sea,” Prayut said following his expanded bilateral meeting with Aquino.

Singapore will take over the role from Thailand, which ended its three-year term last month.

ONGC Videsh seeks exploration licence extension for Vietnam oil block

According to a OVL’s official, the Indian’s Oil and Natural Gas Corp has applied to the Vietnamese authorities for a third extension of the exploration licence for Block 128 to maintain India's strategic interest in the South China Sea. So far it has invested USD 50.88 million in the block.  The company had in May 2006 signed a production sharing contract (PSC) for the deep-water exploration Block 128 having an area of 7,058 square kilometres in Offshore Phu Khanh Basin, Vietnam.

The block lies in the part of South China Sea over which China claims sovereignty. The company continued exploring for oil and gas despite Beijing's warning in 2011 since saying that  activities off the Vietnam coast were illegal and violated China's sovereignty.

The United States

US plans more drills for freedom of seas

The Philippine military said August 28 that the United States plans to increase the number of military and humanitarian drills it is conducting in the Asia-Pacific as part of a new strategy to counter China’s rapid expansion in the South China Sea.

During talks with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri at Camp Aguinaldo, Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command, highlighted key aspects of the Pentagon’s freshly drafted Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy.

Col. Restituto Padilla, spokesman for the military, told journalists that the report outlined Washington’s set of actions in the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea, focusing on the protection of “freedom of seas,” deterring conflict and coercion and promoting adherence to international law. According to a military source,  the US and the Philippines are expected to increase the size, frequency and sophistication of exercises in the region

During the meeting, Harris vowed to help the Philippines strengthen its intelligence gathering capabilities, as the Philippines and the US agreed to work together to maintain regional stability. “It was agreed that developing the capability of the AFP is of paramount importance, specifically in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and command and control,” defense department spokesman Peter Galvez said.

Australia

Australia, wary of regional instability, eyes closer U.S. security ties

On August 27, speaking in a conference in Canberra, Australia's defense minister Kevin Andrews said world economic and military power was shifting to the Asia-Pacific, "but growth in the region will be uneven and competition to exert more influence could generate instability." “Also competing claims for territory and natural resources in the South China Sea will continue to be a source of tension in the region. Combined with growth in military capability, this backdrop therefore has the potential to destabilize the region and threaten Australia's interests."

Andrews said that Australia recognized that the U.S. alliance "will remain fundamental to our security and defense planning and the highest priority of our international cooperation."

Regional Snapshot

Singapore and Indonesia Co-Host Multilateral Exercise for 16 Navies

On August 25, The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) are co-hosting the 6th Western Pacific Mine Countermeasure Exercise (WP MCMEX) from 25 to 31 August 2015. More than 800 personnel, 13 ships and five underwater vehicle teams from 16 countries are participating in this year's exercise.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, RADM Lai highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation in maintaining the freedom of navigation in the sea lines of communication, and the need to remain vigilant and ready to respond to a myriad of threats. Rear-Admiral Lai Chung Han said " the activities carried out in the 6th WP MCMEX will build capacity and strengthen interoperability between exercise participants. Beyond delivering professional benefits, multilateral exercises such as this are useful platforms for forging friendships and strengthening mutual understanding."

China, Australia, U.S. to begin trilateral military exercise

On August 27, speaking in a press briefing, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said China, Australia and the United States conduct a trilateral military exercise in Australia named Kowari until September 14. This is the second defense exercise between the three armies. The inaugural one was held in October.

Chinese and Australian troops will also hold bilateral defense exercise Exercise Panda-Kangaroo in Canberra and Sydney, Australia, from September 20 to 28, Yang said.

According to Yang,  "both exercises are aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and friendship, deepening defense cooperation and strengthening the armies' operational abilities.”

China, U.S. vow closer military cooperation

On August 28, Fan Changlong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, met with U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice in Beijing, with the pair vowing greater military cooperation. Hailing the smooth development of military-to-military relations between China and the United States, Fan said the two sides have maintained frequent high-level reciprocal visits and the two militaries are cooperating more.

According to the Chinese military official, the two sides should strive to manage differences and control risks, and continue to advance a new type of military relations between major powers.

In her delivery, Rice expressed the hope that the two sides can strengthen dialogue and communication and cooperate more.

THE EAST SEA STUDIES