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Activities of Related Parties

China

China is pleased with Cambodia’s position on the South China Sea

Regarding to the comment of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong of Cambodia, saying that individual countries should settle disputes in the South China Sea among themselves without the involvement of ASEAN, on Jan. 27, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said, “China maintains that the South China Sea issue should be properly addressed through the "dual track" approach, that is, relevant disputes should be resolved peacefully through negotiations and consultations between parties directly concerned, and China and ASEAN countries should work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. This also reflects the consensus among the majority of ASEAN countries. The statement made by the Cambodian side once again testifies to the fact that the "dual track" approach is widely accepted. The Chinese side commends that.”

Taiwan Leader visits Itu Aba island

On Jan. 28, Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou visited Itu Aba island in the disputed South China Sea. In his speech, Ma said that Taiwan will work to end disputes, pursue peace and reciprocity and promote joint development in the South China Sea. In a response to this visit, on Jan. 27, the U.S. Deputy Spokesperson, Mark C. Toner said that “Frankly, we’re disappointed. We view such an action as unhelpful, and it does not contribute to the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea. We urge Taiwan and all claimants to lower tensions and de-escalate tensions rather than taking actions that could possibly raise them.”

China irked at the U.S. FONOP activities in the Paracels

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, on Jan. 30, made the remarks as reports said a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of Triton island, saying the U.S. act severely violated Chinese law, sabotaged the peace, security and good order of the waters, and undermined the region' s peace and stability. He said, "The U.S. side is fully aware of this, yet it still sent its warship into China' s territorial sea without authorization. It is a deliberate provocation." According to Yang, Chinese troops on the islands and Navy vessels and warplanes took actions immediately. They identified and verified the U.S. warship, warned and expelled it swiftly. In the meantime Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying urge the US to respect and abide by the relevant Chinese law, and make more efforts to increase mutual trust between China and the US and safeguard regional peace and stability.

Vietnam

Vietnam calls on Chinese Taiwan to end sovereignty violations

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh on Jan. 28 in reply to reporters’ queries on Vietnam’s response to the Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to Ba Binh island on the same day, stating that the visit seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty and runs counter to the Taiwanese side’s recent statements hoping to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the East (South China) Sea.

Vietnam respects innocent passage in territorial waters

on Jan. 31 in reply to reporters’ queries regarding Vietnam’s response to the US’s conduct of a freedom of navigation operation within 12 nautical miles of Tri Ton Island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago on Jan. 30, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Hai Binh said, “As a member country of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), Vietnam respects innocent passage in territorial waters in line with relevant rules stipulated in international law, especially the convention.”

The United States

The U.S determined to increase patrol in the South China Sea

Speaking at Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 27 Adm. Harry Harris, head of U.S. Pacific Command said, “In a general sense, we will continue to do freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea as we do everywhere else in the world in areas we think are being contested,” Harris said. “I believe the Lassen operation did challenge some aspects of China’s claims, which we don’t hold to.” He affirmed, “you will see more of them and you will see them increasing in complexity and scope and in areas of challenge.” Yet, Harris denied giving details or specifics of the next operation and what it’s going to challenge when it’s going to challenge.

U.S. Destroyer conducted FONOP in the Paracels

On Jan. 30, USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) came within 12 nautical miles of Triton (which China seized administrative control of the island from Vietnam in battles in 1974) Island in the Paracels - without prior notification - according to a statement from the Department of Defense. Captain Jeff Davis, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, on Jan. 30, confirmed the operation. The operation, without prior notification, was inconsistent with the purpose of the U.S. freedom of navigation.According to Captain Jeff Davis, no Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) vessels attempted to inhibit the Curtis Wilbur‘s passage.

Australia

Australia supports the international arbitration case filed by the Philippines

Speaking at a conference held by Center for a New American Security (CNAS) on Jan. 26, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop affirmed that the ruling of the United Nations Arbitration Court in The Hague would be “extremely important” as a statement of international principle. Bishop said that although China had declared that it would not be bound by it, the tribunal’s ruling “will be embraced and upheld by all other nations with claims or interests in the region.” “That arbitration will settle once and for all the question of whether or not an artificial reef can create some kind of 12-nautical-mile buffer,” Bishop said. “Our belief is that it does not, as a matter of international law.” Bishop also called on China and Southeast Asian nations to put in place a code of conduct regarding the South China Sea—an initiative pushed by the Philippines that has made little headway in the past 10 years in  Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “We want to see de-escalation of tensions in the region,” she said. “We would hate for there to be some kind of miscalculation that would lead to conflict.”

Australia backs US in latest South China Sea stoush

In a statement released on Jan. 31, Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne, saying that “It is important to recognise that all states have a right under international law to freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight, including in the South China Sea. Australia strongly supports these rights.” She said, “Australia has a legitimate interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. Approximately 60 per cent of Australia's exports pass through the South China Sea.” She put it, "as we have done for many decades, Australian vessels and aircraft will continue to exercise rights under international law to freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight, including in the South China Sea."

Regional Snapshot

South China Sea issue on the agenda of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s Asia tour.

The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, on Jan.24, have delivered a speech to the press after meeting with Laos’ Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, saying that Laos’ Prime Minister was very clear he wants a unified ASEAN and he wants maritime rights protected, and he wants to avoid militarization and to avoid conflict.” "It is particularly important that Laos finds itself playing a critical role within ASEAN, and ASEAN itself is critical to upholding the rules-based system in the Asia-Pacific and ensuring that every country, big and small, has a say in addressing the matters of shared concern," Kerry added. In the next evening, Mr. Kerry paid an official visit to Cambodia. On Jan. 26 in Phnom Penh,the U.S Secretary of State John Kerry have a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. The two sides also touched on the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Hun Sen said all related parties should fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and act towards the completion of the Code of Conduct (COC). Earlier, in the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, the Cambodian Foreign Minister said that Cambodia's position on the South China Sea was unchanged. It believed individual countries should settle disputes among themselves without the involvement of ASEAN. "We want it open to negotiations in the future between countries who made claims in the South China Sea," "Cambodia was not a court that could judge that this island belongs to this or that country," Hor Namhong said. On his part, Mr. Kerry did not refer to the South China Sea in a statement after the meetings but stressed that the United States and ASEAN have a strategic partnership "and Cambodia plays a role in fully defining that partnership".

On the next day, Mr. Kerry visited China to have an official meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi in Beijing, China. In answering the queries of the reporters after the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister said, “I pointed out to Secretary Kerry that the South China Sea Islands have historically been China’s territory. China has a right to protect its own territorial sovereignty and lawful and legitimate maritime rights and interests. At the same time, China is committed to upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea. We’re committed to managing differences through dialogue and (inaudible) a peaceful settlement of the disputes through negotiation and consultation.” He added, “China has given a commitment of not engaging in so-called militarization, and we will honor that commitment. And we cannot accept the allegation that China’s words are not being matched by actions. And on the islands and the reefs stationed by China, we have built up quite a few civilian installations and facilities that are able to provide public service.” On his part, Mr. Kerry said, “We also had a constructive exchange of the subject of the concerns that exist about tensions between China and many neighbors over the South China Sea and the East China Seas. Let me emphasize again the United States does not take sides on the sovereignty questions underlying the territorial disputes. We ask that all parties clarify their claims under international law, that they exercise restraint, and that they adhere to peaceful and diplomatic ways of addressing disagreements. I stressed the importance of finding common ground among the claimants and avoiding a destabilizing cycle of mistrust or escalation.”

Taiwan stages military drills on island off Chinese coast

The head of Kinmen's defense command said the beach landing exercise and simulated attack by the navy's elite "frogman" commandos, on Jan. 26, were to show the ability of the armed forces to provide security in the Taiwan Strait ahead of next month's Lunar New Year holiday. The Kinmen commander, Hau Yi-he, said no unusual Chinese military movements had been detected since the election and Taiwan's forces would continue with routine drills.

THE EAST SEA STUDIES