Weekly Bulletin 25/8-31/8

Activities of the Claimants

China

China adding military facilities on Spratly

The Philippine military says China is adding weapons and other equipment to its facilities built on reefs in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Aerial photos taken by the Philippine military show that China is beefing up existing facilities while building new installations elsewhere. The photos of Vanh Khan Reef (Mischief Reef) taken in April show solar panels, radar facilities, and what look like machine guns. Photos of Chu Thap Reef (Fiery Cross Reef) show a heliport and what look like agricultural greenhouses and gun platforms. On Subi Reef, a white spherical object believed to be a large radar facility can be seen. Other photos show reclamation and large-scale construction work getting under way at Johnson Reef and other reefs. According to Want China Times, since February, China has been busy sending construction teams to various reefs in the Spratlys. Sources have revealed that six of the reefs–Gac Ma (Johnson South), Ga Ven (Gaven), Chau Vien (Cuarteron), Chu Thap (Fiery Cross), Tu Nghia (Hughes) and En Dat (Eldad) –have been transformed into islets.

Taiwan scrambles jets after Chinese planes entered its airspace

Taiwan's air force scrambled fighter jets to track two Chinese Y-8 maritime patrol aircraft which intruded into the island's airspace, a senior airforce officer said on August 26^th. One plane entered Taiwan's ADIZ (air defence identification zone) at 8:33am on August 25^th and another at 2:31pm, en route to a disputed area in the South China Sea. The planes had taken off from the mainland's southeastern province of Guangdong. Taiwan scrambled Mirage 2000-5s and Indigenous Defence Fighters. "We followed them closely to make sure they left our ADIZ," Air Force Major General Hsiung Hou-chi told reporters, declining to say how many fighters were mobilised in the two missions.

Indonesia

US, China tensions a ‘threat to region’

Outgoing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has warned rivalry between the US and China, along with ­maritime territorial disputes ­between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations, risked destabilising the region. “The region cannot afford to see sharp deterioration of US-China relations,” the President said in an interview with The Weekend Australian at the Merdeka Palace presidential office in Jakarta. “Economically the US and China are interdependent,” he said. “Many US business people want good relations with China. Politically, there is tension ­between the two biggest economies … There needs to be give and take. If these two big powers collide it will impact negatively in this region … East Asia and the South China Sea could be new flashpoints, they could destabilise the region.” The President said Indonesia did not take sides in disputes ­between China and the other ­nations around the South China Sea, “but we oppose gunboat ­diplomacy and the excessive use of the military”. “Our concern is to make sure these disputes are addressed peacefully and do not erupt into armed conflict,” he said. “We are seeing more brinkmanship on the ground; that is why the South China Sea is becoming more volatile than ever.” He said Indonesia had questions about the “nine dashed lines” that China uses to define its claims in the South China Sea. ­Indonesian officials believe these lines cut across Indonesia’s ­exclusive economic zone north of Natuna Island. Dr Yudhoyono said he had been assured that Beijing did not claim any Indonesian territory.

The U.S.

US Admiral Urges China on South China Sea Disputes

China should act like a regional leader and help resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea without coercion instead of raising tensions, the head of American forces in Asia and the Pacific said August 28^th. Adm. Samuel Locklear said China should reverse recent actions that assert its claim to virtually the entire strategically important region, calling them provocative and disruptive. He urged Beijing to refer its claims instead to international legal forums. "China is a regional leader. It is a global leader. They have a responsibility to lead in this dispute . to reach a compromise on these hard issues with their neighbors," Locklear told a group of international journalists. Locklear cited a series of steps Beijing has taken to sharpen the dispute, including sending an oil rig into waters near Vietnam, the dredging of disputed islands and reefs, new laws governing disputed areas and "their lack of desire to go forward with international law forums." "If you take a look at the last year, there has been a significant progress by China in changing the status quo in their favor," he said.

Regional Snapshots

Malaysia and United States hold war games in Sabah

The Malaysian army and the US military have kick-started their first joint military exercise at Kampung Tanduo in Sabah to boost security at the exact location that was invaded by Filipino gunmen more than a year ago. The Malaysia-United States Amphibious Exercise (Malus Amphex) began on August 25^th with the aim of improving troops' readiness and amphibious training such as assault and landing, the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur said. For nine days, the two forces will train in areas including shipboard familiarisation, medical and dental capabilities, weapons familiarisation, amphibious rehearsals with ship-to-shore connectors, live-firing ranges and Rapid Response Planning Process, the embassy added. The exercise in Kampung Tanduo, a small village surrounded by oil palm plantations in eastern Sabah, is a symbolic location as it was bombed by Malaysian security forces to drive out gunmen from southern Philippines who had claimed sovereignty of the area and held villagers hostage in February last year.

Vietnam still considered a pillar of India’s Look East policy

The newly-elected Indian Government continues to regard Vietnam as a pillar in its Look East policy, said Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in talks with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on August 25^th during her visit to Hanoi. Minh affirmed that Vietnam has always treasured its long-standing friendship and strategic partnership with India and supports the country’s Look East policy and stronger ties with Southeast Asia. Both sides expressed their pleasure with the enhanced bilateral relations, particularly in the pillars of their strategic partnership, including politics, economy, defence, security, science and technology, culture and education. They also touched upon recent developments in the South China Sea and agreed on the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, and safety of navigation in these waters. Minh and Swaraj highlighted the importance of the peaceful settlement of South China Sea disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 United National Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); and a full and serious implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) towards the early completion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

U.S., Chinese officials to meet at Pentagon after jet intercept

U.S. and Chinese military officials will hold talks on rules of behavior at the Pentagon on August 26^th-27^th, a U.S. official said, days after the United States denounced a "dangerous" Chinese jet intercept of a U.S. Navy patrol plane. While this week's discussions at the Pentagon were planned long before the recent incidents, they touch on issues at the core of the U.S. concerns about Chinese military behavior: that a Chinese provocation could spiral into a broader crisis sparked by a military miscalculation in the disputed territory. Rear Admiral James Foggo, Assistant Deputy Chief of U.S. Naval Operations, is among the U.S. military officials attending, the official said. China's Defence Ministry confirmed it had sent a delegation to the United States for the "consultative working group meetings" but it did not say which officials were involved.

Viet Nam, China agree to restore, develop ties

The Party, State and people of Viet Nam have always attached great importance to pursuing the further consolidation and boosting of Viet Nam and China’s comprehensive strategic partnership, together with the Party, State and people of China, and to ensuring the partnership’s sound and long-lasting stable development, reiterated Politburo member Le Hong Anh, the Special Envoy of the Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, in his talks with the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, State President Xi Jingping, in Beijing on August 27^th. Politburo member Le Hong Anh also suggested leaders of the two parties and states tighten their instructions in order to promptly restore, stabilise and develop bilateral relations. The Special Envoy also said leaders of the two countries need to instruct their ministries and branches to seriously implement the agreement on the basic principles guiding settlements of sea related issues between Viet Nam and China; to effectively control and reasonably solve all South China Sea disputes; to maintain peace; to stabilise the South China Sea region; and to meet the expectations and basic and long-term interests of the two countries’ peoples; thus contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. At the end of the talks, the two sides agreed upon three important points: Firstly, leaders of Viet Nam and China will tighten their direct instructions regarding bilateral ties between parties and states, boosting sound and stabilised relations between the two countries. Secondly, the two sides will promote exchange visits between the two parties and states, and will restore and enhance bilateral relations in all fields, such as politics, diplomacy, defence, security, trade, implementation of laws. Thirdly, the two sides will abide by the important general recognition of the leaders of the two parties and states to seriously implement the agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of sea related issues between Viet Nam and China; to effectively implement government-level negotiations on Viet Nam-China borders and territory; to seek basic and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides; to effectively control sea disputes and not act to complicate or expand disputes; to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea; and to maintain overall Viet Nam-China relations.

Vietnam calls on ASEAN for stronger maritime cooperation

Vietnam highlighted the need for ASEAN to boost collaboration on maritime issues in order to ensure an environment of peace, stability, and maritime security and safety in the region at the fifth ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF-5). During the event, which was concluded in the central city of Da Nang on August 27^th, the country also emphasised the importance of respecting international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Vietnam also pointed to the need for parties to practice restraint and refrain from actions that complicate the situation. On August 28^th, the third Extended ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF-3) opened in the central city of Da Nang and counted ten members states amongst its participants, as well as eight ASEAN partners - China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and the US. During the event, participants reviewed the results of regional cooperation in previous years, and evaluated the efficiency of initiatives implemented, as well as making plans for the future. They also touched on a number of issues relating to maritime research, joint security at sea, the protection of marine ecosystems, and search and rescue efforts. The event aimed to promote the central role of ASEAN in boosting maritime cooperation and fostering trust, particularly in regards to ensuring peace, and maritime security and safety in the South China Sea in accordance with international law.

Japan and India vow to boost defence ties during summit

Japan and India agreed on September 1^st to strengthen defence ties as Asia's second and third biggest economies keep a wary eye on a rising China, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashing out at the "expansionism" of some nations. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi also agreed to speed up talks on a so-far elusive deal on nuclear energy cooperation, welcoming what they called "significant progress" in the negotiations. "From this day on, Prime Minister Modi and I will work hand-in-hand to dramatically strengthen relations in every field and elevate ties to a special, strategic global partnership," Abe told a joint media event after a summit with Modi. They also agreed to accelerate talks on the possible sale of an amphibious aircraft to India's navy - likely to become Japan's first overseas military sale in nearly 50 years and a result of Abe's more muscular approach to defence in the face of an assertive China.