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Activities of the Claimants

China

Chinese navy fleet reaches Malaysia

A four-ship Chinese Navy fleet that has conducted patrol and training missions on the South China Sea over the past eight days reached James Shoal off Malaysia (China called it Zengmu Reef, as the southernmost part of China's territory). All crew took part in an oath-taking ceremony on board at 8:30 a.m. at the reef, located at 3.58 degrees north latitude and 112.17 degrees east longitude.

Chinese ships return after South China Sea patrols

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Two Chinese marine surveillance ships returned to south China's city of Guangzhou on March 26th after finishing patrols in the South China Sea, the State Oceanic Administration said. The Haijian 167 and Haijian 75 completed patrols in waters surrounding the Paracel and Spratly Islands in 12 days, covering a distance of more than 4,000 nautical miles.

Chinese ship to conduct fishery patrols in the South China Sea

The China Yuzheng 46012, a fishery administration ship, leaves the Xingang Port of Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan Province, on March 26th 2013. It will conduct the so-called fishery patrol missions in waters off the Paracel Islands and Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

Chinese naval fleet illegally patrols the South China Sea

A People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet conducting patrol and training missions on the South China Sea illegally patrolled Da Vanh Khan (Mischief Reef). Comprising four ships from the PLA Navy's Nanhai Fleet, the fleet left the city of Sanya in south China's Hainan Province on March 19th to conduct patrols and deep-sea training missions in the South China Sea and the western Pacific Ocean.

China defends Navy's firing on Vietnamese boat

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In respone to Vietnam’s protest against China’s boat firing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said : "It is necessary and legitimate for China to take action against a Vietnamese shipping boat that has entered China's waters for illegal activity,". "No damage was caused to the fishing boat from Vietnam at the time," he added, without saying what action the Chinese vessel had taken. Regarding to the newly appointment of Polish judge as the member of the arbitration panel for Philippines-China dispute on the South China Sea by International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, Hong Lei said: “China hopes the Philippines could honor its commitment, refrain from taking actions that may complicate and aggravate the issue and return to the right track of resolving disputes through bilateral negotiations.”

Chinese military to further cooperation with maritime law enforcement

The Chinese military will beef up cooperation with the country's maritime law enforcement forces in a move to better protect China's maritime rights and interests, Yang Yujun, Ministry of National Defense spokesman said. The military has established coordination mechanisms with marine surveillance departments, fishery administration departments and coast guard forces, Yang Yujun said, adding that they have effectively cooperated in protecting maritime interests. 

Chinese submersible to conduct trial missions

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The manned submersible Jiaolong will conduct scientific trial missions between June and September, an official with the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) announced. The four months of missions, which will include research in the South China Sea and the northeast Pacific Ocean, mark the start of a five-year trial period for the Jiaolong before it starts regular operation, said Jin Jiancai, office director of the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research & Development Association under the SOA.

Chinese troops to take part in 10+8 joint drill in Brunei

China will send troops to take part in the ASEAN+8 joint drill to be held in Brunei in June, a Ministry of National Defense spokesman said. The joint drill will be held by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and eight partners (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, the Republic of Korea and the United States), spokesman Yang Yujun said at a press conference.

Chinese fleet heads for training in Western Pacific

A People's Liberation Army Navy fleet that has conducted patrols and training missions on the South China Sea for the past 11 days is now heading toward the western Pacific Ocean. The fleet consists of the amphibious docking ship Jinggangshan, the missile destroyer Lanzhou, missile frigates Yulin and Hengshui, four ship-borne helicopters and a hovercraft. It left the city of Sanya in south China's island province of Hainan on March 19th for patrol and open-ocean training missions.

Vietnam

Vietnam condemns China’s shooting at fishing vessel

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In response to question from the media on Viet Nam’s reaction to the incident happened in the waters of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago of Viet Nam in which a China ship chased and opened fire at a fishing boat from the central province of Quang Ngai, burning down its cabin, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said: “It is an extremely grave incident that violates Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago, endangers life of Vietnamese fishermen and damages their properties. Viet Nam resolutely protests and urges the Chinese side to investigate, take stern measures against such wrongful and inhumane act and to compensate Vietnamese fishermen for their loss.”

The Philippines

Polish judge picked for Philippine-China arbitration

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on March 25th confirmed that ITLOS president Shunji Yanai has appointed Polish judge Stanislaw Pawlak to be China’s arbiter and second member of the tribunal. Former ITLOS president Judge Rudy Wolfrum of Germany was nominated by the Philippines. Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the ITLOS president would appoint the other three members of the tribunal after it receives another written request from the Philippines.

Indonesia

Indonesia protested over China passports

Indonesia has revealed that it protested to Beijing about China’s publication in its passports of its “nine-dash line” claim to almost the entire South China Sea. Marty Natalegawa, Indonesia’s foreign minister, told the Financial Times in an interview that Indonesia lodged a protest with Beijing several weeks after the new passports were issued.

The U.S.

US concerned over incident in South China Sea

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The US on March 26th expressed concern over reports of an incident between a Chinese vessel and a Vietnamese fishing boat which caught fire, saying it strongly opposes use of force or coercion in the South China Sea. "As a Pacific nation, the US has a national interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, freedom of navigation and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea," State Department spokesperson Patrick Ventrell told reporters. "The United States is concerned by reports of an incident between a Chinese vessel and a Vietnamese fishing boat that resulted in the Vietnamese boat catching fire," Ventrell said.

Russia

Russian ships conduct firing practice in South China Sea

A group of six Russian navy warships conducted firing exercises in the South China Sea, the country's Pacific Fleet said. "A big anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev has conducted artillery shooting exercises in the South China Sea. The sea targets were destroyed," Pacific Fleet spokesman Roman Martov told local media. Ka-27 carrier-born helicopters made several sorties in a simulated enemy submarine search. The crews also tested their ships' survival capabilities, Martov said.

Regional Snapshots

U.S. missile frigate visits Philippines

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The USS Reuben James (FFG 57), an Oliver Hazzard Perry-class guided missile frigate of the United States Navy, arrived at the Philippines for a routine port call. The Philippine Navy said in a statement that the missile frigate is here for replenishment of logistic supplies, routine maintenance of shipboard, and to allow its crew to relax. The ship, with 24 officers and 172 enlisted personnel, will stay in the Philippines until March 29th.

Taiwan, Germany to study gas hydrates in South China Sea

Taiwan and Germany will work together on a five-week research project, starting March 31st, to study gas hydrates on the seabed off southern Taiwan, with a view to developing a potentially rich energy resource, the German Institute Taipei said on March 26th. The research expedition will explore and examine the ice-like mineral that is usually found on the ocean floor at depths of between 500 and 2,000 meters, according to the institute. Hydrates contain gases, such as hydrocarbons, that attach themselves inside symmetrical cages of water molecules to form hydrate crystals. “Interest in the extraction of gas hydrates is high all around the world. However, many fundamental questions about gas hydrate deposits remain open,” said Christian Berndt, the research team's chief geoscientist.

Vietnam, Cambodia ink defence cooperation plan

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Vietnam and Cambodia will intensify their defence ties, confirming it an important factor in bilateral comprehensive cooperation by striking a cooperation plan for 2013. The cooperation plan, between the two countries’ defence ministries, was signed on March 29th in Ho Chi Minh City. Under the plan, the two ministries will intensify exchanges of delegations of all levels, experience sharing in military building, staff training, and naval joint patrol.

East Sea (South China Sea) seminar held in Australia

Taking place in Canberra, on March 28th, the seminar brought together 50 international scholars, legal, military and security experts, diplomats and critics, to explore the theme on the East Sea and Australia’s regional security environment. They heard the root cause of the dispute in the East Sea, the role of international law and governance as well as the stance of ASEAN and concerned parties on the East Sea issue. The participants emphasised the necessity of ensuring stability and avoiding conflicts in the East Sea before a solution to the dispute can be reached.

Commentaries & Analyses

Chinese navy makes waves in South China Sea

Reported by MacLeod

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According to some experts, the appearance of a Chinese navy flotilla at an island chain 1,120 miles from its home shores is a clear sign that the new Communist regime is moving to enforce its claims to the entire South China Sea. The Chinese military drills in the southernmost part of the sea show that the Obama administration's "Asia Pivot," which the White House said will refocus U.S. defense assets from the Middle East to East Asia, has produced few results for countries such as the Philippines and Japan, says Michael Auslin, an East Asia specialist at the American Enterprise Institute. "We're losing credibility with our allies and friends by not getting involved," he says. "China has interpreted U.S. inaction as a green light to go forward."  Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, Northeast Asia director for the International Crisis Group, a non-profit working in conflict prevention, said the naval exercise is consistent with China's "shift from a land-focused power to a maritime power." The strategy has been pushed over the past two years, during which China has grown more assertive over its maritime claims, she said. Gary Li, a senior analyst with IHS Fairplay in London, described the flotilla mission "a surprisingly strong message" from the new Chinese leadership recently installed under President Xi Jinping. "It is not just a few ships here and there, but a crack amphibious landing ship carrying marines and hovercraft and backed by some of the best escort ships in the fleet. We've never seen anything like this that far south in terms of quantity or quality." he said. Auslin said the United States should respond in its longstanding role of ensuring the sea is not controlled by any single nation. He said the White House should increase the frequency of U.S. warship formations in the area to show China "we're going to be present.

China signals its pivot on Asean

ByKavi Chongkittavorn

When the veteran diplomat, Wang Yi, was appointed the new foreign minister of China recently, there was a sigh of relief within Asean. His name immediately brought back the good old memories from those who worked closely with Wang, as a senior official, looking after Asia from 1994-2004. When he took over as the deputy chief of Asian Affairs Department in 1994, Asean-China relations were in a shambles and lacked mutual trust due to the dispute in South China Sea over Mischief Reef in early 1995. Their ties plummeted further after Asean jointly deplored China's action in March of that year. It took a while for Asean to rebuild friendship with China. Beijing's opportunity came during the Asian financial crisis, which began in Thailand and spread to South Korea and Indonesia. With a strong promise not to devalue its currency together with modest financial assistance packages, China has since won friends in Asean and gained stronger economic and political footholds in the region. Now, with the new Chinese leaders in place, Beijing's ambivalence during the transition period should be done away. With Wang Yi at the helm, Asean hopes the overall tension with China will subside. In the near future, Asean also wishes that China-Japan relations will improve, as they directly impact on the economic progress and integration in this region. The ambitious Asean Community would never become a reality if the two Asian giants are not on good terms. Indeed, stable and friendly China-Japan relations are a prerequisite for Asean enjoying continued prosperity. At this juncture, with his diplomatic finesse and discreet negotiating style, Wang seems to be the right person at the right time to push the Asean-China as well as China-Japan ties forward to another level. He was also instrumental in shaping Asean-China relations during the crucial post-Mischief Reef period. An important outcome was the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. As an envoy to Japan during 2004-2007, he helped to improve ties with Tokyo. Before he took over the current position, he served for five years as director of Taiwan Affairs. With uncertainties lurking ahead over the South China Sea dispute, improving ties with Asean has now become the Middle Kingdom's most urgent foreign policy objective. For decades, China's relations with Asean have been used as an example of how a big and powerful country can coexist with smaller neighbours. Throughout the past three decades of China's modernisation, peaceful coexistence with Southeast Asia has been highlighted as one of China's major foreign policy triumphs. It is incumbent on China to prove that is still valid these days.

Sources of Optimism

By Patrick M. cronin

There is no single answer to the problems of the East and South China Seas. Yet, there are reasons to be optimistic, especially because most parties believe that war is remote and dispute management necessary. Economically, the seas are at the crossroads of global commerce and an increasingly vital source of both food and energy resources. Politically, cooperation in these seas tests both the peace and prosperity of a rising Asia and the Chinese narrative of its peaceful rise. Strategically, the East and South China Seas are the place where Chinese military modernization is most likely to directly challenge America’s long postwar dominance. In other words, the East and South China Seas are central to Asia-Pacific security. The stakes are high and increasing in these seas, and all governments must place a premium on avoiding war, managing disputes, slowly building institutions and advancing joint cooperation. In the pursuit of peace, all nations – not just the United States – will need both wisdom and deft statecraft to manage these complicated and interwoven challenges. Building new norms and effective institutions take time. While China’s future intentions cannot be known, China’s embrace of globalization has evolved over time. Today, for instance, it regularly accepts third-party arbitration in World Trade Organization disputes, and there is some hope that in the future it will do so when it comes to maritime disputes as well. Intelligent, rules-based solutions can allow international fair play and give equal protection to the weak and strong alike.

Manila’s South China Sea Gambit

ByRory Medcalf

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Ever since the South China Sea disputes resurfaced a few years ago, country after country has insisted that the issue be managed, clarified and resolved in line with international law. Yet for a full two months since one claimant country (the Philippines) decided to put this idea into practice, the rule-of-law cheer squad has been strangely mute. Why the almost worldwide silence? One explanation is that not encouraging the Philippines will help perpetuate regional stability, however fragile that may be. The logic here is that a public round of praise for Manila’s decision to take legal action would further isolate China, adding to its perceptions of being encircled and therefore playing to the arguments of China’s hawks. But surely a chorus of moral support for the principle of international arbitration under a UN convention could also feed into the necessary debate in China about its self-inflicted failures in projecting a non-threatening image to the world. Another argument is that this bid will damage further the prospects for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China to negotiate a binding code of conduct to manage South China Sea disputes. If this really amounts to the Philippines letting down ASEAN, surely it can say it was let down by ASEAN first. After last year’s debacle, in which China successfully used Cambodia as its proxy to prevent ASEAN consensus in support of a binding code, what are the prospects for a serious agreement anyway? Manila’s quest could take several years of legal proceedings, but it is not quixotic. The submission was carefully put. It is not asking for maritime boundaries to be delineated. Instead, it is asking for a ruling on the validity under UNCLOS of China’s expansive ‘Nine-Dashed Line,’ and on whether the land features in the South China Sea are rocks or submerged features rather than islands. Unless China or others somehow persuade it to withdraw its case, the Philippines presumably stands a chance of eventually obtaining a ruling that suits its interests on one or more of these points. Even if China refuses to recognize the outcome, this could still provide precedent and arguments for other countries to advance in other circumstances. Even that could prove to be in the wider interests of a rules-based maritime order for the Indo-Pacific commons. It would be curious to see which countries, silent now, might welcome such an outcome.

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