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Activities of the Claimants

China

China opposed Vietnam-India’s exploration in the South China Sea

China on October 28th warned that it will firmly oppose any exploration activity in South China Sea if it undermines its "sovereignty and interests", hours after India inked a pact with Vietnam for exploration in two additional oil and gas blocks in the the resource-rich area. "As for the likely exploration of South China Sea oil fields between Vietnam and India, I want to say that China's position is consistent and clear," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said. Hong was reacting to reports of India accepting Vietnam's offer of additional blocks for oil exploration during the current visit by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to New Delhi. "China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha islands (Spratly islands). Any lawful and justifiable oil exploration activity in the South China Sea is fine by us. But if such activity undermines sovereignty and interests of China we are firmly opposed to this," he said. "Currently South China maintains tranquillity in general. I wish all countries do more things that are conducive to the peace and stability of the South China Sea," Hong said.

China plans to build floating docks for Spratly islands

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Officials from the China Ship Scientific Research Center (CSSRC), a subsidiary of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), told IHS Jane's that it is developing multifunctional floating docks for deployment on the Paracel and Spratly Islands. The docks, which will be manufactured on the Chinese mainland and transported to the islands for final assembly, consist of a large rectangular platform and a bridge connecting the platform with an island. Two variants are under development. A base unit consists of a towed multifunctional platform and a bridge. CSSRC said the platform can support the following capabilities: docking for 1,000-tonne ships, maintenance and repair stations for fishing vessels, an electric-power plant, fresh-water storage and supply, desalination of seawater, rainwater collection, and general storage of equipment and supplies. A second platform variant is based on a semisubmersible vessel that can move under its own power, but not over long distances. 

Beijing commands 400 patrol vessels

To defend its exclusive economic zone in the disputed East and South China Seas, China's maritime law enforcement agencies have about 400 patrol vessels according to Asia Military Review, a magazine based in Bangkok. China currently has the largest fleet of patrol vessels in the Asia-Pacific the magazine stated. The tonnages of the 400 vessels range between 1,150 and 3,400. The agencies are also set to receive 36 additional vessels.

Newly built ship enter into China Coast Guard South China Sea fleet

On October 17th, Chian Coast Guard 3402 with a displacement of 4,000 tonnes has officially entered into South China Sea fleet. The CCG-3401 is the fourth ship with a displacement of 4,000 tonnes after the recombination of State Oceanic Administration and the third enforcement ship to enter into South China Sea fleet since the beginning of this year. The CCG-3401 is a multi-functional vessel equipped with advanced law enforcement facilities and is able to meet the need for marine law enforcement tasks, according to the State Oceanic Administration. It will undertake tasks such as cruise enforcement, marine resources and environment protection, marine incident investigation.

Vietnam

Vietnamese PM paid official visit to India

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Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Hanoi on October 27th for a three-day official visit to India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. On October 28th, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi, during which both reaffirmed their commitment to comprehensively developing the bilateral strategic partnership. Regarding the South China Sea issue, the two leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring peace, stability, and maritime and aviation security and safety in the South China Sea. The Indian side said that legitimate rights and interests of nations in the sea must be guaranteed and all disputes must be solved by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the full and serious implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) towards the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese side appreciated India’s stance on the South China Sea issue and the country’s commitment to further cooperating with Vietnam in oil and gas exploration and exploitation in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the sea. Right after the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements on culture, education, relic conservation, oil and gas, and broadcasting. Also on the same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India will soon be supplying naval vessels to Vietnam. "Our defense cooperation with Vietnam is among our most important," Modi told reporters, adding it will be expanded. Talks on the naval craft have gathered pace since last month when India announced a $100 million credit line for defense purchases, an Indian government official earlier told Reuters. "We will quickly operationalise the $100 million Line of Credit that will enable Vietnam to acquire new naval vessels from India," Modi said.

The Philippines

Arbitration ruling on sea row with China may come early 2016

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on October 30th said the Netherlands-based arbitral tribunal may hand down a ruling on the Philippines' complaint against China’s massive claim in the disputed South China Sea by the first quarter of 2016. “We expect an award by first quarter of 2016,” Del Rosario said in an interview with cable news ANC. China declared several times that it will not participate in the process and insists on direct negotiations with the Philippines, but the tribunal still gave Beijing until December 15th to submit a counter-memorial. Beijing’s non-compliance to the tribunal’s order is expected to fast-track the Philippine case, Del Rosario said, adding the legal process will push through with or without China’s participation. “If China does not submit their response to our submission, by December 16th, the day after, there will be questions that will be given us by the arbitral tribunal. We're supposed to answer these by March and then by July, there will be oral hearings for two weeks,” he explained.

Indonesia

China must avoid destabilizing region, Indonesia army chief says

China must not use its “great force” to create regional instability, Indonesian military chief Gen. Moeldoko said, as his nation seeks to avoid being drawn into China’s territorial disputes in the South China Sea. “China is a great economic superpower, however we don’t want this great force to create instability in the region,” Moeldoko said in a speech in Singapore on October 29th. “Just a small disturbance within this maritime zone will give a big impact and create turbulence in the region.” “We have to protect the sea from piracy and also those who would encroach on our natural resources,” Moeldoko said. Indonesia’s defense forces has “hundreds of ships” to secure the country’s maritime lanes within its borders, he said.

Malaysia

Malaysian sub fires first shot

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) said in a statement that the Scorpene submarine launched a Black Shark torpedo on an altered passenger ferry at about 11.13am on October 31st, decimating the vessel in a big surface explosion. “The firing of the torpedo marks the first time our submarine has done so since the arrival of the first vessel, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, in Port Klang on September 3rd, 2009. “This is also the first time a Black Shark torpedo has been fired since it was introduced by its Italian manufacturer White­head Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS),” said RMN in a statement. Also involved in the exercise were four ships, a Fennec helicopter, a CB90 combat boat and the Mega Bakti submarine rescue vessel. The Royal Malay­sian Air Force (RMAF) provided a B 200T and EC 725 aircraft for the exercise.

Regional Snapshots

The 8th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting

The 8th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) took place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok on 28th-29th October 2014. Thai Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Vice Foreign Minister of China Liu Zhenmin co-chaired the meeting. According to Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Senior Officials discussed efforts to strengthen the full and effective implementation of DOC and expedite the early conclusion of the Code of the Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), as agreed upon by the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with China this year. Both sides agreed to intensify consultations at the Senior Official and working group levels. The Senior Officials of ASEAN and China recognized the important role and work of the Joint Working Group (JWG) in assisting SOM. It also reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN-China relations as the pillar of regional peace and stability and agreed that the South China Sea issue should not affect the overall relationship between ASEAN and China.

New US general seeks China air safety dialogue

The U.S. Air Force's new commander in the Pacific said on November 1st she's hoping to continue talks with China on avoiding dangerous encounters in the air that have added to regional tensions. Gen. Lori Robinson said she anticipates a speaking engagement at China's biggest air show later this month will allow her to renew dialogue on the issue. "The dialogue is beginning. I think that's very, very good for the region," Robinson said in a telephone interview from Hawaii.

US, Cambodia Kick off CARAT Cambodia 2014

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The fifth convening of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Cambodia exercise began at Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, October 27th. Ashore, personnel will conduct hands-on training in damage control, navigation, tactical combat casualty care (TCCC), force protection, and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) techniques. For the first time, the Royal Cambodian Air Force will participate in a joint search and rescue exchange. Symposia will bring together professionals from both navies to discuss best practices in military law, military medicine and aviation search and rescue. At sea, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89), embarked with Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 staff and two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, will train with two RCN Stenka-class patrol boats. In addition to maneuvering and surface-gunnery drills, highlights include a shiprider exchange, maritime boarding scenarios and a search and rescue exercise.

East Sea (South China Sea) Studies