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Activities of Claimants

China

Beijing: No third party can explore oil, gas in South China Sea

Responding to questions of Hindustan Times on the India-US-Japan statement on access to navigation and commerce in maritime routes across the world including the South China Sea, the China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on October 1, said that said it has indisputable rights not only on the Spratly islands but also on the sea bed around it. “China is against any country or enterprise’s oil and gas exploration activity in the waters under China’s jurisdiction without China’s permission.” “Until now, all the mechanisms are working well and continuously achieved new important progresses. For now, the situation in South China Sea is tending toward stability. China is determined to maintain the hard-won stability. Countries outside the region should respect the efforts of China and countries concerned to maintain the peace and stability in the South China Sea,” the response said.

Taiwan's construction of lighthouse in S. China Sea nearly complete

On September 30, an official at the Maritime and Port Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications told Kyodo News that construction of the first lighthouse on Itu Aba will be completed on 30/9 or 1/10 and the solar-powered lighthouse will be ready to enter operation as soon as it passes inspections. As it was said that the purpose of the construction is to "strengthen national sovereignty and protect navigation safety."

Vietnam

Vietnam leader: China island work violates international law

Vietnam's president told The Associated Press on September 28 that China's island-building in the disputed South China Sea violates international law and endangers maritime security. "The East Sea is indeed a hot spot of the region and the world at this point, and in the last year China has done large-scale reclamation of submerged islands to make them very big islands," President Sang said. "We believe that these acts by China violate international law," he said, citing the U.N. convention of the law of the sea. He added that it also infringes a DOC reached in 2002 by members of the ASEAN. He said the concerns of Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations are "obvious and easy to understand because the acts by China seriously affect the maritime safety and security in the East Sea."

The Philippines

The Philippines Urges UN, International Community to support peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea

On a meeting with other Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on October 3, Secretary Del Rosario said that “with the growing support from the international community in peacefully resolving disputes in the South China Sea, including through arbitration, the Philippines is hopeful that the final outcome of the arbitration process would pave the way for a settlement of maritime disputes.” He also reiterated the Philippines’ call on the UN and the community of responsible nations to support the full and effective implementation of the DOC of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety, and the expeditious conclusion of a binding COC.

The United States

The United States upholds International laws and norms, and pursues a path of cooperation over dispute in the SCS.

In his speech at United Nations Headquarters on September 28, President Barrack Obama said that “the United States makes no claim on territory in the South China Sea.  We don't adjudicate claims.  But like every nation gathered here, we have an interest in upholding the basic principles of freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce, and in resolving disputes through international law, not the law of force.  So we will defend these principles, while encouraging China and other claimants to resolve their differences peacefully.”

In another meeting between the Secretary of State and other Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN at the U.S.-ASEAN Meeting on September 30, Secretary Kerry reiterated the U.S position and said that “we are supporting ASEAN members as they work hard to preserve peace and stability in the South China Sea. Let me be clear: The United States will not accept restrictions on freedom of navigation and overflight or on other lawful uses of the sea. And it doesn’t matter whether a vessel is a large warship or a tiny, little fishing boat. The principle is very clear: The rights of all nations must be respected.”

U.S. Moves 30,000 Marines to counter China’s Assertiveness

China's assertive posture in the South China Sea has prompted the United States Marine Corps to deploy as many as 30,000 marines to Hawaii and beyond. The U.S. Marine Corps specializes in expeditionary warfare. Defense experts said the move is aimed at dramatically reducing America's response time in the Asia Pacific.

The relocation of marines is a key part of President Barack Obama's Asia Rebalancing strategy. China is building a third airstrip in the disputed South China Sea, which is long enough to accommodate most Chinese military aircraft. Beijing's land reclamation activities are the primary reason for the relocation of U.S. marines. North Korea's nuclear program is another reason.

Meanwhile, South Korea's Munhwa Ilbo has reported that America's "four major strategic weapons" — nuclear powered aircraft carriers, B-2 stealth bombers, F-22 stealth fighters and nuclear submarines — will either be in South Korea or be stationed at the US naval base in Guam next month.

New Zealand

New Zealand urges China to act like a 'big' country in South China Sea

On September 28, in his speech at China's National Defense University in Beijing, on the occasion of the creation of a five-year engagement plan between the New Zealand Defence Force and the People's Liberation Army, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has urged China to behave like a "big country" in the South China Sea. Mr. Brownlee said “while we take no position on the various claims in the South China Sea, New Zealand opposes actions that undermine peace and erode trust," Brownlee said in a clear reference to actions such as dredging in the Spratly Islands to create new islands with military facilities.

Mr. Brownlee said New Zealand call on all claimant states to take steps to reduce tensions and urged a rapid conclusion of the Code of Conduct negotiations to build a better framework for managing activity in the area.

Regional Snapshots

The U.S, Japan and India call for peaceful resolution in the South China Sea

On September 29, United States Secretary of State John Kerry hosted Trilateral Ministerial dialogue with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the 70th United Nations General Assembly in New York. As stated in the press releases of the Trilateral Ministerial, “the three Ministers highlighted the growing convergence of their respective countries’ interests in the Indo-Pacific region. They also underscored the importance of international law and peaceful settlement of disputes; freedom of navigation and overflight; and unimpeded lawful commerce, including in the South China Sea. They reiterated their support for ASEAN centrality in the multilateral political and security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region and emphasized the importance of the East Asia Summit as the premier leaders- level forum for addressing key political and security issues of the region.”

UN, ASEAN agree on settling South China Sea row through dialogue

On September 29, ASEAN Foreign Ministers had met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Mogens Lykketoft, president of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to discuss the ongoing territorial row in the South China Sea. In a joint statement issued after a meeting at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, the UN and ASEAN “affirmed the importance of peaceful settlement of disputes, including in the South China Sea, through dialogue and in conformity with international law.”

USS Ronald Reagan Arrives in Japan to Support Security, Stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region

On October 1, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) arrived at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY). Her role as the fifth U.S. carrier forward deployed to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility following USS George Washington.

Ronald Reagan equipped with the U.S. Navy's newest technological upgrades including a new local area computer network, The Consolidated Afloat Networking Enterprise Services (CANES). According to Rear Adm. John Alexander, commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet, this deployment is to “enhance the Navy's ability to contribute to the defense of Japan and meet our commitments under the terms of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America."

Philippines, US joint amphibious landing exercises start

On October 1, The Philippines and the US formally opened the 16th Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) in Taguig city, Manila. According to Philippine military, these exercises will seek to advance the Philippines and the US’s military-to-military relationship and improve the interoperability capability of the Filipino troops together with their American counterparts. Another goal of this bilateral exercise is also to enhance the readiness of Filipino troops when it comes to humanitarian assistance and disaster response, especially during calamities.

THE EAST SEA STUDIES