alt

Activities of Interested Parties

China

China’s response to the Pilipino protesters’ camping on Thitu Island in the Spratly archipelago

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang in press conference on Dec. 28 said, “We are strongly dissatisfied with the actions and words of the Philippine side.” He urged the Philippine side to “stop doing anything that undermines regional peace and stability and weighs against the relations between China and the Philippines.”

China redeployed oil rig HYSY 981 to the disputed waters in the South China Sea

On Dec. 28, the China Maritime Safety Administration announced that the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil drilling platform will operate in the South China Sea from December 28, 2015 to February 10, 2016 at location 17-29.53 degrees N latitude and 110-57.18 degrees E longitude. Transporting are prohibited from entering the scope of 2000m around the oil rig.

China confirmed its development of second aircraft carrier

The confirmation was made by Defence Ministry Spokesperson, Senior Colonel Yang Yujun in a regular press conference on Dec. 31. He said, “The second aircraft carrier is currently at the stage of design and construction. As to future work, it depends on the progress in its design and construction. As to the long-term development of China’s aircraft carriers, relevant authorities will take various factors into consideration in making decisions.”

Regarding to the report saying that the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy will hold a joint exercise during February 2016 in South China Sea, Mr. Yang said that “China will keep close attention on this matter,” he noted, “military and security cooperation between countries should not compromise peace and stability in the region.”

China conducted a test flight to the airport in artificial island in the Spratly

On Jan. 2, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Hua Chunying answered reporters about the question regarding to the protest of Vietnam over the tested flight to artificial island that China has finished building a new airport on Fiery Cross Reef and the Chinese government conducted a test flight to the airport with a civil aircraft in order to test whether or not the facilities on it meet the standards for civil aviation. Hua also repeated China’s rhetoric that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and their adjacent waters.

Vietnam

Vietnam opposes China’s test flight to Truong Sa (Spratlys)

On Jan. 2, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a protest note to the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi. In this regarding, Le Hai Binh, spokesperson of the Vietnamese ministry, considered China’s pilot flight a serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa, which goes against the two governments’ agreement on the basic principles for settling sea disputes as well as the 2012 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (South China Sea). It also affects peace and stability in the East Vietnam Sea, compromising the political trust between Vietnam and China and negatively impacting the neighborly relations between the two peoples, Binh said. “Vietnam resolutely opposes China’s action and demands that Beijing stop it and not repeat any similar move, as well as apply practical and specific measures to contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the sea area,” the spokesperson stated.

Japan

Japan airs "grave concern" over China's test flight in Spratlys

The Japanese government expressed its "grave concern", Jan.4, over China's landing of a plane on an airstrip it constructed in a contested part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a press conference that "Japan is gravely concerned about China's act, which is a unilateral change of the status quo" in the region and an attempt to make Beijing's massive and fast-paced land reclamation work in the disputed seas "a fait accompli." Japan "cannot accept (the act) which is escalating tensions (in the region) and is a concern shared by the international community," Kishida said. "Japan will continue to cooperate with other countries concerned to protect the freedom of the seas."

Philippines

Philippines to protest China's test-flight on Spratlys

Philippine foreign affairs spokesperson Charles Jose told that Manila will contest Beijing's landing of a civilian plane on Fiery Cross Reef on Saturday, January 2. On Jan. 3, Jose said “We will also be lodging a protest in due course”. Jose added that Beijing's latest actions raise tensions in the disputed South China Sea.

"That’s the fear, that China will be able to take control of the South China Sea, and it will affect the freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight plus unimpeded flow of commerce," Jose said.

The United States

The United States expressed concerns with Chinese flight to artificial island in the Spratly

The U.S. State Department spokeswoman Pooja Jhunjhunwala said after China conducted a test flight in the South China Sea that “We are concerned that these test flights have exacerbated tensions and are inconsistent with the region’s commitments to exercise restraint from actions that could complicate or escalate disputes.” Pooja Jhunjhunwala said there was "a pressing need for claimants to publicly commit to a reciprocal halt to further land reclamation, construction of new facilities, and militarization of disputed features.” The U.S. officials are encouraging countries with claims in the area to “actively reduce tensions” by refraining from actions that threaten stability, she said.

Regional Snapshots

Vietnamese, Chinese defence ministers hold phone talks

On Dec. 31, Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh and his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieut. Gen. Chang Wanquan discussed defence ties between Vietnam and China over the phone on the occasion of officially establishment of direct telephone line between Defense Ministries. During their talks, the two ministers said defence cooperation has brought about pragmatic outcomes for each side. The affiliation is one of the major pillars in the relationship between Vietnam and China that has contributed to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, meeting interests of each country’s people, they said. It has also helped settle differences between the two countries on the basis of common perceptions reached by their leaders, they noted.

ASEAN Community comes into being

On Dec. 31, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman announced the official formation of the ASEAN Community. “Today, December 31, 2015, marks another significant milestone in ASEAN’s history as it is the day the ASEAN Community is formally established,” he said. Anifah Aman added that the birth of the ASEAN Community does not mean that it has arrived towards the end of the community building process. “In fact, this is just the beginning.” Enhancing awareness of the ASEAN Community and public involvement in the community building is of utmost importance to make the ASEAN Community a success, he stressed.

THE EAST SEA STUDIES