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Activities of Related Parties

China

China defends its military activities in the South China Sea

In a response to the U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Mar. 1, saying that "China must not pursue militarization in the South China Sea..," Chinese Foreign Minister Spokesperson Hong Lei, on Mar. 2, said "China's deployment of national defense facilities on its own territory is nothing new. It is the exercise of self-preservation and self-protection right granted by international law. It is not the so-called aggressive action, still less militarization... The Chinese side urges the US side to stop the hype, stop the sensationalization that misleads the public, and stop threatening words and deeds.."

Regarding to the current information saying that China has effectively controlled Jackson Reef in the South China Sea and prevented Philippine fishermen from operating there, Mr. Hong said, there was a foreign vessel was grounded near Jackson Reef. The owner of the vessel tried many times to tow it away but failed. He then decided to abandon the ship and dismantled and took away its main equipment. If the vessel was left aground for a long time, it might cause possible impediment to navigation safety and damage to the marine environment. Therefore, China Rescue and Salvage of Ministry of Transport recently sent salvage ships to tug the grounded vessel out of the shallow water for proper disposal. During the operation, the Chinese side advised fishing boats near the waters to stay away for navigation security and operation safety. The Chinese ships have returned after the operation."

In a current comment of the U.S. official, saying that the ruling of the South China Sea arbitration would be binding on both China and the Philippines as they are all parties to the UNCLOS. On Feb. 29, Mr. Hong said, " China's non-acceptance and non-participation position concerning the South China Sea arbitration initiated by the Philippines is fully backed by international law. That position is clear and consistent. The essence of the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines is territorial and maritime demarcation disputes. China and the Philippines have already reached consensus through bilateral channels and in the DOC on resolving relevant dispute by engaging in negotiations and consultations. According to Article 298 of the UNCLOS, China made a declaration that excludes disputes concerning maritime delimitation from compulsory dispute settlement procedures. I would like to remind the US side that it may be reluctant to join the UNCLOS, but it is still obliged to respect the rights signatory parties are entitled to under the UNCLOS. We urge the US side to stop playing the international judge and stop pointing fingers at China."

China blames US escalating tension in South China Sea

In her speech on Mar. 4, ahead of the opening of the National People’s Congress in Beijing. Ms. Fu Ying, spokeswoman for China’s legislature, said the United States – not China – is militarising the South China Sea, “If you take a look at the matter closely, it’s the US sending the most advanced aircraft and military vessels to the South China Sea,” she said. “The US has made it clear that it will deploy 70 per cent of its navy to the Asia-Pacific region under its strategy of pivoting to Asia. The US has stepped up military moves with its alliances and its military presence in the Asia -Pacific region. Isn’t this militarisation?” Fu said the claim that China was militarising the region could lead to a “miscalculation of the situation”.

Chinese ambassador accuses US of double standards

Speaking on the sidelines of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Mar. 5, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai, also a CPPCC member, accused the U.S. of having double standards towards the South China Sea issue. Mr. Cui advised the U.S. to take a position of non-interference regarding the issue that should be addressed by parties directly concerned through dual-track negotiations. Cui said that the U.S. has overreacted to China's actions in purely defending its sovereignty in the region.Speaking of the alleged "militarization in the South China Sea," he said that China's facilities are for civilian purposes and accused the US is trying to hype a so-called militarization of the South China Sea.

Vietnam

Vietnam protests against China's plan to invite foreign oil bids in a disputed SCS

Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Le Hai Binh said in a press briefing on Mar. 3, when asked about China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)’s recent inviting foreign companies to tender for oil and gas blocks in the East Sea, that Vietnamese authorities are thoroughly looking into China’s tender invitation. He reaffirmed that in areas on which the two countries are negotiating for demarcation, such as the overlapping waters off the Tonkin Gulf, neither of the sides are allowed to unilaterally conduct oil and gas exploration or exploitation activities. He reiterated Vietnam’s indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands when asked to comment about China’s sending of seven vessels to Hai Sam (Jackson) Atoll in the Spratlys in recent weeks. He said all activities in the area without Vietnam’s consent were illegal.

The Philippines

The Philippines called on China to respect the Hague ruling

In a statement post on the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Feb. 29, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs says that the Philippines have had countless meetings with China to try to address the issue between the two of us to no avail. We have invited China many times to join us in arbitration as early as 2012, again to no avail. As we presume to be responsible states, the Philippines, as well as the international community, are asking China to respect the forthcoming ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal and together advance an international rules-based regime. If China does not heed our collective call, does it mean that China considers itself above the law? The PCA decision on the case is expecting to be announced on May.

The Philippines accused China chasing its fishermen away in the Spratlys

Citing from the Filipino fishermen, Philstar, on Mar. 2, said that the Chinese have taken over another traditional Filipino fishing ground near Jackson Atoll. “These gray and white Chinese ships, around four of them inside the lagoon, prevented us from entering our traditional fishing ground,” one of the fishermen said. Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon Jr. said the Chinese ships have been staying in Jaskson Atoll for more than a month now. “They have many ships there,” he said. Philippine air patrol has confirmed the presence of at least four Chinese coast guard ships in the Jackson lagoons.

Singapore

Singapore suggests interim solution to South China Sea dispute

Speaking to the press, Mar. 1, on the final day of his visit to China, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan suggested expanding a concept called the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) to the parties involved to avoid accidental miscalculations that can lead to conflict at sea.  “It is, in a sense, some rules of engagement which will prevent untoward accidents or miscalculations which will lead to tensions and conflict at sea. And we’ve suggested expanding this to cover both naval vessels and coast guards,” he said. Dr Balakrishnan said that China has indicated that it is an idea worth exploring, but he also pointed out that CUES is not a new idea. He added that the question now is whether China and ASEAN can expand the idea and build confidence, even as consultations on a separate Code of Conduct in the South China Sea continue.

The United States

Navy aircraft carrier group moves into contested South China Sea

The Washington Post cited from Navy Cmdr. Clay Doss, a spokesman for U.S. Pacific Fleet, saying that The USS John C. Stennis, accompanied by the cruiser USS Mobile Bay and the destroyers USS Stockdale and USS Chung-Hoon arrived in the South China Sea on Mar. 1. The ships arrived in the Western Pacific on Feb. 4 on a deployment from the West Coast of the United States. Doss said the carrier is carrying out a routine patrol of the South China Sea, where China has in recent weeks moved Chinese fighter jets, military radar and surface-to-air missiles. The Navy will continue to appear in the South China Sea regularly, Doss said. The Stennis Strike Group completed routine operations in the South China Sea on Mar. 6, and transited into the Philippine Sea through the Luzon Strait. According to Capt. Greg Huffman, Stennis’ commanding officer, during the operation in the South China Sea, “We have Chinese ships around us that we normally didn’t see in my past experience,” however Mr. Huffman confirmed that there was no incident between the two navies, the bridge to bridge channels was conducted in professional mariners.

The US warns China agaisnt militarization in the South China Sea

In his speech at at the Commonwealth Club, San Francisco, California on Mar. 1, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter warned China agaisnt its provocative activities in the South China Sea. Mr. Carter stressd that "China must not pursue militarization in the South China Sea.  Specific actions will have specific consequences." He revealed that the US have bolstered  the development of its resources to the Asia - Pacific region and it will invest a $424 million  to enhance the maritime awareness of the regional countries through Maritime Security Initiative for Southeast Asia.

The US voiced concern on Chinese navy's action of threatening the Philippine fishermen in the South China Sea

Speaking in a press conference on Mar. 2, State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said, "We are aware of these press reports regarding Chinese vessels operating near Jackson Atoll, and these are in contested areas of the South China Sea. As we have mentioned before, President Obama and leaders of the ASEAN countries in February at Sunnylands confirmed their commitment to maintain peace, security, safety, including freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, as well as non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of activities in that region, the South China Sea. We want to see all claimants, including China, taking actions that respect those principles. We don’t want to see them using their ships their navy to intimidate other fishing vessels in that region."

India rules out joint patrolling with the US in Asia Pacific

Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Mar. 4, said " "Till now, India has never participated in joint patrolling. We do participate in joint exercises. So, the question of joint patrolling at this stage does not arise." This comes three days after the visiting US Pacific command chief admiral Harry Harris pitched for a quadrilateral security dialogue among India, Japan, Australia and the US, even as he hoped that joint patrolling would materialise in the Asia-Pacific region in "the not too distant future". Asked whether India was going to ink the nearly-finalised Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) when US defence secretary Ash Carter comes visiting India next month, Parrikar said the government would take all decisions in the interest of the country.

Japan

Japan to lease trainer aircraft to Philippine Navy

According to Philstar on Mar. 4, the Japanese government plans to lease five of its retired training aircraft to the Philippine Navy. The report said that the Philippines will use Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force TC-90 for air patrol missions in the South China Sea. The TC-90 aircraft has a radius of action twice of those the in the Philippine Navy and will be able to cover most of the islands in the Spratly Group. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani is expected to visit the Philippines in April to finalize the official agreement on the lease.

Regional Snapshot

Singapore, China to explore reducing risks in disputed South China Sea

Speaking to the press on Feb. 29 after the meeting with China's counterpart Wang Yi, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan revealed that Singapore and China will continue to work on exploratory ideas on minimising risks from unplanned encounters in the disputed South China Sea. Dr Balakrishnan said they have agreed to expedite negotiations on formulating the Code of Conduct. “We both reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. This is an essential lifeline for China and for all ASEAN countries because so much of our trade and energy flows through this area,” he said. Meanwhile, Mr Wang said China’s stance on the South China Sea remains unchanged, but he added that Beijing is ready to work with ASEAN to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), while expediting consultations on the Code of Conduct.

U.S. plans naval exercises with India and Japan in Philippine Sea

On Mar. 2 in a security conference in New Delhi, Admiral Harry B. Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command said that India, the United States and Japan would hold naval exercises in waters off the northern Philippines near the South China Sea this year. "While some countries seek to bully smaller nations through intimidation and coercion, I note with admiration India's example of peaceful resolution of disputes with your neighbours in the waters of the Indian Ocean, " he said.

Japan signs pact to supply defense equipment to Philippines

On Feb. 29, Filipino Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin signed with Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa in Manila underpins the Asian nations’ “mutual desire to enhance our respective defense capabilities” and “to contribute to regional peace and stability.” Gazmin says the accord serves as a framework for the transfer of defense equipment and technology, with the details being settled in future talks.

China's President Xi Jingping recieved Vietnam's special envoy of Party General Secretary Hoang Binh Quan

On Feb. 29, China's President Xi Jingping recieved Vietnam's special envoy of Party General Secretary Hoang Binh Quan, who is also head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, in Great Hall of the People in Beijing. During the meeting, Mr. Hoang Binh Quan reaffirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State continually maintain their foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development while attaching importance to their friendship and comprehensive collaboration with the Chinese Party and State.

Mentioning Vietnam’s point of view on the East Sea (South China Sea) situation, Quan asked both sides respect each other’s legitimate interests, and strictly implementing their leaders’ common perceptions and signed agreements. He also stressed the need to avoid actions that change the status quo or complicate and expand disputes, and work with each other to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea and handle disputes satisfactorily by peaceful means in line with international law and the region’s code of conduct.

Vietnam, Singapore commit to expanding defence ties

Vietnam and Singapore have agreed to strengthen wide-ranging defence cooperation to further contribute to the bilateral strategic partnership. Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh and permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Defence Ministry Chang Yeng Kit reached the agreement while chairing the seventh Vietnam – Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue in Singapore on Feb. 29.

Regarding security in the East Sea (South China Sea), both sides expressed their concern over the recent fresh, complicated developments which harboured risks and dangers in the area and called for fully abiding by international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, stopping the illegal construction of man-made islands that changes status quo in the disputed area, refraining from threatening to use force and using force, and avoiding militarisation in the East Sea.

On March 1, during a reception for Deputy Defence Minister Vinh, Singaporean Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen affirmed that Singapore attaches importance to defence ties with Vietnam and see the cooperation in the field as the sharing of responsibility towards the region.

USS Blue Ridge Arrives in Manila, Strengthens Old Ties

U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and the embarked 7th Fleet staff arrived in Manila, Republic of the Philippines for a regularly scheduled port visit Mar. 4. During the port visit, 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin will host bilateral staff talks with officials from the Philippine Navy, and trilateral staff talks with officials from the Philippine Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, to enhance cooperation and strengthen relationships to best provide security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific. These talks take place as Blue Ridge is on patrol in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, conducting military-to-military engagements and cultural exchanges throughout the region.

THE EAST SEA STUDIES