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Activities of the Claimants

China

China will be more proactive in reinforcing ties with neighbors

China will be even more proactive in pursuing a friendly and good-neighborly policy toward its neighboring countries in the new year, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao said on December 31st. Liu said in an interview with Xinhua that China will work on establishing a network of partnership with its neighbors. He said China will strive to benefit neighbors through its own development and do more that brings people in the region closer to each other. Liu said the Belt and Road initiatives that China put forward in 2013 does not seek dominance in regional affairs or sphere of influence. As compared with the Marshall Plan which contained additional requirements for the receiving countries, China's Belt and Road initiatives does not interfere in the internal affairs of the countries in the region, Liu said. He said the proposal is compatible with existing regional mechanism and proposals and open to all other countries and regions in the world.

Vietnam

Vietnamese President calls for promoting entire nation’s strength

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Seizing opportunities and promoting the strength of the entire nation to safeguard national interests and take the country forward is the message that Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang sent to the nation in an article on the occasion of the New Year 2015. He emphasized “To us, the homeland’s sea and island sovereignty is sacred and inviolable, and is a priceless asset that ancestors passed down, and the nowadays generation is obliged to preserve and protect it for future generations. Inheriting the nation’s peace-loving, friendly, and benevolent tradition, we persist in solving disputes peacefully in line with international law, agreements between ASEAN and China, and deals between Vietnamese and Chinese leaders in order to safeguard the national sea and island sovereignty as well as to ensure the peaceful and stable environment for Vietnam’s development, for peace and stability in the region, as well as for freedom, security, and safety on the shipping route of leading importance to the world. Justice and reason belong to our people. At the same time, Vietnam always actively prepares other appropriate solutions so as to be ready for all situations to firmly safeguard the nation’s sacred territory, sea, and islands”.

Vietnam Supports Initiatives to Uphold Peace in South China Sea

In an interview with VOV on January 1st, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said that “Our foreign policies are developing relations with other countries to create an environment of peace, stability serving the country’s development and firmly protecting the national sovereignty, which are two reciprocal goals. In 2014, when the South China Sea tensions were escalated, we consistently pursued dialogue and the peaceful settlement of territorial sovereignty issue in the South China Sea in line with international law.. In 2015, Vietnam will continue to join ASEAN in dealing with the South China Sea issues, contributing to building the region of peace and stability as well as accelerating the serious and full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and pushing for result-oriented negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). We applaud all initiatives and proposals for the common goal of maintaining stability in the region.”

Regional Snapshots

Indonesia sinks two Thai boats

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The Jakarta Post on December 29th reported the officers used bombs to sink the vessels in Anambas waters near the South China Sea. The move followed a court verdict on Dec 23 that they were involved in illegal fishing near Anambas Island in Riau Islands province. The 70-gross-tonne MV Kour Son 77 was caught by the Indonesian navy on Nov 14 with six crew on board — two from Thailand, three from Myanmar and one from Laos. The 103-GT Chawat 5, which could not provide any legal documents to operate in Indonesian waters, was seized on Dec 11. Indonesia vowed to sink all ships stealing its fish in a bid by President Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, to protect domestic marine resources.

Malaysia sets two main agendas as it assumes ASEAN Chairmanship

The realisation of the ASEAN Community 2015 and the development of an ASEAN Community's Post-2015 Vision will be the two priorities for Malaysia as it assumes the chairmanship of the regional association beginning January 1st. "As the Chair, Malaysia has immense responsibility in ensuring the implementation of the remaining action lines of the blueprints of all the three pillars - political-security, economic and socio-cultural, as well as how best to conclude the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015), said Director-general of the ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob. Malaysia, which assumes the ASEAN chairmanship from Myanmar, will hold the two-day 26th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on April 26 and 27, this year. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat, to be held at the Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu on Jan 27 to 28, will be the curtain raiser for the series of ministerial and related meetings under Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship in 2015.

Cambodia, China vow to boost ties

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The second meeting of the Cambodia-China Inter-Governmental Coordination Committee was hosted on December 30th, with the two sides promising to further enhance the bilateral cooperation. The meeting was co-chaired by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and visiting Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi. Yang, following the meeting, said the two sides have seen their relations developed since the first edition of the meeting was held a year ago. "Both sides have fully implemented the cooperation scheme which was clinched during the first meeting, bringing about fruitful results for the two peoples," Yang said. Namhong expressed his gratitude to China for providing continued support to Cambodia. He said Cambodia and China have a solid foundation of the bilateral ties and the Cambodia-China Inter-Governmental Coordination Committee has produced fruitful results since its first meeting. He said both sides are to promote cooperation in all sectors.