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Activities of the Claimants

China

PLA Type 052D destroyer sent to South China Sea for exercise

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The Kunming, the first of China's Type 052D guided-missile destroyers was deployed to the disputed South China Sea to conduct the Joint Action 2014A naval exercise earlier this month according to our Chinese-language sister paper Want Daily. Also known as the Chinese Aegis, Type 052D destroyers are the most advanced warships operated by the PLA Navy. Equipped with Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar System, the destroyer has a 64-cell vertical launching system to fire HQ-9 long-range air defense missiles and DH-10 cruise missiles. This class of destroyer is often compared with the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers of the United States Navy. The exercise was launched to demonstrate the capability of the PLA Navy to launch anti-access and area denial strategies in the disputed region.

Taiwan to deploy obsolete air defense missile to Ba Binh

Taiwan is considering deploying the obsolete US-built RIM-72C Sea Chaparral to Ba Binh Island, the largest of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, Lieutenant General Kao Tien-chung, deputy defense minister, told ruling Kuomintang legislator Lin Yu-fang on October 1st, according to our sister newspaper Want Daily. After the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology modified the Sky Sword II air-to-air missile originally designed for Taiwan's F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter into a new version to be launched from naval warships, Lin suggested all RIM-72C Sea Chaparral missiles aboard the Republic of China Navy's six La Fayette-class frigates should be replaced. Lin then said that the defense ministry should then consider deploying missiles to Ba Binh.

The Philippines

Philippines tells UN: China's actions 'dangerous, reckless'

The Philippines on September 29th criticized China before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for embarking on expansionist territorial claims that violate other nations' rights. During the UNGA's 69th annual high-level meeting in New York, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said the Philippines invited a State Party to settle their maritime disputes peacefully through the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including its provisions on dispute settlement, particularly arbitration. "However, it has refused to join us and has continued to unilaterally embark on an expansionist claim that violates the legitimate rights of the Philippines and other littoral neighbours under UNCLOS such as their Exclusive Economic Zones and Continental Shelves," Del Rosario told the UN General Assembly without mentioning China by name. "Instead of peacefully resolving the maritime disputes within the framework of UNCLOS, said State embarked on a series of dangerous, reckless and forceful activities in an attempt to impose unilateral change in the maritime status quo of the South China Sea," he added.

China reef development a prelude to air zone

China’s reclamation and development of disputed reefs in the South China Sea is apparently part of Beijing’s plan to establish an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the region, a senior security official said on September 29th. The source, citing military studies and continuous territorial monitoring, warned that China is very close to establishing full control of the region from other claimant countries – the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan. “China is just waiting for the completion of its naval and air facility development projects over Cuarteron Reef (Chau Vien Reef), Chigua Reef, Mabini Reef (Gac Ma Reef) and Burgos Reef (Lac Reef) before declaring the ADIZ similar to what it did in the East China Sea,” the official said. Aerial survey by the Western Command over these reefs showed that the area is now teeming with construction activities.

Philippines halts work in disputed South China Sea

The Philippines has stopped all development work in the disputed South China Sea because of the impact such activity might have on an arbitration complaint it has filed against China, a defense official said on October 3rd. The Philippines has called for all countries to stop construction work on small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, virtually all of which is claimed by China. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told a budget hearing at the upper house of Congress that President Benigno Aquino had ordered a halt to all development plans, including repair of an airstrip, in the Spratly Islands. "We do have funds for the improvement of, for example, the Pagasa airport but this is being held in abeyance because of the case that we have filed," Gazmin told senators looking into a defense budget of 141 billion pesos($3.14 billion). Gazmin said the Philippines had stopped all its construction activities in the Spratlys because it wanted to maintain the moral high ground in terms of the territorial dispute.

Indonesia

Indonesia to strengthen defense in South China Sea

To increase its military defenses in the South China Sea, the Indonesian government is preparing to establish an F16 fighter jet squadron in Pekanbaru, Riau Islands, and an Apache helicopter squadron near the South China Sea. Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the government had decided upon the measure to safeguard Asia’s largest gas field exploration at Riau Islands’ East Natuna field, formerly known as the Natuna-D Alpha block, which is set for development in the near future. “Oil and gas production in the South China Sea is immense and we are about to develop the biggest gas field in Asia. We need to secure it as a national strategic object,” Purnomo said on October 4th on the sidelines of the launch of five attack missile boats and one fast patrol boat at the Batu Ampar container port in Batam, Riau Islands. During the event, Purnomo said investment in the country’s defense system had been extensive over the past five years, adding that the amount was three times larger than the investment during the 2005-2009 government administration and five times larger than the 2000-2004 administration.

The U.S.

In a first, India-US joint statement mentions South China Sea

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For the first time, an India-US joint statement specifically mentioned the situation in South China Sea as President Barack Obama and PM Narendra Modi expressed concern about "rising tensions over maritime territorial disputes" in that region. The joint statement was issued after the bilateral meeting between the two leaders which took place days after the standoff with China in southeastern Ladakh ended with the withdrawal of both Chinese and Indian troops. According to the joint statement, Modi and Obama reaffirmed their shared interest in preserving regional peace and stability, which are critical to the Asia-Pacific region's continued prosperity. "The leaders expressed concern about rising tensions over maritime territorial disputes, and affirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea," it said.

Regional Snapshots

Vietnamese Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh pays official visit to US

US State Secretary John Kerry announced that the US was partially lifting its ban on the sale of lethal arms to Vietnam during talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Washington on October 2nd. Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh visited the US on October 1st-2nd at the invitation of US State Secretary John Kerry. During their talks, the two officials expressed their delight at the progress made in Vietnam-US relations, especially since the establishment of the comprehensive partnership in July 2013. They discussed measures to deepen bilateral ties in the time to come and agreed to coordinate closely to organise events to mark the 20th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations in 2015. The two sides also discussed regional and international matters of mutual interest, including the South China Sea situation, affirming that concerned parties needed to comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, avoid actions that could escalate disputes and cause instability in the region, and settle disputes peacefully in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Singapore and Australian Navies Conduct Maritime Exercise

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) conducted a bilateral maritime exercise, Exercise Singaroo, from September 29th to October 3rd 2014. Hosted by Singapore, this year's exercise was the 17th in the series held since 1995. The five-day exercise was conducted in the South China Sea and comprised three-dimensional warfare serials such as an air defence exercise, a combined helicopter anti-submarine warfare exercise and gunnery firing. The RSN participated with RSS Tenacious, a Formidable-class stealth frigate, with an embarked S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter, while the RAN deployed HMAS Stuart, an ANZAC-class frigate, with an embarked S-70B-2 multirole naval helicopter. The Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft also participated in the exercise.

Brussels hosts workshop on maritime security in East Asia

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Scholars and policy-makers from Japan, Vietnam, China, Australia and the European Union gathered in Brussels on September 30th for a discussion on maritime security and safety in East Asia, an issue that concerns both regions. The international workshop on maritime security in East Asia was held by the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) in collaboration with the Vietnam Academy of Diplomacy and the Japan Institute of International Affairs. Participants discussed the global significance of navigation in East Asia, the recent developments in the South China Sea and East China Sea, the legal aspects of navigation in East Asia, and cooperation opportunities for the two regions to contribute to peace, security and development. Participants stressed the need to respect the law of the sea, sovereignty and the interests of coastal states without using force to settle disputes in a bid to ensure security and safety of navigation.

East Sea (South China Sea) Studies