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Activities of the Claimants

China

China-made military transport aircraft to be unveiled

Xi'an Y-20 aircraft, a China-made large military transport aircraft, will be showned at China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition 2014 which takes place in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, from 11th November to 16th November, 2014. The aircraft, with the design gross weight of which is more than 200 tons, is designed to handle long-range transport tasks during complex weather conditions. 

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CNOOC puts second deep-water rig into use

CNOOC Group Ltd, China's largest offshore oil and gas developer, announced on November 5th that its semi-submersible drilling rig Nanhai Jiu Hao completed the first deep-water exploration well in the South China Sea. Nanhai Jiu Hao became the second deep-water drilling rig after CNOOC 981, which shows that China now has the technology and equipment to carry out large-scale oil and gas exploration in deep-water areas, said the company. The well, Lingshui 25-1-1, is located in the Qiongdongnan Basin with a depth of 3,930 meters, according to the company. More work needs to be done to verify the well's resources. According to CNOOC, the rig has been used in Norway and western Africa. It is 99 m long, 88 m wide and 116 m high.

Xi offers vision of China-driven 'Asia-Pacific dream'

President Xi Jinping offered the world a vision of a Chinese-driven "Asia-Pacific dream" on November 9th, as Beijing hosts a regional gathering that underlines its growing global clout. "We have the responsibility to create and realise an Asia-Pacific dream for the people of the region," the Chinese Communist chief told a gathering of business and political leaders that precedes the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' gathering. Xi said his Asia-Pacific dream was based on a "shared destiny" for the region and incorporated peace, development and mutual benefits. As "China's overall national strength grows", he told his audience, it would be able and willing to offer "new initiatives and visions for enhancing regional cooperation". "China wants to live in harmony with all its neighbours," he added.

The 12th Cross-Strait Forum on the South China Sea Issue held in Haikou

On November 6th, the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS) holds the 12th Cross-Strait Forum on the South China Sea Issue in Haikou. This forum lasts two days. Present at the forum are more than 30 experts and scholars across the Taiwan Strait. They hold in-depth discussion about four panels, including “Analysis and Assessment of the Current Situation in the South China Sea”, “The Philippine Arbitration and Cooperation across the Taiwan Strait”, “The History of the South China Sea and Maritime Rights” and “Prospects of Cross-strait Cooperation in the South China Sea”. As President Wu remarks, the South China Sea has a bearing on the common security, interests and development across the Taiwan Strait, and both sides should break the shackles of original rigid thinking, actively seek new ideas and ways, and make breakthroughs in cross-strait cooperation in the South China Sea.

Vietnam

Vietnam opposes Taiwan’s live firing on Truong Sa

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Taiwan’s move to launch live firing on Ba Binh island, part of Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, is a serious violation of Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty, threatening peace, stability, maritime security and safety, and further complicating the South China Sea issue, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Le Hai Binh said in Hanoi on November 3rd. The statement was made in response to reporters’ questions on Vietnam’s position on Taiwan’s notice of live firing from November 3rd-4th. Vietnam firmly opposes the act and demands that Taiwan immediately put an end to the illegitimate act and prevent similar occurrences, he said, adding that Vietnam has sufficient legal and historical evidence to prove its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagos. On November 6th, in response to China’s illegal construction projects on Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef, part of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago, Spokesman Le Hai Binh stated that Vietnam urgently requests China to immediately put an end to its construction projects on Truong Sa archipelago and refrain from repeating illegal activities in the future. China’s above-mentioned activities seriously violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa, infringe international law and run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South Chin Sea (DOC), as well as the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between the two countries, he said. Also on this day, answering question from reporters about Vietnam ’s stance on Taiwan ’s ongoing illegal survey in Ba Binh island of Vietnam ’s Truong Sa, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stressed that Vietnam once again strongly affirms its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. “Any actions by other parties in these territories, without the permission of Vietnam , are regarded as illegal and void, and will encounter strong protest,” she highlighted.

The Philippines

Aquino says China's map only complicates South China Sea dispute

China's so-called "nine-dash line" charted on a map released of the South China Sea in 2009 marking its territorial claims has only complicated regional disputes, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said on November 4th. Speaking to Japanese reporters in a briefing at Malacanang Palace, Aquino said new maps appear from time to time that appear to move the lines further toward Philippine territory. "So when we start negotiating where exactly the divisions are, it's another bone of contention between the two countries," said Aquino. Regarding Chinese reclamations in the South China Sea, Aquino said these activities have altered the original features of shoals, and this will have to be deliberated on by the United Nations following a complaint filed by the Philippines in early 2013. "It complicates the issue," Aquino said of China's reclamation.

Malaysia

France commends Malaysian approach in the South China Sea

France is supportive of Malaysia’s stand to engage in dialogues and non-confrontational means to settle disputes in the South China Sea with China. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on November 5th his country understood the temptation of China to expand its naval prowess in the South China Sea in view of its claims over territories there. “At the same time, we also understand the sentiments of stakeholders in the region who are acting within the laws. We ourselves are monitoring the situation from our Pacific bases in New Caledonia and Polynesia. “Malaysia, for one, is bent on upgrading its deterrence to safeguard its sovereignty and assets, while enhancing maritime security.”

Russia

Russian Missile Cruiser to hold fire drills in South China Sea

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The Russian missile cruiser Moscow, also known as Moskva, will hold drills on air defense and the use of “rocket, artillery and torpedo weapons” in a rare visit to the South China Sea, the Russian defense ministry announced on November 4th in a statement. The training exercises will also include practicing damage control tasks, according to the statement. Moscow, an 11,500-ton cruiser, left Singapore after a short port call to conduct the drills in an unspecified area of the South China Sea. Moscow’s rare fire drills in the South China Sea will be followed by a visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing this month.

The U.S.

US will defend allies in Asia-Pacific

The United States wants stronger ties with China but is committed to defending allies in the region, US Secretary of State John Kerry said November 4th. Kerry said he and US President Barack Obama would be working for the interests of their allies in the South China Sea when they meet leaders of the Asia Pacific region at two summits in Beijing and Myanmar this month. Speaking before the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington last Tuesday, Kerry said one of their priorities in at the Asia Pacific meetings is to strengthen “the institutions and reinforce the norms that contribute to a rules-based, stable region.” “These are our goals for the rebalance and the objectives that we are working to pursue. We are working together with our allies and partners across Asia,” Kerry said. “These are the goals that the President will discuss with other leaders next week at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing and also at the East Asia Summit that follows in Burma.”

Regional Snapshots

APEC CEO Summit opens in Beijing

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit commenced in Beijing , China on November 9 as part of the week-long APEC meeting. The APEC CEO Summit is an important economic forum that brings the leaders of APEC member economies and leading global business executives together. Under the banner of “Shaping the future through the Asia-Pacific Partnership”, this year’s meeting will focus on issues on connectivity, the birth of a regional free trade area, and emerging concerns in economic and trade collaboration. As many as 15 documents are expected to be approved, including a statement of senior officials and a joint statement of the ministerial meeting.

US Navy cancels port calls to the Philippines

Philippine Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose said the visits of three US ships to Subic this month had been cancelled, while the head of the Subic freeport said nine such visits scheduled for this year had been called off. "The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) was informed through normal diplomatic channels of the cancellation of the visits to Subic of three ships for operational reasons," he said. Jose told reporters he did not believe the cancellations were linked to anger stirred by the investigation of a US Marine for the killing of a Filipina in Olongapo City last month.

East Sea (South China Sea) Studies