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Activities of Claimants

China

Five Chinese Naval Ships Spotted In Bering Sea

The Pentagon on September 2 confirmed the presence of five Chinese naval vessels in the Bering Sea between Russia and Alaska, which US President Barack Obama is currently visiting. "This is the first time we have observed PLAN ships in the Bering Sea," Said Commander Bill Urban, a Pentagon spokesman.  "We respect the freedom of all nations to operate military vessels in international waters in accordance with international law.” The boats comprise three combat ships, an amphibious ship and a replenishment vessel. According to Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the vessels sailed  in international waters in the next day.

Xi Vows To Peace Development

Addressing at the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war on September 3, President Xi Jinping said “This great triumph opened up bright prospects for the great renewal of the Chinese nation and set our ancient country on a new journey after gaining rebirth.” He put it “war is like a mirror. Looking at it helps us better appreciate the value of peace.” He added “we need to foster a keen sense of a global community of shared future. Prejudice, discrimination, hatred and war can only cause disaster and suffering, while mutual respect, equality, peaceful development and common prosperity represent the right path to take. All countries should jointly uphold the international order and system underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, build a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation and advance the noble cause of global peace and development.” Xi stressed that “China will remain committed to peaceful development. No matter how much stronger it may become, China will never seek hegemony or expansion.” On this occasion, Xi announced cutting its troops by 300,000.

Taiwan To Launch Homegrown Submarine Plan With Initial T$3 Billion Budget

The expected allocation is the first for a plan that has been talked about since the early 2000s, when a deal with the United States for eight diesel-electric submarines got bogged down because of technical and political constraints. The spending was set out in the defense ministry's budget for 2016. The plan come as other navies in the regional expand their submarine fleets in part to create a strategic deterrent against China's growing naval assertiveness in Asian waters

Philippines

DND To China: Prove Commitment To Peace

The Department of National Defense (DND) has challenged China to prove its sincerity in its commitment to peace by stopping its military buildup and construction activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). DND spokesman Peter Galvez said “we call on China’s government to show its sincerity by stopping all ongoing construction and militarization activities and to refrain from restricting freedom of flight and navigation in the West Philippine (South China) Sea,” Galvez said. “The Chinese leadership should go beyond deceitful rhetoric, claiming peaceful efforts before all their aggression takes a greater and irreparable toll on the region and beyond,” he added.

The statement was made after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s announcement at 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, saying that “China will never seek hegemony or expansion. It will never inflict its past suffering on any other nation.”

Malaysia

Malaysian Military Implements Initiatives To Beef Up Security

On August 30, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the Malaysian Armed Forces is implementing nine initiatives to beef up the level of security in to enhance maritime security in the waters off Sabah east coast, namely the Tun Azizan naval base and Tun Sharifah Rodziah naval base. He said, "in terms of assets, four P38 boats and five Silverbreeze boats are now being deployed to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) and will be operated by the Malaysian Royal Navy to conduct patrols and interception at sea." In strengthening air defence, Hishammuddin said five Hawk fighter aircraft are placed at the Labuan naval base as a strategic measure to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as in Sabah and Sarawak and South China Sea.

Malaysia and U.S. in Talks to Ramp Up China Spying

On September 3, the U.S. and Malaysia have been secretly discussing expanded use of Malaysian territory for hosting U.S. spy planes to patrol the South China Sea, in response to increased Chinese activity in the disputed territory. Diplomatic sources said the focus of the discussions is now the island of Labuan, off the coast of the semi-autonomous state of Sabah on Borneo. The island is closer to Chinese military construction in the South China Sea than the locations currently used to launch U.S. spy missions, such as Clark Air Base in the Philippines.

The United States

US Submarine Force In The Pacific Gets New Commander

The U.S. Navy, on September 3, is installing a new commander to lead its submarine force in the Pacific. Rear Adm. Frederick Roegge (ROW-gee) took over from Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor. Roegge most recently served in the Pentagon. The change comes as growing Chinese operations in places like the South China Sea are boosting U.S. demand for the eavesdropping capabilities of underwater vessels.

Australia

Australia Concerned About The Large-Scale Land Reclamation And Construction Activity By China

On September 2, speaking in India’s Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, Australian Minister for Defence, Kevin Andrews said “territorial disputes continue to risk regional stability and create uncertainty.” He added “Australia has a legitimate interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. Australia has not taken sides on competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, but we are concerned about the large-scale land reclamation and construction activity by China and other claimants that raises tensions in the region. Australia strongly opposes the use of intimidation, aggression or coercion to advance any country's claims or to unilaterally alter the status quo. We are particularly concerned about the possible militarisation of features in the South China Sea. We encourage practical implementation of commitments under the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea; and urge China and the ASEAN member countries to make early progress on a substantive Code of Conduct for the South China Sea.”

Andrews stresses that, in the years ahead, the Australian MoD will increase its investment in international engagement to help reduce the risk of military confrontation, build interoperability with key partners, and improve the coordination of responses to shared international challenges.

Regional Snapshot

Coast guard forces of Vietnam, India carry out drill at sea

The exercise took place in areas about 6-10 nautical miles off the city on August 30, as part of a five-day visit to Ho Chi Minh City by the Indian Coast Guard patrol vessel Sarang with 140 crew members led by Senior Colonel Naresh Kumar Kaul. This drill will help Vietnamese coast guards improve their capabilities, said Lieutenant Colonel Le Thanh Hai, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) of Zone 3. Senior Colonel Kaul told Youth newspaper that the VCG is capable of doing every task at sea rapidly.

Vietnam and India have similarities in facing maritime issues such as disasters and piracy, so there are more opportunities for further cooperation between the two sides in the future, the Indian official added.

Vietnam, China to Promote the Bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

On September 3, State President Truong Tan Sang had a meeting with Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping in Beijing. President Truong Tan Sang affirmed that on the basis of its foreign policy of peace, independence, self-reliance, multi-lateralisation and diversification, Vietnam consistently attaches importance to developing stable, healthy and long-term relations with China and wishes to work with the country to promote the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership practically and effectively.

Regarding maritime issues, the Vietnamese State leader stated that the recent situation at sea has become increasingly complicated, worrying countries both within and outside the region. He asked the two countries to control disputes, avoid actions that complicate or expand conflicts, work together to maintain peace and stability in the East (South China) Sea and speed up cooperation projects in line with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS).

On his speech, the Chinese leader thanked the Vietnamese State President for attending celebrations of the 70th anniversary of victory over fascism during World War II, saying that developing the two countries’ relations is in accordance with the basic interests of their peoples and benefits peace, stability and development in the region.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State to visit China

On September 2, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel will visit China between Sept. 6 and 8. The two sides will exchange views on the China-U.S. relationship and major issues of common interest, and prepare for Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States in September.

THE EAST SEA STUDIES