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Activities of the Claimants

China

China lodges solemn representation to Philippines over South China Sea dispute

Chinese vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin on March 31st lodged solemn representations to Philippine Ambassador to China Erlinda Basilio over the formal plea the Philippines filed to an international tribunal on South China Sea dispute on March 30th. China expressed strong dissatisfaction at and firm opposition to the Philippine side over the international arbitration it pushed forward unilaterally disregarding China's stern stance, said Liu. "China's stance of neither accepting nor participating in the international arbitration does not change and will not change, " said Liu. Forcing the international arbitration is inconducive to the settlement of the dispute on the South China Sea, said Liu.

China to not participate in international arbitration

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Regarding the Philippines' announcement of its submission of a Memorial to the arbitral tribunal, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Hong Lei, on March 31st reiterated China's solemn position of non-acceptance and non-participation right after the announcement. He also stressed that the Philippines' arrangement of the reporting trip to the waters off the Co May Shoal just a day before its submission of the Memorial to the arbitral tribunal is a deliberately schemed activity with the purpose of further hyping up the issue of the Co May Shoal. “The Philippine side will have to take the consequences caused by its provocative actions,” he said. Concerning comments of Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf of the US State Department supporting the exercise of peaceful means to resolve maritime disputes, Hong Lei said “The US is not a party-concerned in the South China Sea disputes. It has on many occasions stated that it takes no position on issues concerning territorial sovereignty. We urge the US to honor its commitment and do more to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea, rather than the opposite.” Later on April 1st, regarding comments of Marie Harf China's about the China’s blockage of the Philippine supply vessel near Co May Shoal, Hong Lei said “We urge the US to respect facts, stop making irresponsible remarks and cease to encourage the provocative and risky actions of relevant country. Futhermore, Chinese Embassy in Manila spokesperson Zhang Hua on April 3rd released a position paper on the sea disputes with the Philippines.

China says ties 'damaged' by Philippines UN ruling call

China warned April 1st that the Philippines has "seriously damaged" bilateral ties by asking the United Nations to rule in their favor in a maritime dispute. "What the Philippine side did seriously damaged bilateral relations with China," Charge d'affaires Sun Xiangyang of the Chinese embassy in Manila said in a statement. "We find it very hard to understand these moves of the Philippines and we are deeply disturbed by and concerned with the consequence of such moves."

Vietnam

Flag-raising ceremony for VN's first submarines

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A ceremony to raise the national flag on the country’s first two submarines was held at Cam Ranh port in central coastal Khanh Hoa province on April 3. The HQ-182 Hanoi and HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City are two of the six diesel-powered 636 Varshavyanka (kilo)-class submarines that Vietnam bought from Russia to modernise its navy and enhance its capacity to defend the country’s territorial waters. Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that this is a milestone marking a new development of the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Vietnam People’s Army at large. The Government leader reiterated Vietnam’s defence policy of peace and self-defence, adding that its military modernisation aims to defend and protect the country. As scheduled, Russia will hand over to Vietnam another submarine, the HQ-184 Hai Phong, within the year.

The Philippines

UN case not a challenge to China

Philippine President Aquino on 31st March said the government’s decision to pursue the arbitration case in a United Nations tribunal was not intended to provoke China but to defend Philippine territory peacefully. The President said filing the case in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Itlos) was consistent with the country’s policy to resolve the territorial dispute through peaceful means “in conformity with international law.” “We are not here to challenge China, to provoke them into any action,” he said after leading the 35th commencement exercises at the Philippine National Police Academy. “But I do believe that they should recognize [that] we have the right to defend our own interests.”

PH ready for China backlash

The Philippine government is prepared for any backlash from its move to question in the United Nations China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, but Manila’s ties with Beijing remains the same, Malacañang said on April 2nd. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.  said the Philippines was upholding its interest when it submitted its memorandum to the UN arbitral tribunal on Sunday questioning China’s claim over nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Coloma said, however, that the Philippines’ relations with China should not be based on the dispute over territories in the South China Sea. Coloma explained: “In our country’s view, our relations with the People’s Republic of China have a history that is based on friendship and cooperation. And there are many areas where both countries can promote cooperation and friendship.” “That is why we can’t say that the issue of the West Philippine Sea should be the basis for our relations with the People’s Republic of China,” he added.

Philippines pledges restraint in South China Sea row

The Philippines pledged to act with restraint on 4th April a week after China tried to block a boat ferrying supplies to Filipino troops on a disputed reef in the South China Sea. "(The) Philippines makes clear that it will continue to exercise self-restraint and will not raise tension in the South China Sea," Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said. He issued the statement after a week of diplomatic wrangling following a Philippine boat's delivery of food, water and fresh troops to Second Thomas (Vietnam calls it Co May Shoal, the Philippines calls it Ayungin Shoal, China calls it Ren’ai Reef) Shoal, also claimed by Beijing, by slipping through a blockade by two Chinese coastguard vessels.

Indonesia

Indonesia to station Su-27, Su-30s on South China Sea islands

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The Indonesian Air Force (Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara, TNI-AU) is planning to upgrade its airbase at Ranai on Riau Island so it can be used by Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 fighter aircraft, the base's commander said on 27th March. Lieutenant Colonel Andri Gandy also revealed that upgrade work had recently been completed at the airbase, including the installation of runway lights, taxiway lights and integrated radar. The TNI-AU also plans to extend the length of the runway, which is currently 2.5 km long. The new facilities will include hangars on the western part of the airbase and are being installed with the long-term goal of permanently deploying a squadron of Sukhoi fighter aircraft on the Natuna Islands.

Indonesia military worries over Asia arms race, territorial tensions

Indonesia's military is concerned that a rebalancing of power in the Asia-Pacific is driving an arms race in the region and that increasingly tetchy territorial disputes could trigger conflict, its armed forces chief said. In an interview with Reuters, military commander Moeldoko did not single out China for criticism, but his comments are the latest from regional officials that suggest there are growing fears over China's assertiveness and military modernization. "We are definitely worried because there is a trend happening in the region right now and that is an arms race, between ASEAN countries themselves and between major powers," he said late on April 2nd. Moeldoko said it was important that what he called a rebalancing of power in Asia as well as efforts by the United States to step up its military presence in the region did not create "provocations".

Japan

Japan voices support for the Philippines

On March 31st, Japan’s Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that the Philippines’ move to strengthen its claim is a step towards stability in the region. “The issue with regard to the South China Sea is directly related to the peace and stability of the region and is a common concern of the international community as a whole since the issue influences the international maritime order,” Japan pointed out in its statement. It also emphasized the Japanese government’s support towards the Philippines. “The Government of Japan supports the Philippines’ use of procedures under the UNCLOS aiming at peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, as such an action contributes to the maintenance and enhancement of the international order in the region based on the rule of law,” the statement declared.

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The U.S.

US accuses China of provoking Philippines

The United States criticised China as provocative on March 31st after its coast guard tried to block a Philippine vessel that was rotating troops in the tense South China Sea. The attempted Chinese blockade, which led to a two-hour standoff with the Philippine ship, is "a provocative and destabilizing action," State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters. Harf said that the Philippines had permission to resupply troops to the remote reef, the Second Thomas Shoal, because it has kept a naval presence there since before a 2002 declaration of conduct in the South China Sea. "As a treaty ally of the Republic of the Philippines, the United States urges China to refrain from further provocative behavior by allowing the Philippines to continue to maintain its presence at Second Thomas Shoal," she said.

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US urges peaceful resolution for maritime disputes

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For the Asia Society Policy Institute’s (ASPI) AsiaConnect briefing on April 1st 2014, Daniel R. Russel, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs said that “We (the U.S.) see an unsettling pattern of coercion and threatening behavior by China over maritime disputes in the South China Sea. We believe those are the wrong ways to assert a territorial claim and raise serious questions about China’s preferred style of dispute resolution. “The U.S. is not a claimant and doesn’t take a position on competing sovereignty claims. But we maintain a strong conviction that disputes must be addressed through peaceful, diplomatic means,” he added. Speaking at the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he told that China should not doubt the U.S. commitment to defend its Asian allies and the prospect of economic retaliation should also discourage Beijing from using force to pursue territorial claims in Asia in the way Russia has in Crimea. He also said he hoped the fact that the Philippines had filed a case against China on March 30th that an arbitration tribunal in The Hague would encourage China to clarify and remove the ambiguity surrounding its own claims. said it was difficult to determine what China's intentions might be, but Russia's annexation of Crimea had heightened concerns among U.S. allies in the region about the possibility of China using force to pursue its claims.

Regional Snapshots

U.S.-ASEAN Forum Deepens Partnerships, Increases Opportunities

Success during the first U.S.-ASEAN Defense Forum held in the United States has strengthened friendships among nations and increased partnership opportunities that will help everyone in the region deal with new and enduring Asia-Pacific security challenges, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on April 3rd. The 10 defense ministers of member countries that constitute the Association of Southeast Asian Nations accepted Hagel’s June invitation and participated in the discussions and roundtables with purpose and energy, the secretary said during the forum’s final news conference. “This gathering was an important milestone in America's growing engagement with the ASEAN nations, and another signal of the important role ASEAN has to play in promoting regional stability and prosperity,” Hagel observed. 

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US defence chief warns China, drawing parallel with Crimea

Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel on April 6th warned China against unilateral action to resolve territorial disputes with its neighbours, drawing a parallel with Russia's incursion in Ukraine as he announced two more warships would be sent to Japan. Seeking to reassure Washington's longtime ally Japan, Hagel's remarks and promise of more missile defence ships came as Tokyo faces a tense row with Beijing over islands in the East China Sea. "All nations deserve respect, no matter how large or how small," Hagel said during a visit to Tokyo. "I think we're seeing some clear evidence of a lack of respect, and coercion and intimidation with ... what the Russians have done in Ukraine," he told a news conference with his Japanese counterpart, Itsunori Onodera.

Japanese warships dock in Manila

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Two Japanese destroyers arrived at Manila’s South Harbor Wednesday morning for a four-day goodwill visit to be capped by a joint exercise with the Philippine Navy. The Japanese ships JS Shirane (DDH 143) and JS Asayuki (DD 132) of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s  Escort Division docked at the Manila port early Wednesday with some 480 personnel, including newly deployed officers, aboard. Captain Hideto Ikeda, Commander of the 13th Escort Division, said the fresh graduates would undergo familiarization with their new assignments during the Manila stop of their overseas training cruise. “The purpose is to train them [on] seamanship through this training cruise. In addition to that, I encourage them to understand the strategic importance of the Philippines in Southeast Asia and the wonderful traditions and culture of this country,” Ikeda told reporters aboard the Shirane.

US naval ships to visit Vietnam’s central hub

Two U.S. naval vessels will arrive in Da Nang City in central Vietnam early next week to begin their six-day visit that will include such activities as search and rescue exchanges, concerts, and sporting events, the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City said in a press release.  The guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain and the rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard will dock in the city on April 7th. A welcoming ceremony and press conference will be held upon the ships’ arrival to introduce the details of the visit. During visit, the naval forces of Vietnam and the U.S. will exchange expertise in health, search and rescue, disaster relief, diving training, and on-board repairs.

Malaysian Prime Minister visits Vietnam

April 4th | Vietnamplus

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At the invitation of His Excellency Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam, His Excellency Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia and Madam Rosmah Mansor paid an official visit to Vietnam from April 3rd to 5th, 2014. This is the first visit to Vietnam by His Excellency Najib Tun Abdul Razak in his capacity as the Prime Minister of Malaysia. The two Leaders exchanged views on the recent developments in the East Sea and reaffirmed the importance of upholding ASEAN’s unity and centrality in the maintenance of peace and stability, maritime security, freedom of navigation in and over flight above the East Sea. During the official talks, Leaders of the two countries informed each other of the socio-economic development in each respective country, discussed ways to further elevate relations for a comprehensive partnership between the two countries, regional and international issues of common interest.