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Activities of the Claimants

China

China to build lighthouses on five isles

China plans to build lighthouses on five islands in the South China Sea, state media reported on 5th August, in defiance of calls from the United States and the Philippines for a freeze on such activity to ease tension over rival. The state-run China News Service said Chinese authorities had been surveying sites for lighthouses on five islands: Da Bac, Con Cat Nam, Duy Mong Island, Hon Thap, Hai Sam Reef (known in English as North Reef, South Sand, Drummond Island, Pyramid Rock, and Antelope Reef respectively). The survey began on July 27th, and "as of Aug. 4 construction sites and alternative locations for lighthouses on the five islands and reefs had been initially decided upon", the news service said, quoting a Chinese navigation official.

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China says can build what it wants on South China Sea isles

China can build whatever it wants on its islands in the South China Sea, a senior Chinese official said on Auguset 4th. Yi Xianliang, deputy head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Boundary and Ocean Affairs Departments, told reporters that China had every right to build on its islands as a way of improving basic living conditions there. "The Spratly Islands are China's intrinsic territory, and what China does or doesn't do is up to the Chinese government. Nobody can change the government's position," Yi said. It was a double standard to bring this issue up now when other countries had been doing similar things for years, he added. "Why is it that when other countries wantonly build airports, nobody says a word? But China has only this year started small and necessary construction, to raise living conditions on the islands - and so many people raise doubts."

China defends lighthouse building in South China Sea

China has defended the building of lighthouses on islands in the South China Sea, calling them its "inherent territory" amid tensions with Vietnam and other nations that also claim parts of the region. "China has long been building and maintaining lighthouses and other navigational aids on islands" in the Spratly and Paracel islands, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement posted on the ministry's website on 8th August. "What China has done is beyond any reproach since it provides necessary measures to safeguard the navigational safety of vessels passing by and serves the public good in conformity with the requirement of relevant international rules," Hua said. She reiterated China's position that the the Paracels and the Spratlys.

China sends new seismic vessel to the South China Sea

China Oilfield Services Limited ("COSL" or the "Group) announced recently that its newly-built 12-streamer vessel "HYSY721" has been successfully delivered in Shanghai. China Oilfield Services Limited ("COSL" or the "Group) announced recently that its newly-built 12-streamer vessel "HYSY721" has been successfully delivered in Shanghai. HYSY721, the second major seismic vessel invested by COSL, is capable of driving 12 streamers, each of 8,000 meters in length, for seismic explorations. It is capable of high-density seismic data collection at a maximum intensity of up to 3000PSI. 

China's military sets up joint operations command center

The Chinese military has set up a joint command center that would integrate the operations of its army, navy and air forces, military sources have told Kyodo News, in a move aimed at making military strategy and tactics more efficient. The joint operations command center has been established under the People's Liberation Army's General Staff Headquarters, which is responsible for taking command of military strategies, as part of military reform efforts to boost the unified operations of Chinese capabilities on land, sea, air and in dealing with strategic missile operations, the sources said. It is the first time for such a center to be permanently set up, according to the sources.

China Protests Against Korea Donating Warship to Philippines

China has strongly protested against the government's decision to donate a 1,200-ton patrol boat and a landing vessel to the Philippines, it emerged August 4th. Former Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin agreed in a meeting on May 30th with his Philippines counterpart Voltaire Gazmin to hand over the aging vessels free of charge. According to the Foreign Ministry, an official at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul visited the ministry on June 10 after the decision was reported by media and asked for it to be canceled.

China Rejects Philippine Proposal on South China Sea Disputes

China on August 9th rejected the Philippines' proposed freeze on perceived provocative acts that recently stirred tensions in contested Asian waters, signaling its preference to tackle South China Sea disputes with diplomatic efforts that have made little progress in the last decade. In thinly veiled criticism of Manila's "triple-action plan," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing wouldn't accept proposals that would "interrupt" ongoing conflict-resolution talks and "damage the common interests" of China and its Southeast Asian neighbors. "China is ready to listen to well-intended proposals on the South China Sea from all parties," Mr. Wang told reporters after meeting his Southeast Asian counterparts. "But these proposals should be objective, fair and constructive, rather than contributing to new problems or be driven by ulterior motives." In an interview, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario dismissed Mr. Wang's criticisms, saying the triple-action plan conforms to principles that Beijing itself signed up to in a 2002 Asean-China declaration, which outlines a framework for resolving disputes in the South China Sea. "They should have no problem with the plan—it's positive, it's constructive, it's comprehensive," Mr. Del Rosario told The Wall Street Journal. "If China does not accept this proposition, then they are rejecting the agreement that they had signed."

China and ASEAN are fully capable of safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea

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On August 10th, 2014, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi refuted some countries' hyping up of the so-called tensions in the South China Sea at the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of ASEAN Regional Forum in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. Wang Yi said that the current situation of the South China Sea is generally stable, and the freedom of navigation there has never seen any problems. So far, we have not heard about any ship's freedom of navigation be affected. China-ASEAN relationship maintains a sound momentum of growth. We disapprove of anyone's hyping up of the so-called tensions in the South China Sea.

Vietnam

Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force vessels to be equipped with weapons

All ships under the management of the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force will be equipped with weapons starting September 15, according to a newly-issued government decree. Under the decree No. 76 dated July 29, 2014 which introduces amendments to the current ordinance on the management and use of weapons, explosives and supporting devices, the maritime force’s members will be given handguns, submachine guns, and bullets. Meanwhile, the force’s vessels will be equipped with light machine guns, machine guns, 14.5mm machine guns, and bullets. The use of these weapons is specifically stipulated in the ordinance.

Vietnam decries China’s illegal activities on Paracel islands

At a Foreign Ministry press briefing on August 7th, Vietnamese spokesperson Le Hai Binh responded to many questions that concern Vietnamese and foreign reporters. Regarding Vietnam's response to news saying that the Nanhai Maritime Safety Administration has finalized its field measurement survey on 5 islands of the Hoang Sa archipelagoes aiming to select suitable sites for lighthouse construction, Binh said, "Vietnamese competent agencies have actively verified this information. However, we have repeatedly affirmed that Vietnam has indisputable sovereignty over the two islands. Therefore, all Chinese activities in the two islands are illegal and null and void". Earlier on August 6th, China’s Xinhua news agency said, the country had been surveying sites for lighthouses on 5 islands, namely North Reef, Antelope Reef, Drummond Island, South Sand and Pyramid Rock belonging to Vietnam’s Hoang Sa. China also declared that it will continue carrying out geological measurement activities and collect geological samples on the isles of the Paracel Islands to collect authentic data for lighthouse building. In reply to reporters’ question about Vietnam's reaction to the news that China will use deep-water seismic vessel "HYSY 721" in geological survey and oil and gas exploration activities in the East Sea, Binh said all activities conducted by parties concerned in the East Sea should adhere to international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) and all parties should respect the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal countries.

The Philippines

3 Asean states back PH plan on sea row

The Philippines on August 4th said it had won support from Vietnam, Indonesia and Brunei for a plan to ease tensions in the South China Sea. Manila’s plan calls for an immediate moratorium on activities that escalate tensions and implementation of a code of conduct in the sea, which is home to vital shipping routes and is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits. The plan was raised during Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario’s recent visits to Brunei, Vietnam and Indonesia, said Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, the spokesman of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. “He has taken trips (to these countries) precisely to raise the triple-action plan and so far, all of these countries have expressed support for the initiative,” Jose told reporters. 

12 Chinese jailed for illegal fishing in Philippines

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Twelve Chinese fishermen were handed long prison terms on August 5th for illegal fishing in the Philippines after their ship ran aground on a World Heritage-listed coral reef, a court official said. The 12 were arrested at the Tubbataha Reef, a marine sanctuary in the western Philippines famed as a pristine dive spot, in April last year after their 48-metre (157-foot) boat hit and badly damaged it. "The court imposed the maximum punishment of 12 years in prison for the boat captain," Hazel Alaska, clerk of the court that heard the case in the western city of Puerto Princesa, told AFP by telephone.

India

Indian frontline warships test waters in South China sea

An Indian navy officer said on August 5th "Three frontline warships departed Indian shores in mid-June and have since been operating in the South China Sea and the Western Pacific." The warships are returning to India after conducting naval drills with the US and Japan in the north-western Pacific Ocean as part of the Malabar exercise. The navy officer called the deployment "a fine demonstration of the operational reach and pursuit of India's 'Look East' policy." INS Shivalik, a guided missile frigate, arrived at Hai Phong port in Vietnam on August 5th on a three-day visit during which joint drills will be conducted.

The U.S.

US comments about Chinese plan to build five lighthouse

In a Daily Press Briefing on August 7th, U.S. Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf told that “we’ve said for a very long time that we believe territorial disputes should be managed and resolved peacefully, diplomatically, and in accordance with international law. For this reason, we support efforts that lower tensions and expand space for peaceful and diplomatic resolutions of disputes. Look, ideally claimant states, when there are disagreements, would decide among themselves what type of specific activities are considered provocative or out-of-bonds, offer to put a voluntary freeze on any such actions if other claimants would commit to do so likewise.”

Kerry urges talks to ease China Sea tensions

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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on August 10th urged China and its smaller neighbors to peacefully resolve mounting tensions over maritime disputes in Asian waters. Speaking to the foreign ministers of China and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Kerry said it's not enough to simply continue working on a long-delayed binding code of conduct for the South China Sea where many have competing claims to territory. "While we all share the hope that ASEAN and China will accelerate negotiations on a meaningful code of conduct, we think the urgency of developments means that it is not enough simply to wait for that solution to arrive," Kerry said. "Obvious dangers arise during waiting time. The claimants need to take steps now to lower the temperature." Kerry said he was concerned the lack of clarity regarding South China Sea claims has created uncertainty. "And this uncertainty limits the prospect for a mutually agreeable resolution or equitable joint development arrangements. But let me be clear: We believe the obligation to clarify claims in keeping with international law applies to all claimants, not just China," he said.

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Regional Snapshots

47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting opens in Myanmar

The 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-47) kicked off in the Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw on August 8th, with President Thein Sein affirming the bloc’s determination to work together toward a strong, peaceful and prosperous ASEAN community in his opening remarks. On August 10th , AMM-47 issued a joint communiqué expressing the ministers’ deep concern over recent developments that have escalated tensions in the South China Sea. “We remained seriously concerned over recent developments which had increased tensions in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, maritime security as well as freedom of navigation in and over-flight above the South China Sea ,” they said. They also reaffirmed their commitments to the principles stipulated in the 2012 Statement of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers on ASEAN's Six Point Principles on the South China Sea, the 2012 Joint Statement of the 15th ASEAN-China Summit on the 10th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and the ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Statement on the Current Developments in the South China Sea which was issued on May 10th, 2014. They also agreed to intensify consultations with China on measures and mechanisms to ensure and further enhance the full and effective implementation of the DOC in its entirety, particularly Articles 4 and 5 as well as substantive negotiations for the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). They said they tasked their Senior Officials to follow up on this matter.  The communiqué also took note of the Progress Report on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to be submitted to the ASEAN-China Post-Ministerial Conference, and tasked officials to work with China to finalise the objective and structure and elaborate the substance of the COC, including concrete elements which would promote trust and confidence, prevent incidents, manage incidents should they occur.

ASEAN wants to accelerate consultations on COC

ASEAN wants to push forward the official consultation process in order to early achieve a Code of Conduct on the South China Sea (COC), said Thailand’s acting Foreign Minister Sihasak Phungketkeow. The Thai acting FM made the remark at a joint press conference after he and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the ASEAN-China meeting in the framework of the 47th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-47) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on August 9th. The ministers want to push for the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties on the South China Sea (DOC) while further accelerating the official consultation process in order to early achieve the COC, he said. The next round of talks on the COC is slated to take place in Thailand in October, he said, adding that ASEAN hopes to achieve progress in the discussions on the draft COC, first of all the measures that can be deployed in the medium term in order to promote trust building and enhance cooperation. On his part, FM Wang Yi said Beijing is ready to discuss ways to conduct dialogue and cooperation with coastal countries in the South China Sea to jointly maintain peace, stability and development in the South China Sea.

21st ASEAN Regional Forum issues Chairman’s Statement

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The 21st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF-21) on August 10th issued a Chairman’s Statement, which again highlighted the importance of ARF as a political and security forum for boosting regional peace, stability and prosperity through dialogue and cooperation. Regarding the South China Sea issue, the statement again confirmed the importance of fostering peace, stability, maritime security and safety, free trade, and freedom of aviation and navigation. It emphasized the need to solve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of universally-acknowledged principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The statement called on parties involved to restrain themselves and avoid making actions that can complicate the situation, at the same time underlined the need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and actively work toward an early formation of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in order to better ensure peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region.

East Sea (South China Sea) Studies