alt

Activities of the Claimants

China

China hits Philippines over extended oil drilling

China criticized the Philippines for extending the permit of Forum Energy, a British company led by businessman Manuel V Pangilinan, to conduct oil drilling activities in the disputed South China Sea. “Without permission from China, oil and gas exploration by any foreign companies in waters under China's jurisdiction is illegal and invalid,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a media conference in Beijing on July 10th. Hong also asserted that China “has indisputable sovereignty” over the Spratly Islands, which the Chinese call Nansha, as well as its adjacent waters.

China reveals rare videos of its South China Sea territorial battle

Chinese state-run network CCTV 4 recently published an eight-part TV documentary entitled “Journey on the South China Sea”. With Chinese narration and English subtitles, the documentary has also been posted on CCTV's website for worldwide viewing. the three-hour plus documentary provides a rare peek into how China works in the shadows to consolidate its territorial claims in strategic waters, spy on rival claimants, and gradually build an armed presence to thwart opponents who challenge its ancient claims and current expansion.

China looks for UNESCO approval in disputed South China Sea waters

alt

As China attempts to register the Maritime Silk Road with UNESCO, the protection of archeological sites in the disputed South China Sea is underway. Shipwrecks around Paracel islands will be excavated over the next two years, Wang Yiping, head of cultural heritage for Hainan province, said. The so-called Sansha city has had conservation programs on Huu Nhat and Da Bac islands since earlier this year, Wang added.

China deploys missile-armed nuclear subs to South China Sea

China has deployed three nuclear powered ballistic missile-capable submarines to its South China Sea fleet to further stamp its power and influence in the region. Chinese media released a photo, apparently taken last May, of three Type 094 missile submarines docked at a Yulin naval base on Hainan Island. The submarines' presence at Hainan Island, which is China's main base covering the South China Sea, is seen as a major development as this the first time Beijing deployed its ballistic missile submarines to a forward base.

Vietnam

Vietnam welcomes US Senate’s Resolution 412

Vietnam has welcomed the US Senate’s Resolution 412 which calls on China to withdraw its drilling rig and associated maritime forces from their current positions, and to return immediately to the status quo as it existed before May 1st, 2014. Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh made the statement on July 11th in reply to reporters’ questions regarding the US Senate’s approval of Resolution 412 on July 10th. The resolution reaffirms “the strong support of the United States Government for freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding territorial and maritime claims and disputes.” Earlier on July 10th, regarding Chinese detainment of six fishermen and their fishing boat QNg 94912 TS from central Quang Ngai province, Binh informed that at 9 a.m on July 10th, officials from the Vietnamese Consulate General in Guangzhou made a consular visit to the fishermen and took necessary protection measures. The fishermen’s health is good and the Consulate General is working closely with Hainan’s competent agencies to clarify issues related to the case, the spokesperson said.

The Philippines

Philippine DFA studying new Chinese law

alt

The South China Morning Post on July 1st reported the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress had enacted a Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Military Installations, set to be implemented on August 1st. The new law “would step up protection of China’s military facilities and its territorial waters following reports of inadvertent intrusions into restricted zones and concerns about spying.”  Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman and Assistant Foreign Secretary Charles Jose on July 7th said the DFA was studying the implications of the new Chinese law to the Philippines.

Philippines welcomes US Senate resolution

Quoting US Senate Resolution no. 412, Philippine Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. on July 13th said the US reaffirmed “its unwavering commitment and support for allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific Region, including long-standing United States policy regarding Article V of the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treat.” Coloma said Section 1 of the resolution clearly “condemns coercive and threatening actions or the use of force to impede freedom of operations in international airspace by military or civilian aircraft, to alter the status quo or to destabilize the Asia-Pacific Region.” Coloma said Section 1 of the resolution clearly “condemns coercive and threatening actions or the use of force to impede freedom of operations in international airspace by military or civilian aircraft, to alter the status quo or to destabilize the Asia-Pacific Region.”

The U.S.

US presses China on maritime tensions

alt

The United States on July 9th "forcefully" pressed China on festering maritime rows even as the two countries vowed to seek cooperation rather than confrontation. Opening two days of talks between the world's two largest economic powers, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned his Chinese counterparts that it would be "unacceptable" to try to create a new status quo in the South and East China Seas, where Beijing is in dispute with its neighbours. "We believe that a rules-based order in the Asia-Pacific region is essential," the senior US administration official said, adding "we want China to contribute to and participate in that order, not pull against regional and global norms". Kerry urged China to avail itself of international mechanisms to resolve the competing claims.

US Senate passes resolution on South China Sea

The US Senate on July 10th adopted a resolution coded S.RES.412 on the South China Sea, requesting China to return immediately to the status quo as it existed before May 1st, 2014. The resolution reaffirms “the strong support of the United States Government for freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding territorial and maritime claims and disputes”. It states that although the US is not a claimant party in the South China Sea but it is a longstanding Asia-Pacific power and has a clear interest in encouraging and supporting the nations of the region to work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve disputes and is firmly opposed to coercion, intimidation, threats, or the use of force. It emphasises the vital importance of the increasing frequency and assertiveness of patrols and competing regulations over disputed territory and maritime areas and airspace in the South China Sea (South China Sea) and the East China Sea are raising tensions and increasing the risk of confrontation.

Regional Snapshots

ASEAN journalist group opposes China’s aggressive actions

alt

President of the Conference of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ) Benny Antiporda has opposed China’s continued aggressive actions in all waters that it now claims as “part” of its national territory. In his statement issued on July 3rd, the CAJ President said these actions have become a serious concern for all peace-loving people everywhere, in particular, to the people of Southeast Asia. Specifically, China’s actions have now seriously affected its relationship with the two CAJ members, the Philippines and Vietnam, both of whom are now at the “receiving end” of China’s bullying tactics in the South China Sea. “We describe China’s actions as “bullying” because, clearly, it is using its economic and military might against its weak and smaller neighbours to back up its territorial claims without regard to historical tradition and facts and to the long, peaceful relationship that has existed between China and other countries in the ASEAN region,” the statement said.

Japan to provide ODA for Vietnam’s patrol shipbuilding

Japan is completing legal procedures for an ODA sum to be provided for the Vietnamese Government’s project to build new patrol ships for law enforcement forces, President of the Japanese House of Representatives Committee on Security Eto Akinori has revealed. Meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Chi Vinh in Hanoi on July 7th, the congressman from the Liberal Democratic Party congratulated Vietnam on launching a peacekeeping centre in Hanoi and promised support through personnel training. On the back of the growing defence and security links between Vietnam and Japan, Vinh suggested better joint work to realise a memorandum of understanding on bilateral defence cooperation and exchange signed in 2011. He also thanked Japan for raising voice against China’s illegal move of installing its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou - 981 in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. Vietnam wants Japan to continue backing its fight against China’s wrongful acts, the host said.

Fourth China-U.S. Strategic and Security Dialogue held in Beijing

The fourth China-U.S. Strategic and Security Dialogue under the framework of the sixth China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) was held in Beijing on July 8th, 2014. Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns co-chaired the fourth China-U.S. Strategic and Security Dialogue. Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the U.S., Christine E. Wormuth, U.S. Undersecretary of Defense, and Max Baucus, U.S. ambassador to China, attended the meeting. The two sides exchanged views in a candid, practical and constructive atmosphere on issues of common concern such as strategic security and comprehensive security, and the exchanges deepened mutual understanding. The two sides agreed to maintain and promote the China-U.S. Strategic and Security Dialogue mechanism and further enhance mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides.

International scholars come up with ways to ease South China Sea tensions

alt

The fourth annual conference on the South China Sea has brought together leading scholars from the US, China, India, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam to seek measures to ease tensions in the region. The July 10th-11th conference in Washington DC, the US, hosted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), highlighted recent trends in the South China Sea and US policy to the issue. Participants analysed the recent developments in the South China Sea, especially China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and the Philippines’ lawsuit against China at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. They put forth recommendations, particularly for the US, on measures against China’s increasingly aggressive acts, contributing to maintaining stability in the region.

Japan-US defense cooperation guidelines must mark new era

During their meeting in Washington, Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera and US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel confirmed that the two nations will reflect the Japanese government's new constitutional interpretation approving the limited exercise of the right of collective self-defence in the Guidelines for Japan-US Defence Cooperation, to be revised by year-end. Onodera and Hagel also agreed to issue an interim report on the new guidelines at an early date. At the press conference, Hagel expressed US support for the new interpretation, which he referred to as "this bold, historic, landmark decision." It is important that the new guidelines will incorporate as many specific ways as possible to expand cooperation between the Self-Defence Forces and the US military on the premise that Japan can exercise its right of collective self-defence.

Full remark

East Sea (South China Sea) studies