Weekly Bulletin 8/5-14/5
Satellite images reveal Chinese expansion in South China Sea; Duterte won’t waste efforts of past admins in South China Sea issue; US Senators write to Trump About U.S. FONOPs…
Satellite images reveal Chinese expansion in South China Sea; Duterte won’t waste efforts of past admins in South China Sea issue; US Senators write to Trump About U.S. FONOPs…
Activities of Related Parties
China
Satellite images reveal Chinese expansion in South China Sea
Imagery captured on May 8 from an ImageSat International (ISI) Eros B satellite indicates Chinese preparations for new land-based missile installations on Yulin Naval Base at the tip of Hainan Island. In less than two months, the PLA deployed multiple missile launchers on the western side of the base, deployments that ISI imagery analyst Amit Gur has concluded are anti-ship missiles. He said that similar systems had shown up in satellite data about two years ago, but had been removed in recent months to accommodate infrastructure upgrades at the site. ISI's imagery from March 15 shows an empty plateau, but by May 8 the firm’s Eros B captured a clear image of newly paved infrastructure and multiple launch sites.
China to kick off “Belt and Road” Forum
The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation from May 14 to 15 will push forward cooperation in infrastructure connectivity among participating countries. Over 50 cooperation agreements concerning transportation, energy, and communications are expected to be signed during the forum, said Fei Zhirong, an official from National Development and Reform Commission. The forum will increase connectivity, strengthen management of infrastructure operations and push forward infrastructure connectivity, said Fei. A series of high level meetings will be held during the forum including a plenary session and six parallel panel discussions, said Wang Xiaotao, deputy head of NDRC.
Chinese research ships seen near Vigan, Mindoro
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on May 10 revealed that China has continued its expansion activities in the disputed South China Sea, with its vessels spotted even in the Philippine sea. In the report given by the AFP before the House Committee on National Defense, it listed China as one of the security threats faced by the Philippines. Major General Felimon Santos Jr., AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, described China's presence in the South China Sea and Philippine Sea as "intensifying." "Reports received show that another Chinese vessel, Jiangkai, with bow number 525, has been monitored within the Philippine territorial waters, particularly in the vicinity of the Mindoro Strait on April 23, 2017. The ship is believed to be shadowing the US Navy ship USS Stethem, which is conducting routine operations in the area," Santos said.
Vietnam
Vietnam reaffirms sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago
In response to reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s response to the recent visit to Truong Sa archipelago’s Thi Tu island by Philippine Defence Secretary Eduardo Ano, Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang stated Vietnam has sufficient legal ground and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago. Vietnam asks parties concerned to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago, fully and seriously implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (South China Sea), exercise restraint and refrain from actions that cause tension and further complicate the situation, and settle disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law.
The Philippines
‘Duterte won’t waste efforts of past admins in South China Sea issue’
Philippine Incoming Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on May 11 assured the media that the Duterte government is on top of the situation in the South China Sea and will not waste efforts of past administrations. He added the Philippines needs to be wise enough to find a way to work with the other nations and to manage the area for fisheries, tourism, investments and security. Duterte, he said, wants to avoid a situation where the claimant countries are going against each other.
Philippines sends troops, supplies to Thitu Island
Lt. Gen. Raul del Rosario, head of the Philippine military's Western Command, said on May 10 that the Philippines has started transporting troops and supplies to Thitu Island in preparation for construction work that includes reinforcing and lengthening an airstrip and building a dock. About 1.6 billion pesos ($32 million) has been earmarked for the construction that will also include a fish port, solar power, water desalination plant, refurbishment of housing for soldiers and facilities for marine research and tourists.
The U.S.
US patrols challenging Beijing in South China Sea will continue, says US Navy commander
In an emailed response to questions about whether US “freedom of navigation” operations – also known as “FONOPs” – in the area have been halted, US Navy commander Gary Ross “US forces operate in the Asia-Pacific region on a daily basis, including in the South China Sea. We are continuing with regular FONOPs, as we have routinely done in the past and will continue to do in the future.” Also, speaking at an event in Singapore, US Pacific Fleet Commander Scott Swift said a hiatus in “freedom of navigation” patrols doesn’t mean the disputed waterway is a lower priority for the Trump presidency. “We just went through a change in administration.” “I am not surprised that process has continued in a dialogue as the new administration gets its feet on the ground and determines where would be appropriate to take advantage of these opportunities and where we may want to wait.”
US Senators write to Trump About U.S. Navigation Operations in South China Sea
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the Ranking Member and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to President Trump on May 10 urging his Administration to take necessary steps to routinely exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. The bipartisan group of Senators note that China “has taken a series of aggressive steps in disputed areas of the South China Sea,” which “raise serious questions about China’s commitment to regional security, the free flow of commerce, and freedom of navigation and overflight.” “Exercising our country’s decades-long Freedom of Navigation Operations program ‘is critical to U.S. national security interests and to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.’”
U.S. wants to spend added Billions on Military in Asia.
The Pentagon has endorsed a plan to invest nearly $8 billion to bulk up the U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific region over the next five years by upgrading military infrastructure, conducting additional exercises and deploying more forces and ships. The proposal, dubbed the Asia-Pacific Stability Initiative, was first floated by Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) and has been embraced by other lawmakers and, in principle, by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and the head of U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Harry Harris. Proponents haven’t developed details of the $7.5 billion plan. “This initiative could enhance U.S. military power through targeted funding to realign our force posture in the region, improve operationally relevant infrastructure, fund additional exercises, pre-position equipment and build capacity with our allies and partners,” Mr. McCain told Adm. Harris in an April hearing.
Regional Snapshots
Vietnamese naval ship attends activities in Singapore
Missile Frigate 011-Dinh Tien Hoang of the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) left Cam Ranh Military Port on May 8 afternoon for Singapore to attend celebrations of the 50th founding anniversary of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The ship, with 137 officers and sailors on board, will join the International Maritime Review, Multinational Sea Exercise within the framework of the 6th Western Pacific Navy Symposium (WPNS-6), Maritime Information Sharing Exercise 2017, and International Maritime Defense Exhibition Asia 2017.
Vietnam’s President visits China
On the occasion of the State visit to China by Vietnam State President Tran Dai Quang, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to China at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping, the two leaders issued a joint statement highlighting the friendship between the two countries. Regarding the South China Sea issues, the joint statement read: “The two sides agreed to continue implementing comprehensively and efficiently the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (South China Sea) (DOC) and soon form a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) on the basis of consultation and unity, well manage disputes at sea, refrain from actions that could complicate or expand disputes, and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.”
PH, US Balikatan exercises open with fewer troops
The annual military exercises between the United States and the Philippines, called “Balikatan [shoulder-to-shoulder],” opened in Quezon City on May 8, but on a smaller scale. Exercise Balikatan 2017, which will run from May 8 to 19, was scaled down from almost 10,000 soldiers last year to 5,400 troops but will also include 80 troops from Australia, 20 from Japan and observers from Southeast Asian countries. This year’s exercises will focus on humanitarian aid and disaster response (HADR) and counterterrorism, compared to last year’s emphasis on territorial defense.
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