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Activities of the Claimants

China

China's Expanding Drone Program

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China is rapidly expanding its research into and production, deployments and sales of unmanned aerial vehicles, colloquially known as drones. The primary role of this growing program is to help Beijing control and monitor disputed territories in the Asia-Pacific region. For now, China is developing multiple types of drones, ranging from high-altitude, long-endurance designs like the U.S. Global Hawk to small, hand-launched designs similar to the U.S. Raven.

Chinese President pays visit to Hainan fishermen

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited fishing villages and talked with the seamen and maritime militia in Tanmen township of Qionghai city in Hainan on April 8th after the end of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2013, China Central Television reported. During the trip, Xi also visited an agricultural industry park and encouraged the development of modern ecological agriculture. The Hainan provincial government should speed up efforts to build it into an international tourism destination by 2020, in keeping with a State Council guideline, he said. On April 9th, Chinese President visited the People's Liberation Army Navy troops stationed in Sanya in south China's island province of Hainan. On this occasion, he urged the Navy to strengthen itself and integrate individual soldiers' aspirations into national hopes of reinforcing the military.

China: Fishermen's rights should be respected

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In a press conference on April 11th, regarding the seizing Chinese fishermen of the Philippines, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said that China had asked the Philippine side to fairly and properly deal with the case and adopt concrete and effective measures to ensure the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese fishermen

Chinese ships remain in Scarborough Shoal

Philippine Defense Chief Voltaire Gazmin on April 12th said China had maintained its presence in the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea a year after the standoff between the Philippine Navy and Chinese vessels. Gazmin said that two Chinese Maritime Surveillance (CMS) vessels and a Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) vessel had remained in the area. “They are there but we don’t want the problem to escalate. We have done our part by submitting this to an international court of arbitration. We want a peaceful resolution of the case,” he said.

Taiwan plans to expand pier in South China Sea

Taiwan plans to expand a pier on Ba Binh island, officials said on April 13th. The Taiwanese Coast Guard Administration has budgeted Tw$19 million ($640,000) to evaluate the project, which is part of its efforts to boost defence capabilities in this area this year. The United Evening News said the expanded pier would allow port calls by the coast guard's 2,000-tonne frigates. The current pier provides facilities only to small patrol boats.

Vietnam

Vietnam asks China to end tourism plan in Hoang Sa

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A representative from the Foreign Ministry’s National Boundary Commission on April 12th opposed China’s plan to bring tourists to Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago. “Vietnam has indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes. China’s plan to brings tourists to Hoang Sa is a serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty, running counter to the spirit of the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC)”, the representative said. “Vietnam demands China to cancel such a plan,” he said, adding that on April 12, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry handed over a diplomatic note to a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi to protest the plan.

The Philippines

Philippines charges 12 Chinese fishermen with poaching

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The 12 Chinese fishermen whose boat got stuck in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park on Monday (April 8th) night were slapped with charges of poaching and other violations of the marine park’s rules. They were detained at the provincial jail facility here following inquest proceedings on Tuesday (April 9th) afternoon. Philippine President Aquino said swift legal action would be taken against crewmen of the steel-hulled vessel Ming Long Yu.

Philippines to stick with arbitration under UNCLOS to pursue Spratly claim

Speaking before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ foreign ministers meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario emphasized on April 11th, that “the Philippines’ recourse to arbitration is firmly rooted in the tradition of good global citizenship.” “The Philippines shall always adhere to the peaceful settlements of disputes through lawful, non-coercive and transparent means that promote the healthy functioning of an equitable and rules-based international system,” said the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs head. Del Rosario asserted that Manila’s arbitration initiative, “when objectively considered, will benefit all parties.”

The U.S.

U.S. opposes to the use of force in the South China Sea

Speaking at CSIS on April 8th, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter said: “We strongly support ASEAN unity, and we applaud the efforts of ASEAN member nations to develop a binding code of conduct that would create a rules-based framework for regulating the conduct of parties in the South China Sea and would welcome China's active participation in negotiations on it. Our position is clear and consistent: We call for restraint and for a diplomatic resolution. We oppose provocation. We oppose coercion. We oppose the use of force. We don't take sides when it comes to competing territorial and historical claims, but we do take the side of peaceful resolution of disputes in a manner consistent with international law.”

Regional Snapshots

ASEAN chief pushes Indonesia to act on South China Sea dispute

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ASEAN Secretary-general Le Luong Minh utilized his meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on April 8thto ask for Indonesia’s help to address the South China Sea territorial dispute which grew more tense following China’s move to allow tourists to visit the disputed Paracel Islands. “I appreciate Indonesia and President Yudhoyono for the strengthening of ASEAN, especially in progress towards the ASEAN community,” Minh told the press.

Two Japanese ships visits Brunei

Two Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships, JS YAMAYUKI and JS SETOGIRI arrived at Brunei on April 10th. This visit aimed at strengthening the long-established bilateral relations between both countries, it was deemed a fruitful one to both Navies. Areas of military cooperation were also explored during the Harbour Interaction where this includes sharing of procedures in Fire Fighting Damage Control (FFDC), for a better mutual understanding between both Navies.

ASEAN, China to meet on maritime code of conduct

Foreign ministers from ASEAN and China will hold a special meeting to hasten progress on a code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea, Indonesia's foreign minister said on April 11th. The meeting was proposed by China and all countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to participate, Marty Natalegawa told reporters at a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Brunei. Although no date has been set, Natalegawa said the planned meeting underscored the importance of making "progress on the code of conduct and to maintain a positive atmosphere in the South China Sea".

Commentaries & Analyses

Softer tone from China a relief to all

By Umesh Pandey                                                                        

Over the past few weeks and months things have been looking up for most of the people in Asia, at least on the political front if not on the economic side. China, the big brother of the region, appears to be softening its tone as it tries harder to meet the high expectations that the world has of a country with such might, both economically and militarily. Just days after Xi Jinping was voted into the top spot in the country as President of the People’s Republic, some positive news started to emerge in regard to the issue of the hotly disputed islands that are called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. So there was relief all round when General Liu Yuan, a senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) official and someone who reportedly is close to the new leader, warned of the dangers of a war with Japan. It was one of the most positive pieces of news the region had heard in more than six months from China. It was a sharp contrast to the rhetoric that we had been hearing just a few months ago when the political pundits were predicting that the region was likely to face another storm with China likely to assert its authority over the islands. Asia remains very reliant on China for its economic growth, and with the global economy not in the best shape, both China and the region need each other to pull themselves out. The world today needs the help of China and other emerging economies to lead it out of the economic mess, so it is in the best interest of all parties to keep their cool and resolve any disputed in a mature and non-violent way. Therefore the messages that are now coming out of China, if they signal a genuine change in tone, are to be applauded. Many in the region hope that China will be as good as its word and avoid the temptation to revert to its old role of playing the bully.

Winning Without a Fight in the South China Sea

By Marvin Ott

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By conducting some moves such as launching first aircraft carrier, consolidating its law enforcement agencies… China may have shot itself in the foot strategically, but not at the tactical level. Southeast Asian countries lack the capability to match the Chinese on or over the water with military or coast guard assets, a gap in capabilities growing monthly.. Meanwhile, the US has long declared that it takes no position on territorial claims in the South China Sea, insisting on two principles: maintenance of international sea lanes in the area as a “global commons” and resolution of territorial disputes without using military force. By using unarmed coast guard forces to enforce claims, China exploits vulnerability in the US position. Consider what happened at Scarborough Shoal, an atoll claimed by the Philippines and much closer to the Philippines than to China. Chinese maritime police prevented Philippine counterparts from arresting Chinese fishermen poaching protected species and then placed a cable across the lagoon that effectively excluded Philippine fishermen from their traditional waters – under the nose of the US Navy, which had no basis for intervening. Scarborough Shoal illustrates an increasingly evident Chinese tactic: Seize a vulnerable outcrop, establish permanent presence and defend it with nonmilitary assets. At this point, there’s little to suggest that Washington has developed, even conceptually, an effective counter. China’s introduction of a tourist cruise boat in the contested waters presents the region with another challenge. No Southeast neighbors would dare to shoot at a vessel in what they consider their territory if the ship carries civilian tourists. It can be argued that China’s decision to strip away the veil of ambiguity over its territorial intentions in the South China Sea was a strategic blunder. It’s generated alarm in Southeast Asia, particularly in governments that have their own claims in the area – Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and even Indonesia. It also produced the US “pivot” toward Asia, including statements by the Secretary of Defense that US forces would be redeployed to Asia and those redeployments would be shielded from budget cuts. Governments in Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia have moved overtly to strengthen security cooperation with the US. A region once broadly relaxed and well-disposed toward China is now very much on edge. The strategic future of Southeast Asia and its maritime precincts is neither cut and dried nor predictable. China has staked out a dramatic, even brazen, claim, one lacking support in international law, to territory not under its historical control. However dubious the claim may be on merits, China has developed the tactics and leverage to make that claim a first-order strategic challenge to the region and the US. 

Russia’s Strategic Pivot To Asia Pacific

By Subhash Kapila

Russia’s strategic pivot to the Asia Pacific indicated in his address at the APEC Meet in September 2012 at Vladivostok has all the ingredients of emerging as a strategic game-changer in the highly militarised region dominated by any number of conflictual flashpoints from North Korea down to the South China Sea disputes. Russia’s strategic pivot to Asia Pacific undoubtedly will prove a strategic game-changer both in terms of its timing and in its underlying intent. President Putin has well-timed his declaration at a time when the United States own declared strategic pivot to Asia has a tough challenge to restore the balance of power against China-induced military turbulence. In terms of intentions, President Putin has given notice that Russia after a decade and a half of resurgence under President Putin has now consolidated itself, and has now arrived on the Asia Pacific strategic scene. The Asia Pacific security environment today is in a deep flux with China’s switch from a strategy of ‘soft power’ to a strategy of ‘hard power’. China’s aggressive military postures in the South China Sea and East China Sea have been directed not only to subdue the smaller countries of the region but also erode the image of the United States as a reliable and credible power to underwrite Asia Pacific security. It was this which prompted the United States strategic pivot to Asia. While the United States have been able to marshal the South East nations and Japan and India too in this direction, their combined weight cannot match the strategic weight of Russia emerging in the Asia Pacific as a substantial stakeholder in North East Asia security even if not the whole of Asia Pacific. Concluding, it can be said that Russia’s strategic pivot and more assertive profile in Asia Pacific security while not being part of any United States strategy of containment of China, could definitely induce strategic concerns in China, to the benefit of Asia Pacific security and stability as a whole.

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