Chinese 30-vessel fishing fleet heading for Spratly Islands, Vietnam regrets AMM-45’s joint communique failure, Philippines to bid out three South China Sea blocs, Vietnamese Prime Minister meets with US Secretary of State; India indirectly attacks China on South China Sea issue.
China
South China Sea wildlife survey planned
The forestry administration of China's southern-most island province of Hainan announced on Sunday (7th July) that it will launch a survey of wildlife on and around the South China Sea Islands. The one-month survey is China's first of its kind covering the entire ecosystem of the South China Sea Islands.
Chinese ships return from South China Sea patrols
A Chinese patrol team returned to Guangzhou on Sunday (7th July) after covering 2,800 nautical miles in the South China Sea to carry out regular observation and patrol operations. The team, consisting of four China Marine Surveillance ships, patrolled dozens of islets and reefs in the South China Sea and conducted a formation practice near the Spratly and Macclesfield Bank Islands in adverse weather conditions.
China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin: “The COC aims not at resolving the South China Sea disputes but boosting mutual trust and cooperation between the parties concerned”
China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin stated in a press conference: “Regarding the issue of the COC, China has stated many times that it is willing to work with ASEAN countries to discuss formulating the COC when the conditions are ripe. I would like to emphasize that the COC aims not at resolving the South China Sea disputes but boosting mutual trust and cooperation between the parties concerned in a joint bid to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
In response to the question: ”The US hopes that the South China Sea issue will be raised at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Is China concerned?”, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin stated: “The series of foreign ministers' meetings of the ASEAN Regional Forum are an important platform to boost mutual trust and deepen cooperation among relevant countries, not a proper venue to discuss the South China Sea issue. Deliberately hyping the issue is turning a blind eye to regional countries' consensus to seek development and cooperation and an attempt to disrupt China-ASEAN relations. The South China Sea situation is now on the whole peaceful and stable. China has smooth and effective communication with relevant countries. China is ready to peacefully resolve the South China Sea disputes through dialogue and negotiation with countries directly involved.”
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying: “The Chinese side expressed willingness to consider the proposal seriously and hopes to be able to start discussion on COC when conditions are ripe”
At the conclusion of the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on 11th July, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying briefed the press about the meeting. Fu Ying said that Foreign Ministers from China and ASEAN reviewed the progress in implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and agreed to continue the implementation of the DOC and cooperation projects under its framework, and through this process, promote mutual understanding and trust. The Chinese side stressed that the DOC was jointly signed by China and ASEAN countries, and should be complied by all members concerned. Otherwise, it will undermine mutual trust. Some ASEAN countries proposed to start discussion on a code of conduct in the South China Sea. The Chinese side expressed willingness to consider the proposal seriously and hopes to be able to start discussion on COC when conditions are ripe.
China to form legislature body in Sansha
China is considering setting up a legislative body in the newly established Sansha city, located on an island in the South China Sea, said legislative authorities of Hainan Province that administers Sansha. The Standing Committee of the Hainan Provincial People's Congress will deliberate on a motion to set up an organizing committee for the legislative body in Sansha, sources said Thursday (12th July). The motion will be discussed at a session of the provincial legislature body's standing committee, scheduled for July 16-17 in Haikou, capital of Hainan, according to the sources.
In response to the question: “China once said that it would launch discussions on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) with ASEAN when conditions are ripe. What are the "conditions" referring to?”, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin said: “China's position on the COC is clear. We are open toward launching the COC discussions with ASEAN countries. At the same time, we believe that the COC is part of implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and substantive discussions can be launched when conditions are ripe. At present, parties concerned should fully and effectively implement the DOC and carry out practical cooperation under this framework.”
30-vessel fishing fleet heading for Spratly Islands
A fleet of 30 fishing vessels left south China's Hainan Province on Thursday (12th July) for the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The fleet, departing from the city of Sanya, will spend 20 days fishing near the Yongshu Reef (Fiery Cross Reef), sailors of the fleet said.
Don't make trouble, China tells Philippines
The Philippines "should not make trouble" over Scarborough Shoal and instead "face facts," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said. Yang said at the sidelines of the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers' Meeting Thursday (12th July) that the atoll, which Beijing calls Huangyan, "has always been part of the Chinese territory and is not a disputed island." "What they did caused wide concern and strong indignation among the Chinese people," Yang said. "China urges the Philippine side to face facts squarely and not to make trouble."
China installs new radar near Kalayaan islands
Philippine Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon of the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan reported yesterday (12th July) that the silver-colored dome radar is located atop a four-story building that the Chinese started to build six years ago at the reef southwest of Pag-asa Island, which is part of the Kalayaan islands. “While the radar could be only for weather monitoring and weather forecasting, one can also surmise that it can also monitor wide areas in the region for any moving and floating object,” Bito-onon said.
Chinese Frigate ‘Stranded’ in Disputed Waters
A Chinese naval frigate has run aground while patrolling disputed waters in the South China Sea, the defense ministry said July 13th, amid tensions with the Philippines over territorial claims. The ship was on “routine patrol” when it became stranded near Half Moon Shoal in the Spratly Islands on July 11th, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. No one was injured in the accident and the People’s Liberation Army’s Navy was now organizing a rescue, the statement said, but gave no further details.
Vietnam
US’s hospital ship anchored in Cua Lo Port
The U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command’s hospital ship USUN Mercy (T-AH 19) anchored at Cua Lo Port in the afternoon of July 10th to provide humanitarian and civic assistance (HCA) throughout Nghe An province as part of Pacific Partnership 2012. The ship’s company contains over 1,200 multi-national members, both services and civilian.
Vietnam regrets AMM-45’s joint communique failure
Together with other ASEAN countries, the Vietnamese delegation regrets that the 45 th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-45) failed to issue its joint communique. The statement was made on July 13th by Pham Quang Vinh, Deputy Foreign Minister and Head of the Vietnamese senior official meeting (SOM) delegation, in response to Vietnamese reporters’ question on the failure in issuing the conference’s joint communique. The communique is expected to reflect the process of discussion and positive outcomes reached in meetings of ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners, according to Vinh.
VN opposes Chinese fishing in Truong Sa archipelago (Spratly Islands)
A representative from the National Border Committee under the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry made the statement while answering reporters’ questions on a China News website report on July 12 that 30 fishing ships of Hainan province departed from Sanya port to catch fish around the Chu Thap (Cross) ground of the Truong Sa archipelago (Spratly Islands). Vietnam ’s stance on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) archipelagos have been affirmed many times, he said. Vietnam asks the Chinese side to educate and guide its fishermen to respect Vietnam ’s sovereignty and territory and to comply with international law, he stressed.
The Philippines
BFAR forms quick response teams to protect Philippine waters
Amid an ongoing territorial row between the Philippines and China, the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) started forming quick response teams to guard Philippine waters. According to a report of radio dzBB's Allan Gatus on Monday (9th July), the BFAR is training its personnel who will form 16 teams that will guard Philippine waters. The team members will be trained on law enforcement and environmental protection, and other actions against illegal fishing.
Philippines to bid out three South China Sea blocs
The Philippines will bid out oil exploration contracts in the South China Sea despite recent tensions with China over conflicting territorial claims in those waters, an official said Wednesday (11th July). The three blocs in the South China Sea, off the coast of the western Philippine island of Palawan, are believed to be the most promising for oil and gas deposits, said Energy Undersecretary James Layug. “All reserves in that area belong to the Philippines. We will only offer areas within our exclusive economic zone,” he said at the sidelines of an energy forum in Manila.
Philippines Slams Chinese ‘Duplicity, Intimidation’
The Philippines’ foreign minister on Thursday (12th July) denounced Chinese “duplicity” and “intimidation” in the South China Sea, souring the mood at a regional summit designed to soothe tensions (ARF). “If Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction can be denigrated by a powerful country through pressure, duplicity, intimidation and the threat of the use of force, the international community should be concerned about the behavior,” Albert del Rosario told the summit, according to an official statement.
Philippines deplores non-issuance of Asean communiqué
The Philippines on Friday (13th July) deplored the non-issuance of a joint statement at the end of the 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Cambodia. Philippine Foreign Secretary Del Rosario said the Philippines took strong exception to the statement made by Cambodia, host of the meeting, that this would be “the first time that Asean is not able to issue the joint communiqué due to bilateral conflict between some Asean member states and a neighboring country.” The Philippines, Del Rosario said, maintains that since the competing claims in the South China Sea are not mere bilateral conflicts with a northern neighbor but multilateral, these should be resolved multilaterally.
The U.S
Hillary Clinton: “The nations of the region should work to resolve disputes without coercion”
Speaking at a press confrerence took place in Phnom Penh on 12th July, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton affirmed: “The United States has no territorial claims in the South China Sea, and we do not take sides in disputes about territorial or maritime boundaries, but we do have a fundamental interest in freedom of navigation, the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, and unimpeded lawful commerce. And we believe the nations of the region should work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation, without threats, and certainly without the use of force.”
Clinton and Del Rosario urge ASEAN to take a common position on Scarborough Shoal
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged ASEAN "to clearly outline its position on the Scarborough Shoal" and "to complete a regional Code of Conduct in a timely fashion" during Wedneday's ASEAN-US Ministerial Meeting which she co-chaired with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario. The US State Secretary further said: "What might be a challenge today for some of ASEAN's members, if left unaddressed by all of ASEAN, could lead tomorrow to issues that may become problems for (the rest of) other ASEAN members."
India
India indirectly attacks China on South China Sea issue
Indirectly taking on China, Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna has said that New Delhi supported navigation and access to resources in the South China Sea. "We said that the right to navigation and then access to resources has to be assured-tries to be ensured. Let us hope that member nations will adopt that formula," said Krishna. Krishna further urged that the matter should be resolved through dialogue and discussions. "Speakers, who participated in the discussions, did convey the message. And the message was that all outstanding issues must be resolved peacefully, through a process of dialogue and discussions, and those dialogue and discussions should be taking place without any intimidation or without any pressure tactics," he added.
Regional Snapshots
The Forty-fifth ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
The 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM), to take place on Monday, 9th July 2012, at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, and the series of meetings around it, will see several major instruments on peace and security being signed with the region’s Dialogue Partners and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
ASEAN reaches out to Beijing over South China Sea code
As the first day of talks concluded, Kao Kim Hourn, secretary of state at the Cambodian foreign ministry, told reporters that foreign ministers had adopted "key elements" of the proposed code of conduct to govern behaviour between nations involved in disputes. "Foreign ministers have agreed to have the ASEAN senior officials meet with the senior official from China to discuss the (code of conduct) from now on," said Kao Kim Hourn.
On 10th July 2012, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi who is in Cambodia attending the ARF Foreign Ministers' meetings. Yang Jiechi expressed appreciation for the active efforts of Cambodia as the ASEAN Chair for the success of the meetings. He said that how to uphold peace and promote development is the top concern of regional countries. The Chinese side hopes that the ARF Foreign Ministers' meetings will send a positive signal of increasing mutual trust and promoting cooperation, enhance the parties' capacity for meeting challenges together, strengthen the internal drivers of growth in Asia and solidify the momentum of Asian development.
Vietnamese Prime Minister meets with US Secretary of State
US Secretary of State Hillary Cliton and Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability and cooperation as well as ensuring maritime freedom, security and safety in the East Sea (South China Sea). The two sides affirmed that the East Sea sovereignty disputes should be solved by peaceful means on the basis of international laws, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and strict implementation of the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea. The US Secretary of State said she is concerned about recent developments in the East Sea and affirmed that the US Government strongly supports the rights of coastal states in their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves under the 1982 UNCLOS.
Vietnamese, Chinese Foreign Ministers meet on AMM 45 sidelines
Viet Nam’s Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with his counterpart from China Yang Jiechi on July 11 in Phnom Penh on the sidelines of the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM 45). On the sea issues, the two sides affirmed to settle all disputes through peaceful and friendly negotiations with mutual respect to legitimate interests based on common awareness reached between the two countries’ leaders and the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues. FM Minh raised Viet Nam’s concern over recent complications in the East Sea, voiced the opposition against the establishment of Sansha city and the international invitation for bids at nine lots within Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
ASEAN summit fails to agree on concluding joint statement
For the first time in ASEAN's history, the 10-member regional grouping has failed to issue a joint communique at the end of its summit. This comes after ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Cambodia's Phnom Penh disagreed on how to address territorial claims in the South China Sea. ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan described the outcome of the regional summit as very disappointing. Indonesia also said the inability of ASEAN to agree to a common position over the South China Sea is "utterly irresponsible" while the Philippines said it deplores the non-issuance of a joint communique.
Commentaries & Analyses
Booming Southeast Asia in a quandary over U.S.-China rivalry
By Martin Petty
A U.S.- China tug-of-war over Southeast Asian influence is proving to be a critical test for Washington's "pivot" East as Beijing strengthens its economic and military clout in its own backyard. Countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), one of the world's fastest growing regions, are weighing up how to play their cards as the United States plays catch-up with the Chinese juggernaut and tries to reassert itself in Asia. Some countries will be in a quandary about how to balance ties to get the best out of both of the big players, while others will seek to use the rivalry as an opportunity to extract leverage for economic or military advantage. The competing interests of the heavyweights may lead to split decisions on ASEAN policy that could dent the bloc's credibility as its 10 member states and 600 million citizens prepare to be integrated into one economic community by 2015. "The consequence of the U.S. pivot is any prospect for a unified ASEAN is minimal," said Michael Montesano of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "Its members are all aligned in different ways and it puts ASEAN as a grouping in a very uncomfortable position."
The South China Sea: “Disputed waters” everywhere?
By Huy Duong
The controversies over the South China Sea issue raise the question “Where are the disputed areas in the South China Sea?” Surprisingly, no claimant to the disputed islands and rocks in the South China Sea has declared the limits of its claims to maritime space as derived from these features, so the boundaries of the disputed areas are unknown. There is a view that if there exist conflicting claims in one area then that area is disputed. However, setting the common denominator this low would allow any country to make any area a disputed one by making a conflicting claim there. For example, China could start declaring specifically that the U-shaped line represents a boundary for maritime space to make the whole area inside it disputed. Instead of adopting a common denominator that is too low to assert that an arbitrary area of the South China Sea constitutes disputed waters, the claimants should use one that is based on UNCLOS and international law of maritime delimitation. Furthermore, they should jointly determine where on this spectrum the boundaries of the disputed areas are. This can be done either through negotiation or by submitting the question to an international court.
Oil could ignite this powder keg
By Greg Torode
The move, announced at the weekend, by the state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to tender for exploration bids in blocks already being explored by international firms in deals with Vietnam is being seen as a reflection of deepening concern by Beijing about disputed waters that are close to some of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Now, after years of frustration, CNOOC is putting nine of its own blocks up for tender. "There are highly likely to be future clashes should there be actions taken by any of the countries concerned to try and explore within those blocks," Professor Clive Schofield, director of research at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security told Bloomberg. "The designation of blocks is in a sense a proxy way of states trying to reinforce their jurisdictional rights." Outlining these connections to a conference in Washington this week, veteran South China Sea scholar Professor Carl Thayer nonetheless warned of potential trouble. "Both China and Vietnam continue to expand their civilian maritime enforcement agencies, and more significantly, modernise their naval and air forces in the South China Sea. ... As the "bathtub" of the South China Sea becomes more crowded, the probability of an accidental naval clash rises."
Not the Time for U.S.–China Conciliation in Southeast Asia
By Walter Lohman
It is good for the Chinese to know that there is a path open in Southeast Asia for a productive relationship with the U.S. Given China’s behavior in the South China Sea over the past few months, however, now is emphatically not the time for a message of conciliation. The ASEAN meetings is a prime opportunity to let China and Southeast Asia know that it will not allow this one sided bargain to stand, and to reinforce the red line that the U.S.–Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty draws around the Philippines, its armed forces, and public vessels. In this occasion, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton should: i) Make strong representations both in private and public during the ASEAN meetings reiterating American interests in “freedom of navigation, open access to Asia’s maritime commons, and respect for international law in the South China Sea” and opposition to the threat or use of force; ii) Provide immediate assistance to the Philippines in maritime domain awareness; iii) Support the Philippines in sending its government vessels back to Scarborough Shoal; iv) Support the conclusion of an effective code of conduct for the South China Sea, but do not rely on ASEAN’s ability to reach one.
Japan Steps Up to the South China Sea Plate
By Ian Storey
At this week's Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum in Phnom Penh, Japan's foreign minister intends to express serious concern at recent developments, press the parties to clarify their maritime claims and fast-track diplomatic solutions. It's significant that Japan is willing to antagonize China over a territorial dispute in which Tokyo has no direct stake (notwithstanding its own, separate territorial frictions with Beijing). Japan has two major concerns here. For one thing, low-level tension could escalate over time into a larger conflict that disrupts maritime traffic. The other problem is that if Beijing intimidates its way into dominance of the South China Sea, it could replicate that tactic in the East China Sea—where Japan and China directly bicker over territory. Chinese brinkmanship could provoke a major military and diplomatic crisis in Sino-Japanese relations. This explains Japan's determination to play a leading role in managing the South China Sea crisis, and using multilateral forums is one way for it to do so.
By Mark J. Valencia
Given the serious implications, China's recent action begs several questions: Why is China doing this at this time? Does it have something to do with its leadership transition? Is it a sign that a nationalist military faction has gained more power? Or has China's leadership decided that the "die is cast" and it might as well "show its hand"? Whatever the motives, the move has set the region on edge. The U.S. "rebalancing" toward Asia in foreign and defense policy had already rattled the region and increased tension between the U.S. and China. China perceives the U.S. move as an attempt to constrain its "rise". It would mean that China and the U.S. are likely headed for a cultural, political and, perhaps ultimately, military confrontation — with Southeast Asia once again in the middle.
Hardened lines in the South China Sea
By Roberto Tofani
Some now fear all diplomatic efforts and department-level working groups dealing with the disputed areas could collapse in the wake of the recent Scarborough Shoal standoff and the tit-for-tat legislative exchanges between China and Vietnam. Robert Beckman, director of the Center for International Law at the National University of Singapore, suggests that China's perceived national interests and maritime security policy will not change until it becomes a legitimate naval power and has "the same interests in freedoms of the seas as other naval powers". Until then, China's policy will remain hostage to the likes of Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo, director of the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) Information Expert Committee. He recently stated his belief that Chinese troops should engage Philippine ships and fishermen who go near the disputed Scarborough shoal. Such rhetoric will push all claimants to reinforce their positions and raise the potential for armed confrontation.
The roiling South China Sea dispute
By Ted Gallen Carpenter
If Chinese and Philippine forces ever come to blows in the South China Sea, Washington is going to be in an awkward and dangerous position. There certainly will be pressure, both from domestic hawks and other U.S. allies in East Asia, not to appease China. But the potential damage to the crucial bilateral relationship with China if the United States chose to back the Philippines militarily—even if outright war could be averted—is enormous. the Obama administration should be wary of embroiling the United States in the South China Sea dispute by reflexively backing Manila’s position. It would not be the first time that a small client state, emboldened by the perceived backing of a large, powerful patron, managed to entangle that patron in a dangerous quarrel. Washington needs to back off.
The troubled waters of the South China sea
By Ian Bremmer
For China's top leaders, this is not a good time for confrontations with the neighbors. The country's once-a-decade leadership transition is expected to unfold this fall, and neither outgoing nor incoming officials want uncertainty or ugly international headlines to interfere with the official choreography. In months to come, China's top leaders will do their best to strike a delicate balance-to appease belligerent voices at home and within the government while reassuring outsiders that China is not becoming more aggressive. But each time one of the neighbors makes another provocative move, Beijing's balance becomes a bit harder to maintain.
Click here for pdf file.
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