SecurityCooperationintheSouthChinaSea: AnAssessmentofRecentofTrends CarlyleA.

Thayer

PapertoConferenceontheSouthChinaSea:TowardaRegionofPeace, CooperationandProgress,cosponsoredbytheForeignServiceInstitute, theDiplomaticAcademyofVietnamadtheNationalDefenseCollege, Manila,ThePhilippines,July56,2011

SecurityCooperationintheSouthChinaSea: AnAssessmentofRecentTrends CarlyleA.Thayer*

Introduction
ThispaperassessesrecentdevelopmentsaffectingthesecurityoftheSouthChinaSeain the first half of 2011.1 The paper is divided into five main sections. In the first four sections the paper reviews bilateral interaction on South China Sea issues between ChinaandfourclaimantstatesVietnam,thePhilippinesandMalaysiaandTaiwan.In the fifth section the paper discusses the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN)inpromotingmultilateralengagementwithChinaovertheDeclaration onConductofPartiesintheSouthChinaSea(DOC)andaCodeofConductfortheSouth ChinaSea. Chinese assertiveness in advancing its territorial and sovereignty claims in the South ChinaSeadominatedthepoliticalcalendarthroughoutmuchof2010.ByOctoberthese tensionsappearedtohaveabated.Chinaresumedmilitarytomilitarycontactswiththe United States that it had suspended earlier in the year. China and ASEAN revived the moribundJointWorkingGrouptoImplementtheDeclarationonConductofPartiesin the South China Sea (DOC). These and other development led the author to conclude that there were grounds for cautious optimism that some progress could be made in managingSouthChinaSeatensions.2

Emeritus Professor, The University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra.Email:c.thayer@adfa.edu.au. The author has discussed earlier developments in several conference papers that cover events from 2007untilJune2011,see:CarlyleA.Thayer,RecentDevelopmentsintheSouthChinaSea:Implications nd for Regional Peace and Prosperity, Paper presented to the 2 International Workshop on the South ChinaSea:CooperationforRegionalSecurityandDevelopment,cosponsoredbytheDiplomaticAcademy ofVietnamandtheVietnamLawyersAssociation,NewWorldSaigonHotel,HoChiMinhCity,Vietnam, November1213,2010;CarlyleA.Thayer,RecentDevelopmentsintheSouthChinaSeaImplicationsfor Peace, Stability and Cooperation in the Region, Paper presented to International Workshop on The South China Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development, coorganised by the Diplomatic AcademyofVietnamandtheVietnamLawyersAssociation,Hanoi,November2728,2009;andCarlyleA. Thayer, Chinas New Wave of Aggressive Assertiveness in the South China Sea, Paper presened to ConferenceonMaritimeSecurityintheSouthChinaSea,CenterforStrategicandInternationalStudies, Washington,D.C.,June2021,2011. Carlyle A Thayer, Recent Developments in the South China Sea: Grounds for Cautious Optimism?, RSIS WorkingPaperNo.220,Singapore:S.RajaratnamSchoolofInternationalStudies,NanyangTechnological University,Singapore,December14,2010.

The first six months of this year have seen a revival of tensions and behaviour on the part of China that has not been witnessed before. China has begun to aggressively interfere in the commercial operations of oil exploration vessels in the Exclusive EconomicZonesdeclaredbythePhilippinesandVietnam.Diplomaticprotestsbyboth states over Chinese behaviour have elicited condescension, stonewalling, and belligerencybyBeijing.

DriversofChineseBehaviour.Therearetwomajorinterrelateddriversthatexplain
recentChinesebehaviour:sovereigntyandhydrocarbonresources. In May 2009 China protested submissions by Malaysia and Vietnam to the United NationsCommissionontheLimitsoftheContinentalShelfbyofficiallysubmittingamap ofChinasclaims.Thismapcontainedninedashlinesinaushapecoveringanestimated eighty percent or more of the maritime area of the South China Sea. China is now backingupitsclaimbydemonstratingthatithaslegaljurisdictionovertheSouthChina Sea. ThisyearboththePhilippinesandVietnamhaverenewedoilexplorationactivitiesinthe South China Sea. In February 2011, for example, Forum Energy was awarded an explorationcontracttoexploreforgasintheReedBankarea.3InApril,ajointventure between PetroVietnams Petrolem Technical Services Corporation and CGG Veritas of FrancebeganseismicsurveysoffVietnamscoast.4 Oil exploration activities by the Philippines and Vietnam are viewed by Beijing as a plunderingofresourcesthatitclaimsandachallengetoitsforbearance.5Accordingto Song Enlai, chairman of China National Offshore Oil Corporations (CNOOC) board of supervisors,Chinaloosesabout20milliontonsofoilannuallyorabout40percentofits totaloffshoreproductionduetotheactivitiesofcountriesintheSouthChinaSea. OnMarch7,ForeignMinisterYangJiechistatedthatChinasforeignpolicywouldserve thecountryseconomicdevelopment.Chinathenwarnedagainstanyoilexplorationin watersitclaimedintheSouthChinaSea.6InearlyMayChinaannouncedthatitwould stepofmaritimepatrolsbyatleasttenpercentinthefaceofincreasingincursionsinto itsterritorialwaters.Chinesemediareportedthataroundonethousandrecruitswould beaddedtoChinasmarineservicetoraisethetotalto10,000.7ThatsamemonthChina
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AquinotoraisejointSouthChinaSeaoilprobetoASEAN,ZamboangaTodayOnline,March12,2011. ForumEnergyPlcwasestablishedinApril2005throughtheconsolidationofthePhilippineOil,Gasand Coal assets of FEC Resources Inc. of Canada and Sterling Energy Plc of the United Kingdom into one corporateentity. Reuters,VietnamaccusesChinaofharassinganotherboat,June92011. KaviChongkittavorn,DifferenceperceptionsofarisingChina,TheNation,June6,2001. AureaCalica,PalaceinnohurrytofileChinaprotest,ThePhilippineStar,May21,2011. UnitedPressInternational,Vietnamallegeshighseasinterference,June10,2011.

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launched a mega oil and gasdrilling platform to be used by the CNOOC in the South China Sea. The rig frees China of dependence on foreignowned contractors for deep sea drilling. The rig is capable of exploring waters up to 3,000 metres in depth, a capability that neither the Philippines nor Vietnam possesses.8 Chinese sources indicatedthattherigwouldbeginoperationsintheSouthChinaSeainJulyandthereby enableChinatoestablishamajorpresenceinthearea.9 Thispaperconcludesbynotingthecautiousoptimismthatemergedinlate2010about theprospectsofChinaandASEANagreeingonconfidencebuildingmeasureshaslargely dissipated as a result of a new wave of Chinese aggressive assertion of sovereignty claimsinincidentsinvolvingthePhilippinesandVietnam.Thenextfivemonthswillbe crucialasASEANsannualcycleofsummit,ministerialandrelatedmeetingstakeplace. Although the resolution of overlapping territorial and sovereignty claims in the South ChinaSeawillremainintractableitispossiblethatmultilateraldiplomacycancontribute to the lowering of current tensions and promote measures that advance security cooperationintheSouthChinaSea.

1. China and Vietnam: Compartmentalizing South China Sea Tensions

In December 2008, China and Vietnam agreed to commence bilateral discussions on maritime issues with first priority given to developing a set of fundamental guiding principles as a framework for settling specific issues. These confidential discussions began in early 2010 and five sessions were held during the year. According to Vietnamese Foreign Ministry sources, Vietnam and China agreed to settle their differencesthroughpeacefulnegotiationandrefrainfromanyactiontocomplicate thesituation,violenceorthreatofuseofviolence.10 Significantly,VietnamandChinaagreedtobilateraldiscussionsonmatersthatdidnot affect third parties, such as the waters at the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin. Vietnam wantedtoincludetheParacelIslandsinbilateraldiscussionbutChinarefused.Vietnam and China also differed on the question of multilateral negotiations. According to Vietnam:
8

MichaelRichardson,Chinabringsoutthebigriginenergyrace,TheAustralianFinancialReview,June 1,2010andMichaelRichardson,Chinastepsupdrilling,intimidationTheJapanTimes,June1,2011.

On May 27, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs summoned Chinese officials to convey its concernabouttheplannedlocationofthenewrigintheSouthChinaSea.Philippinesofficialsaskedthe Chinesediplomatstheexactplannedlocationofthenewoilrigandstatedthatitshouldnotbeplacedin Philippineterritoryorwaters;PiaLeeBrago,ChinaBuildinginPHLWaters;DFASummonedEnvoy,The PhilippineStar,June2,2011. AnswerfromVietnamMinistryofForeignAffairsSpokespersonNguyenPhuongNgatoQuestionsby Greg Torode South China Morning Post, December 2010; see: Greg Torode and Minnie Chan, China refusestoyieldonParacels,SundayMorningPost[HongKong],December12,2010.

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Issues that are related to other countries and parties like the Spratly Islands cannot be settledbyVietnamandChina;theyrequiretheparticipationofotherconcernedparties.For issuesthatarenotonlyrelatedtocountriesthatbordertheEastSeasuchasmaritimesafety andsecurity,theymustbenegotiatedandsettledbyallcountriesthatsharethiscommon interest.11

High Level Visits. In February 2011, immediately after 11th national congress of the
VietnamCommunistParty,thenewSecretaryGeneral,NguyenPhuTrong,dispatcheda special envoy, Hoang Binh Quan, to Beijing. Quan met with Hu Jintao, President and GeneralSecretaryoftheChineseCommunistParty,andbriefedhimontheoutcomeof thepartycongress.QuanalsoextendedaninvitationtoHuandotherChinesepartyand stateleaderstovisitVietnam.Inreturn,HuextendedaninvitationtoSecretaryGeneral TrongtovisitChina.12 In April, Senior Lieutenant General Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of Chinas Central Military Commission, visited Hanoi at the invitation of General Phung Quang Thanh, MinisterofNationalDefence.Lt.Gen.GuowasalsoreceivedbyPrimeMinisterNguyen Tan Dung and party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong. Prime Minister Dung proposedthetwosidestalkandseekfundamentalandlonglastingmeasuresthatboth sides are able to accept for the East Sea [South China Sea] issue13 The joint press communiquissuedaftertheconclusionofGuosvisitoutlinedanumberofcooperative military activities, including increasing the scope of joint naval patrols in the Gulf of Tonkin,butnomentionwasmadeoftheSouthChinaSea.14 Immediately after General Guos visit, Vietnam hosted a meeting of the heads of the government delegations on boundary negotiations between China and Vietnam (April 1819). These discussions were held at deputy minister level. Chinas Foreign Ministry reported that the two vice ministers pledged, to properly handle maritime disputes through friendly consultations and explore solutions with a positive and constructive attitude.15 A Vietnamese spokesperson revealed that the two sides agreed they will

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AnswerfromVietnamMinistryofForeignAffairsSpokespersonNguyenPhuongNgatoQuestionsby GregTorodeSouthChinaMorningPost,December2010; Chinese president vows to further ties with Vietnam, Xinhua, February 18, 2011 and Chinas Hu JintaoinvitesNguyenPhoTrong,VoiceofVietnamNews,February19,2011. PartyLeadersMeetingwithChineseGeneral,VietnamNewsAgency,April14,2011.

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LiQiong,China,VietnamIssueJointPressCommuniquonCMCViceChairmanGuoBoxiongsVisitto Vietnam,Xinhua,April17,2011. VietnamesePrimeMinisterNguyenTanDungMeetswithChineseViceForeignMinisterZhangZhijun, MinistryofForeignAffairsofthePeoplesRepublicofChina,April20,2011.

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signanagreementonthefundamentalguidelinestosettlethemaritimeissuesbutno datewassettosigntheagreement.16

Chinas Unilateral Fishing Ban. On May 11, the Haikou Municipal Government,
Hainan province, issued an announcement imposing Chinas annual unilateral fishing banintheSouthChinaSeafromMay16August1ostensiblytoprotectdwindlingfish stocks during the spawning season. Vietnam immediately issued a verbal protest: ChinasunilateralexecutionofafishingbanintheEastSeaisaviolationofVietnams sovereignty over the Hoang Sa [Paracel] archipelago, as well as the countrys sovereigntyandjurisdictionoveritsexclusiveeconomiczoneandcontinentalshelf17 Vietnam also protested the deployment of a Chinese Fishery Administration Vessel, Leizhou 44261, to patrol in the waters around the Paracel Islands from May 525. Vietnam accused the patrol boat of causing difficulties for normal fishing activities conduced by Vietnamese fishermen in their traditional fishing ground and making the situationatseamorecomplicated.18 VietnameselocalauthoritiesreportedthearrivalofChinesefishingboatsinVietnamese watersingreaternumbersthaninthepast.TheheadofPhuYenProvinceBorderGuard Headquartersstatedthat,everydaybetween120and150fishingboatsofChinawere operated within waters from Da Nang City to the Truong Sa [Spratly] Archipelago Previously Chinese fishing boats have violated our waters, but this was the first time thereweresomanyboats.19Thenumbersroseto200onsomeoccasions.Vietnamese fishermen formed fishing teams of five to ten boats for protection because of intimidationfromlargerChinesecraftthatsometimesusedweaponstothreatenthem. The Vietnamese government is currently considering a proposal by the Ministry of AgricultureandRuralDevelopmenttobuildtenfisherypatrolboatsatatotalcostofUS $102.14million. AlthoughVietnamesefishermenvowedtodefytheban20theVietnamesepresshasnot reported any major incidents of harassment or detention. On June 1, however, it was reported that Chinese military vessels threatened to use their guns against a VietnamesefishingboatoperatinginwatersneartheSpratlyarchipelago.21
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Quoted in Agence France Presse, Vietnam, China vow to work on disputed sea pact, April 21, 2011 and Deutsche PresseAgentur, Vietnam and China pledge to settle South China Sea disputes, April 20 2011. VietnamopposesChinasfishingbaninEastSea,VoiceofVietnamNews,May14,2011. ChineseShipViolatesVietnamsSovereignty,VietnamNewsAgency,May13,2011.

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Chinese fishing boats violate Vietnam waters; govt mulls patrol boats, Thanh Nien News, May 29, 2011. DeutschePresseAgentur,VietnamdefiantonfirstdayofChinesefishingban,May16,2011. AnDienandMinhHung,EastSeaundercurrents,ThanhNienNews,June10,2011.

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TheFirstCableCuttingIncident.OnMay26,threeChinaMaritimeSurveillanceships
accostedtheBinhMinh02,aVietnameseseismicsurveyshipoperatinginBlock148,in anincidentthatlastedthreehours.ChinaMaritimeSurveillanceshipNo.84cutacable towing seismic monitoring equipment.22 The next day Vietnam lodged a diplomatic protest with Chinas Ambassador claiming that the actions of the China Maritime SurveillanceshipsviolatedinternationallawandVietnamssovereignty.23Vietnamalso sought compensation for the damage caused. The Binh Minh 02 returned to port for repairs and resumed its oil exploration activities accompanied by an escort of eight ships.24 Some news media erroneously reported that this was the first instance in which the ChinesehadcutthecableofaVietnameseexplorationvessel.AccordingtoDoVanHau, a senior PetroVietnam official, When we conduct seismic survey and drilling operations,they[China]haveaeroplanesflyingovertosurveyouractivities,theyharass us with their vessels, and in extreme cases they cut our [exploration] cables.25 The VietnamesepressreportedthatwhenVietnameseconducedcontinentalshelfsurveysin 2008, Chinese vessels also cut Vietnamese ships survey cables and further obstructedVietNamfromconductingoilandgasexplorationintheEastSea26 ChinarespondedtoVietnamsprotestonMay28withthefollowingstatement:What relevantChinesedepartmentsdidwascompletelynormalmarinelawenforcementand surveillanceactivitiesinChinasjurisdictionalarea.27VietnamretortedonMay29,the area where Vietnam conducted exploration activities situates entirely in the exclusive economic zone and the 200nautical mile continental shelf of Vietnam in accordance withthe1982UnitedNationsConventiononLawoftheSea.Itisneitheradisputedarea nor is it an area managed by China. China has deliberately misled the public into thinking that it is a disputed area.28 China responded in kind: the law enforcement
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Bao Cao Su Co Tau Truong Quoc Cat Cap Thu Dia Chan Cua Tau Binh Minh 02 Vao Luc 5H58 Ngay 26/05/2011,andReuters,VietnamsaysChineseboatsharassedoilexplorationship,May27,2011.The incident took place 116 nautical miles off the Dai Lanh Cape on the coast of Phu Yen province at 12 degrees4825northlatitudeand111degrees2648eastlongitude. VNcondemnsChineseintrusion,VietnamNewsAgency,May28,2011.

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DeutschePresseAgentur,Vietnamstandsgroundinseadispute,surveyshiptakesupwork,June6, 2011;AgenceFrancePresse,VietnamcomplainstoChinaasseatensionsrise,June9,2011andNicholas HeathandDanielTenKate,VietnamSaysChineseBoatHarassedPetroVietnamSurveyShip,Bloomberg Businessweek,June9,2011. Ben Bland and Kathrin Hille, Vietnam and China oil clashes intensify, The Financial Times, May 27, 2011. National,worldsecuritycloselylinked:minister,VietNamNews,June7,2011. QuotedinReuters,ChinareprimandsVietnamoveroffshoreoilexploration,May28,2011. VietnamdemandsChinastopsovereigntyviolations,ThanhNienNews,May29,2011.

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activities by Chinese maritime surveillance ships against Vietnams illegally operating ships are completely justified. We urge Vietnam to immediately stop infringement activitiesandrefrainfromcreatingnewtroubles.29

ShangriLaDialogue.InJuneLiangGuanglieandPhungQuangThanh,theChineseand
Vietnamese defence ministers, met in Singapore on the sidelines of the ShangriLa Dialogue. This meeting took place under the shadow of the May 26th cablecutting incident. Minister Thanh spoke in detail about the legal basis for activities at sea to facilitate cooperation for development and deter actions that risk our common interests, regionally and nationally. Thanh specifically raised the Binh Minh 02 cable cuttingwhichhecharacterizedasapressingincidentthathadarousedconsiderable concernonthemaintenanceofpeaceandstabilityintheEastSeabyVietnamsparty andstateleaders.ThanhofferedtheconciliatorycommentthatSometime,regrettable cases happen which are beyond the expectation of both sides.30 He ended his commentswiththesewords:Wetrulyexpectnorepetitionofsimilarincidents.31 MinisterLiangrepliedthatChinadidnotwantasimilarincidenttooccurinthefuture. He noted in particular that the Peoples Liberation Army was not involved in the incident.Fourdayslatertherewasasecondcablecuttingincident.Commentatorswere quicktocontrastGeneralLiangswordswithChinasdeeds.

The Second Cable Cutting Incident. On June 9, according to Vietnams Ministry of

Foreign Affairs, a second premeditated and carefully calculated incident occurred whenChinesefishingboatNo.62226equippedwithacablecuttingdevicesnaredthe cableoftheVikingIIseismicsurveyshipoperatinginsurveyBlock13603inthevicinity ofVanguardBank(TuChinh).32VikingIIisregisteredinNorwayandwasoperatingunder charterwithPetroVietnam.33TwoChinaMaritimeSurveillanceshipsandotherChinese fishing craft came to assist the distressed fishing boat. According to Nguyen Phuong Nga,theofficialForeignMinistryspokesperson,Chinassystematicactswereaimedat
29 30

QuotedbyHuyDuong,ThePhilippinesandVietnamattheCrossroad,ManilaTimes,June9,2011.

East Sea incident a pressing issue: Vietnamese Defense Minister, Thanh Nien News, June 4, 2011. Chinese news media distorted Minister Thanhs remarks by reporting that he agreed to resolve their differencesovertheSouthChinaSeathroughbilateralefforts,andthatnothirdpartyshouldbeallowed tointerfereinsucheffortsorusetheissuetoharmthebilateralrelations,see:ChineseDMMeetswith VietnameseCounterpartinSingapore,XinhuaJune4,2011. Phung Quang Thanh, Responding to New Maritime Security Threats, The 10 IISS Asian Security SummitTheShangriLaDialogue,June5,2011. IanTimberlake,SeaspatraisesChinaVietnamtensions,AgenceFrancePresse,June9,2011.Talisman EnergyInc.aCanadiancompanybasedinCalgaryannouncedinApril2011thatitwouldconductamajor seismicprograminthisarea;NicholasHeathandDanielTenKate,VietnamSaysChineseBoatHarassed PetroVietnamSurveyShip,BloombergBusinessweek,June9,2011. Reuters,VietnamaccusesChinaofharassinganotherboat,June9,2011.
th

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turning an undisputed region into one of dispute, to carry out its ambition to make Chinasninedashlineclaimareality.34 EarliertheVikingIIhadbeeninvolvedinseparateincidentsonMay29andMay31in which Chinese boats the Fei Sheng No. 16 and Vessel No. B12549 attempted to approachitsreardeckandinterferewithitsoperations.SecurityescortswiththeViking IIsuccessfullyblockedtheirapproaches.35 ChineseauthoritiesclaimedthattheVikingIIincidentoccurredwhenarmedVietnamese ships chased Chinese fishing boats from the Wanan (Vanguard) Bank. One of the ChineseboatsbecameentangledinthecableoftheVikingIIshipoperatinginthesame area. The Chinese boat was dragged for more than an hour before the entangled net could be cut. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hong Lei, The Vietnamese ship put the lives and safety of he Chinese fishermen in serious danger. VietnameseForeignMinistryofficialslodgedaprotestwiththeChineseEmbassyonthe afternoonoftheincidentandannouncedthattheVietnamNationalOilandGasGroup wouldbeseekingcompensationfordamages.36

Vietnams Prime Minister on Incontestable Sovereignty. On June 9, Prime

Minister Nguyen Tan Dung responded to growing domestic pressure to demonstrate some backbone in dealing with China by making an unusually strong statement in defence of national sovereignty. Dung said: We continue to affirm strongly and to manifest the strongest determination of all the Party, of all the people and of all the armyinprotectingVietnamesesovereigntyinmaritimezonesofthecountry.Dungalso reaffirmed the incontestable maritime sovereignty of Vietnam towards the two archipelagos, the Paracel and Spratlys.37 On the same day, President Nguyen Minh Triet,visitingCoToislandoffQuangNinhprovinceneartheChinaborder,statedthat Vietnam was determined to protect its islands and we are ready to sacrifice everythingtoprotectourhomelandourseaandislandsovereignty.38

LiveFireExercises.OnJune9, aftertheChineseAmbassadortothePhilippinescalled
on Vietnam and the Philippines to cease oil exploration, and after China announced it

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QuotedbyUnitedPressInternational,Vietnamallegeshighseasinterference,June10,2011. AnDienandMinhHung,EastSeaundercurrents,ThanhNienNews,June10,2011.

Ian Timberlake, Sea spat raises ChinaVietnam tensions, Agence France Presse, June 9, 2011 and Reuters,ChinaaccusesVietnaminescalatingseatensions,June10,2011. Interview with Thanh Nien quoted by Agence France Presse, Vietnam PM says sea sovereignty incontestable, June 9, 2011 and Deutsche PresseAgentur, Vietnams top leaders add fire to South ChinaSeadisputes,June9,2011. DeutchePresseAgentur,VietnamstopleadersaddfiretoSouthChinaSeadispute,June9,2011.

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would be conducting routine naval exercises in the Western Pacific,39 Vietnam raised the stakes by announcing a livefire exercise. Vietnams Northern Maritime Safety CorporationissuedanoticethattwolivefiringexerciseswouldbeheldonJune13thin thewatersnearHonOngIsland.Theexerciseswouldlastforatotalofninehoursand be conducted during the period 8amnoon and 7pmmidnight (01000500 GMT and 12001700GMT).Thenoticefurtherdeclared,Allvesselsaretorefrainfromengaging in activities in the area during the livefire period.40 Hon Ong Island is located approximatelyfortykilometresoffQuangNamprovinceincentralVietnam. Vietnams Foreign Ministry characterized the livefiring exercises as a routine annual training activity of the Vietnam navy in the area where the Vietnam navy regularly conductstraining[activities]thatareprogrammedandplannedannuallyforunitsofthe VietnamPeoplesNavy.41Vietnamdidnotspecifyhowmanyshipswouldbeinvolved but made clear no missiles would be fired. The first phase of the exercise involved coastal artillery while the second part of the exercise involved missile corvettes firing theirdeckgun. OnJune11,theGlobalTimes,anEnglishlanguagenewspaperpublishedbytheChinese CommunistParty,editorializedthatVietnamsconductofalivefiringexerciseswasthe lowest form of nationalism to create a new enmity between the people of the two countries.Hanoiseemstobelookingtodissipatedomesticpressureandbuckupmorale athome,whileatthesametimefurtherdrawingintheconcernofinternationalsociety overtheSouthChinaSeadispute.TheeditorialstatedthatChinahasneversoughtto politicallyblackmailsmallercountries.Butwhenasmallcountryturnsthataroundand tries to blackmail China, the Chinese people will on the one hand feel rather angry, while on the other hand find it quite amusing. In conclusion, the editorial opined, If Vietnam insists on making trouble, thinking that the more trouble it makes, the more benefitsitgains,thenwetrulywishtoremindthoseinVietnamwhodeterminepolicyto pleasereadyourhistory.42

AntiChina Nationalism. Chinas new wave of aggressive assertiveness provoked a

patrioticresponseamongstudentsandawidersectionoftheVietnamesecommunity.
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Ben Blanchard and Michael Martina, China says to hold routine navy drills in western Pacific, Reuters,June9,2011.

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BaoDamAnToanHangHaiMienBac(NorthernMaritimeSafetyCorporation),Veviecbandanthat tren vung bien Quang Nam, So 107/TBHHCT.BDATHHMB, June 9, 2011, http://www.vmsnorth.vn. A spokesmanfortheVietnamnavalcommandatDaNangsaidtheexercisewouldtotalsixhours. 41 Quoted by John Ruwitch, Vietnam welcomes international help as sea dispute escalates, Reuters, June 11, 2011. See also: Margie Mason, Vietnam plans livefire drill after China dispute, Associated Press,June10,2011;AgenceFrancePresse,VietnamtoholdlivefiredrillasChinariftgrows,June10, 2011andDeutschePresseAgentur,NavyofficialsayslivefiredrillswellinsideVietnamsterritory,June 11,2011.
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QuotedbyAssociatedPress,ChineCommunistPartynewspapercautionsVietnam,June11,2011.

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Using Facebook and other social networking sites they mounted antiChina demonstrations on five consecutive Sundays in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. On June 5, an estimated 300 Vietnamese gathered in Hanoi near the Chinese Embassy, while a crowd estimated at nearly 1,000 to several thousand gathered in Ho Chi Minh City.43 On the following weekend, June 12, two hundred demonstrators took to the streets of Hanoi while another three hundred marched in Ho Chi Minh City in a repeat of the previous weekends protests.44 The protestors held placards reading DownwithChina,TheSpratlysandParacelsbelongtoVietnamandStopViolating VietnamsTerritory.Thesedemonstrationswerepeacefulanddispersedonordersby thepolice.45 On June 19, hundreds of Vietnamese conducted the third demonstration against China in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.46 Estimates of the number of protestors who gathered outside the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi varied from 100 to 300. They sang patriotic songs, chanted Down with China and held placards reading China stop violating the territorial waters of Vietnam.47 Police used loud hailers to praise the crowdforitspatriotismbuttriedtodissuadethembynotingYourgatheringheremay complicatethesituation,influencingdiplomaticrelationsbetweenthetwocountries.48 On June 26, an estimated 100 protestors in Hanoi conducted the fourth successive demonstrationagainstChina.Theymarchedthroughthecitystreetscarryingsignsthat read,Chinastoplying.ChinastopinvadingandStopviolatingtheterritorialwatersof Vietnam.49Afifthprotestby100demonstratorswasheldinHanoionJuly3.
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ChineseaggressionintheSouthChinaSeapersists,saysVietnamForeignMinister,IBTimes,June9, 2011; Reuters, Vietnam accuses China of harassing another boat, June 9, 2011 and Ian Timberlake, FacebookeffectstirsVietnamChinatensions,AgenceFrancePresse,June10,2011 DeutschePresseAgentur,VietnamesedemonstrateagainstChinaasseadisputesheatsup,June12, 2011;Reuters,VietnamallowssecondantiChinaprotestinHanoi,June12,2011andAFP,Protesters rallyaheadofVietnamfiredrills,TheStandard,June13,2011. SomeVietnameseuniversitieswarnedtheirstudentsnottotakepartinantiChinademonstrations.A notice at the Industrial University in Ho Chi Minh City, for example, threatened to expel students who tookpartinantiChinademonstrations;see:JohnRuwitch,VietnamallowssecondantiChinaprotestin Hanoi,Reuters,June12,2011. DeutschePresseAgentur,ProtestorsinVietnammarchagainstChinaforthirdweek,June19,2011.

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AssociatedPress,VietnameseprotestChinaamidrisingtensions,June18,2011andAgenceFrance Presse,VietnameseholdantiChinarallyamidseaspat,June20,2011. AgenceFrancePresse,VietnameseholdantiChinarallyamidseaspat,June20,2011.

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Associated Press, Dozens of Vietnamese protest China amid tensions, June 25, 2011. A day earlier about200VietnamesestagedaprotestinTokyochanting,DontkillfishermeninVietnam!,see:Agence FrancePresse,VietnameseinTokyostagefirstChinaprotest,TheChinaPost,June26,2011.VietTan,an anticommunistoverseasVietnamesepoliticalparty,triedtocapitalizeontheSouthChinaSeaterritorial dispute by charging that the Vietnamese government was unfit to lead the country, see: Marianne

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During early June, growing enmity between nationalists in China and Vietnam spilled over into cyberspace. According to Nguyen Minh Duc, director of the Bach Khoa Internetwork Security Centre, more than two hundred Vietnamese websites were subject to cyber attacks. Among the sites affected were those of the ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development and Foreign Affairs where hackers succeeded in postingChineseflagsandslogans.50

Compartmentalizing South China Sea Tensions. In a clear sign that China and
Vietnamhadcontainedtensionsarisingfromthecablecuttingincidents,thenaviesof both countries conducted their eleventh routine joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin on June1920.51Afterthepatrolconcluded,theVietnameseshipspaidavisittoZhanjiang, Guangdong,VietnamssecondeverportcalltoChina.52 OnJune25,VietnamdispatcheddeputyforeignministerHoXuanSonasaspecialenvoy to Beijing to hold talks on the South China Sea with his counterpart Zhang Zhijun. Significantly, Son was received by State Councilor Dai Bingguo.53 According to a joint press release the two sides resolved to settle their disputes through negotiation and friendlyconsultation,controlpublicopinion,andstepupnegotiationsonguidelineson the principles of settlement of maritime disputes and the DOC. The text of the joint pressreleasereleasedbyVietnamsForeignMinistrystated:
Thetwosidesemphasizedthenecessitytoactivelyimplementthecommonperceptionsof the two countries leaders, peacefully solving the two countries disputes at sea through negotiation and friendly consultation; employing effective measures and working together tomaintainpeaceandstabilityintheEastSea[sic]. They also laid stress on the need to steer public opinions along the correct direction, avoidingcommentsanddeedsthatharmthefriendshipandtrustofthepeopleofthetwo countries.

Brown,VietnamweighspatriotismagainstdiplomacyinChinaspat,DeutschePresseAgentur,June27, 2011.
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Agence France Presse, Vietnam complains to China as sea tensions rise, June 9, 2011 and Ian Timberlake,VietnamtoholdlivefiredrillasChinariftgrows,June10,2011. MargieMason,VietnamandChinaholdjointnavalpatrolamidspat,AssociatedPress,June21,2011 andAgenceFrancePresse,China,VietnamholdjointseapatrolsneardisputedSpratlys,June23,2011. VietnamesenavalshipsonfriendlyvisittoChina,QuanDoiNhanDanOnline,June22,2011;China, VietnamengageinJointnavalpatrols,PeoplesDailyOnline,June22,2011andVietnamesenavalships wrapupvisittoChina,QuanDoiNhanDanOnline,June27,2011. EdwardWong,ChinaandVietnamAgreetoTalksonSouthChinaSeaDispute,TheNewYorkTimes, June 26, 2011; Brian Spegele, China Announces Pact with Vietnam on Disputes Sea, The Wall Street Journal,June26,2011;DanMartin,China,VietnamvowtocoolS.ChinaSeatensions,AgenceFrance Presse, June 27, 2011; and Qin Zhongwei, China, Vietnam agree on talks to solve sea dispute, China Daily,June27,2011andReuters,China,Vietnamagreetoresolvemaritimedispute,June28,2011.

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The two sides agreed to speed up the tempo of negotiations so as to early sign an AgreementonbasicprinciplesguidingthesettlementofseaissuesbetweenVietnamand China,andboosttheimplementationoftheDeclarationonConductofPartiesintheEast Sea[sic](DOC)andfollowupactivitiessothatsubstantialprogresswillsoonbeachieved.54

The reference to public opinion and avoiding comments referred to antiChina demonstrations in Vietnam, hacking attacks, unseemingly exchanges over the internet and media reporting. Chinas Global Times (an organ owned by the Peoples Daily) has been particularly vitriolic in its editorials and commentary. An editorial published on June 23, for example, accused Vietnam of setting a bad example by holding defence and security discussions with the United States and by consenting to a growing nationalistic sentiment amongitspeople.Theeditorialfurthercommented: Vietnam has been trapped in an unrealistic belief that as long as the US balances out the SouthChinaSeaissue,itcanopenlychallengeChinassovereigntyandwalkawaywithhuge gains.IfVietnamcontinuetoprovokeChinainthisregion,Chinawillfirstdealwithitwith maritimepoliceforcesandifnecessarystrikebackwithnavalforces.55 The Vietnamese media has been more circumspect due to government and party policy direction.However,onJune24,threemajordailies,LaoDong,ThanhNienandTuoiTre,were permittedtorespondtotheGlobalTimeseditorial.Theychargeditwithdistortinginformation, trying to intimidate Vietnam and being increasing aggressive thus exacerbating bilateral relations.56

54

SocialistRepublicofVietnam,MinistryofForeignAffairs,VietNamChinajointpressrelease,June26, 2011. http://www.mofa.vn/en. China media put a spin on the press release by reporting that Both countriesareopposedtoexternalforcesgettinginvolvedinthedisputebetweenChinaandVietnam, seeXinhua,ChinaurgesconsensuswithVietnamonSouthChinaSeaissue,June28,2011. Quoted in Deutsche Presse Agentur, Chinese, Vietnamese media go headtohead in war of words, June24,2011. Deutsche Presse Agentur, Chinese, Vietnamese media go headtohead in war of words, June 24, 2011.

55

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2.ThePhilippines:DiplomacyandTerritorialDefence
According to the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, Chinese activities in the SpratlyIslandssteppedupinthefourthquarterof2010.57Thisincreasedpresenceled tosixorsevenmajorincursionsintowatersclaimedbythePhilippinesinthefirstfive months of 2011.58 The Philippines has not yet officially released the list but from statementsbygovernmentofficialsthefollowingincidentsappearsindicative:

Incident1.OnFebruary25,threePhilippinesfishingvessels,F/VJaimeDLS,F/VMama
LydiaDLSandF/VMaricris12,wereoperatinginthewatersoffJackson(Quirino)Atoll 140nauticalmileswestofPalawan.AccordingtoareportpreparedbytheArmedForces ofthePhilippines(AFP),thefishingvesselswereapproachedbyaJianghuVClassmissile frigate, Dongguan 560, which broadcast over its marine band radio, This is Chinese Warship 560. You are in the Chinese territory. Leave the area immediately. Then the frigate repeatedly broadcast, I will shoot you.59 As the fishing vessels began to withdraw, the Chinese frigate fired three shots that landed 0.3 nautical miles (556 meters) from F/V Maricris 12. The F/V Maricris 12 left the area and then returned on February28torecoveritsanchorthatitcutinitshastydeparture.TheF/VMaricris12 spotted three Chinese fishing vessels exploiting marine resources in the area. The PhilippinegovernmentreportedlydidnotfileaprotestwiththeChineseEmbassyover this incident.60 The Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Liu Jianchao later denied thatanyChinesevesselhadfiredonFilipinofishermen.61

Incident2.OnMarch2ndtwoChinesewhitepaintedpatrolboats,No.71andNo.75,
ordered MV Veritas Voyager, a Forum Energy Plc survey vessel operating in the Reed BankareaoffPalawanIsland,toleaveandtwicemanoeuvredcloseinwhatappeareda threat to ram the MV Veritas Voyager.62 The survey ship was Frenchowned and registeredinSingapore. 57MaxDeLeonadEstrellaTorres,BusinessstepsintoendSpratlysrow,BusinessMirror,ABSCBN News,June3,2011.
58JerryE.EsplanadaandTaraQuismundo,AbidebyUNpact,Chinatold,PhilippineDailyInquirer,June

3,2011.

59 60 61 62

TessaJamandre,ChinafiredatFilipinofishermeninJacksonatoll,ABSCBNNews,June3,2011. AureaCalica,PHLtotakeChineseincursionstotheUnitedNations,ThePhilippineStar,June4,2011. JimGomez,Chinawarnsneighbors:StopoilsearchinSpratlys,AssociatedPress,June9,2011.

BBCNews,AsiaPacific,PhilippineshaltstestsafterChinapatrolchallenge,March8,2011;Nicholas HeathandDanielTenKate,VietnamSaysChineseBoatHarassedPetroVietnamSurveyShip,Bloomberg Businessweek,June9,2011;AureaCalica,PalaceinnohurrytofileChinaprotest,ThePhilippineStar, May 21, 2011 and Tessa Jamandre, China fired at Filipino fishermen in Jackson atoll, ABSCBN News, June3,2011.TheSampaguitagasfieldintheReedBankisestimatedtocontainbetween3.4trillionto20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, Carps among the Spratlys, The Economist, March 10 2011, online edition.

15

ThePhilippinesrespondedbydispatchingtwoOV10aircrafttoinvestigate.TheChinese boatsdepartedwithoutfurtherincident.ForeignAffairsUndersecretaryErlindaBasilio lodgedaprotestwithChineseChargedAffairs,BaiTian,onMarch4th.Accordingtoone reportthenoteraisedfourpointstoprovethatReedBankisnotpartofthedisputed areabyprojecting85nauticalmilesfromthebasepointinthenorthernpartofPalawan andnotfromtheKIG.ChinaquestionedthisduringameetingwiththePhilippines,but didnotreplyinadiplomaticnote.63 After the incident, the Philippines announced a temporary halt to seismic testing and orderedthePhilippineNavyandPhilippinesCoastGuardtoescortthesurveyshipwhen testing resumed.64 Later, President Aquino instructed the Philippine Coast Guard to providesecurityforoilandgasexplorationactivitiesintheKalayaanIslandGroup.65 OnApril5,thePhilippineMissiontotheUnitedNationssubmittedaletterinresponse toChinasNotesVerbalesofMay7,2009(CML/17/2009anCML/18/2009)statingthe Philippines claim to sovereignty over the Kalayaan Island Group, adjacent waters and geologicalfeatures(relevantwaters,seabedandsubsoil).66ChinarespondedonApril14 withanoteverbaletotheUnitedNationsthataccusedthePhilippinesofinvadingand occupying some islands and reefs of Chinas Nansha Islands... The Republic of the Philippines occupation of some islands and reefs of Chinas Nansha islands as well as other related acts constitutes an infringement upon Chinas territorial sovereignty.67 TheChinesenoteverbalealsoarguedthatonthebasisofdomesticlegislationChinas NanshaIslandsisfullyentitledtoTerritorialSea,EEZandContinentalShelf.68
63 64

TessaJamandre,ChinafiredatFilipinofishermeninJacksonatoll,ABSCBNNews,June3,2011

AFP,Chinastakesclaimondisputedislandsafterspats,March9,2011andAureaCalica,Palaceinno hurrytofileChinaprotest,ThePhilippineStar,May21,2011. CoastGuardtosecureoilexplorationinKalayaanislandgroup,GMANewsTV,April19,2011.TheKIG containsninegeologicalfeatures:Balagtas(IrvingReef),Kota(Loaita),Lawak(Nanshan),Likas(WestYork), Pagasa (Thitu), Panata (Lankiam), Parola (Northeast Cay), Patag Island (Flat Island is also considered a partoftheSpratlys)andRizal(CommodoreReef). Philippine Mission to the United Nations, letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations, 11 00494,No.000228,NewYork,April5,2011.Seealso:AFP,PhilippinesprotestsChinasSpratlysclaimat UN,April13,2011;TessaJamandre,PHLprotestsChinesemapclaimingSpratlyIslands,GMANewsTV, April 13, 2011 and Jerry E. Esplanada, PH runs to UN to protest Chinas 9dash line Spratlys claims, PhilippineDailyInquirer,April15,2011. QuotedbyTessaJamandre,ChinaaccusesPHofinvasion,ABCCBNNews,April19,2011andTeresa Cerojano, Beijing counters Manilas UN protest, says Philippines started to invade Spratlys in 1970s, AssociatedPress,April19,2011. The Chinese note verbale specifically mentioned the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on TerritorialSeaandContiguousZone(1992),theLawontheExclusiveEconomicZoneandtheContinental ShelfofthePeoplesRepublicofChina(1998)aswellasthe1982UNConventiononLawoftheSea.

65

66

67

68

16

Incident 3. On May 6, a Chinese marine vessel with a flat bed was sighted in Abad
Santos(Bombay)Shoal.69

Incident4.OnMay19theArmedForcesofthePhilippinesclaimedthattwoChinesejet
fighters allegedly flew into Philippines air space near Palawan on May 11. This initial report was never confirmed and appears the least substantiated of the six or seven incidentsofreportedChineseincursions.70

Incident5.OnMay21,ChineseMarineSurveillanceshipNo.75andSalvage/Research
ShipNo.707wereobservedheadingtowardSouthernBank.71

Incident 6. On May 24, Filipino fishermen reportedly witnessed a China Maritime

SurveillancevesselandPLANshipsunloadingsteelposts,buildingmaterialsandabuoy near Likas and Patag in the Iroquois ReefAmy Douglas Bank, 100 nautical miles off Palawan.72 The fishermen reported their sighting to the AFP the next day. Navy HeadquartersinManilaorderedashiptoverifythesightingbutbadweatherdelayedits arrivaluntilMay29bywhichtimetheChineseshipshaddeparted(presumablywiththe buoy).Localfishermenremovedthesteelpollsandhandedthemovertoauthorities. The AFP reported this incident on May 27 and the Department of Foreign Affairs summonedtheChineseChargedAffairesonMay31toseekclarification.Thefollowing day the Philippines conveyed serious concerns in a note verbale to the Chinese Embassy;thenotestated,Theseshipsreportedlyunloadedbuildingmaterials,erected anundeterminednumberofposts,andplacedabuoynearthebreakeroftheIroquois Bank.73TheChineseEmbassyresponded,ThereportedincursionofChineseshipsis
69 70

TessaJamandre,ChinafiredatFilipinofishermeninJacksonatoll,ABSCBNNews,June3,2011.

ChinesejetsintrudedintoPHspaceAFP,PhilippineDailyInquirer,May20,2011;Twounidentified aircraftseenoverSpratlysAFP,GMANewsTV,May21,2011;AFPvalidatesKalayaanislandsaircraft sighting incident, Philippine Information Agency Press Release, May 23, 2011 and Jim Gomez, China, PhilippineswarnrivalsonSpratlys,TheChinaPost,May24,2011. TessaJamandre,ChinafiredatFilipinofishermeninJacksonatoll,ABSCBNNews,June3,2011.

71 72

Various dates between May 2224 are reported in the Filipino press. Jun Pasaylo, China surveillance shipsroamPhlwaters,ThePhilippineStar,June1,2011;SimoneOrendain,PhilippinesSeeksAnswers About Latest South China Sea Incident, Voice of America News, June 1, 2011; Katherine Evangelista, PhilippinesmilitarytoactwithdiplomacyoverSpratlysdisputedefensechief,PhilippineDailyInquirer, June 1, 2011; Johana Paola d. Poblete, Philippines preparing issues for UN about China intrusions, BusinessWorld,June2,2011;ChinadeniesinvasionofSouthChinaSea,ABSCNNews,June2,2011; AFP,PhilippinesgovtproteststoChinaoveroilplansinSouthChinaSea,TheChinaPost,June2,2011 and Jerry E. Esplanada and Tarra Quismundo, Abide by UN pact, China told, Philippine Daily Inquirer, June3,2011. QuotedbyGMANews,DFAconveysprotesttoBeijingoverChinesevessels,GMANewsTV,June4, 2011.Seealso:PiaLeeBrago,ChinaBuildinginPHLWaters;DFASummonedEnvoy,ThePhilippineStar, June2,2011.TessaJamandre,ChinafiredatFilipinofishermeninJacksonatoll,ABSCBNNews,June3, 2011reportednonoteverbalewasgiventotheChineseChargedAffairesattheMay31meeting.

73

17

not trueIts only Chinas marine research ship conducting normal maritime research activities in the South China Sea.74 Speaking on a TV forum that same day, Defense SecretaryVoltaireGazminobserved,Itsalarminginthesensethattheintrusionsare increasing.Theyarestakingclaimontheareaswherewedonothaveapresence.They wanttohoisttheirflagsotheycanclaimthearea.75ForeignAffairsSecretaryAlbertdel RosariochargedthatanynewconstructionbyChinainthevicinityoftheuninhabited Iroquois Bank is a clear violation of the 2002 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)ChinaDeclarationontheConductofParties(DOC)intheSouthChinaSea.76 SubsequentlyitwasrevealedthatPhilippineNavyandCoastGuardpersonnelremoved foreignmarkersandplasticbuoysinstalledonthreereefsandbanksinwatersclaimed by the Philippines. Markers were removed from Amy Douglas Bank and Reed Bank in lateMayandfromBoxallReefonJune6.77

President Aquino Lobbies Indonesia and Brunei. During 2011 President Aquino
lobbied his ASEAN colleagues to unify as a bloc on a detailed code of conduct and proposed that a central position on the South China Sea dispute among the ASEAN claimantstateswasthebestwaytoapproachChina. On March 8 President Aquino paid an official visit to Indonesia where he met with President Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono. At a joint press conference after their talks, President Aquino expressed his full support for Indonesias leadership role as ASEAN Chair. President Yudhoyono said Indonesia as ASEAN Chair would bring the Spratly Islands issue to the forthcoming ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit. President Yudhoyono expressed his hope that the South China Sea could become a zone of possible economic cooperation. President Aquino replied, With regard to joint exploration[inthearea],thatisanideathathasbeenproposedafewdecadespastbut perhapsweshouldcontinuethetalkswithotherclaimantcountries.Thereisnoroom forunilateralactioninthatparticularregion.78
74

GMANews,DFA:StrongerseacodetopreventrepeatofMischiefReef,GMANewsTV,June2,2011 andChinadeniesincursionintoWestPhilippineSea,ThePhilippineStar,June3,2011. Dona Z.Pazzibugan, Chinese intrusions inPHclaimedparts of Spratlys alarming,says Gazmin, The PhilippinesDailyInquirer,June2,2011 PiaLeeBrago,ChinaBuildinginPHLWaters;DFASummonedEnvoy,ThePhilippineStar,June2,2011.

75

76 77

SimoneOrendain,PhilippinesRemovesForeignMarkersfromDisputedSouthChinaSeaReefs,Voice of Vietnam News, June 15, 2011; Bloomberg News, Navy removes Chinese markers in Reed Bank, Manila Standard Today, June 16, 2011; Agence France Presse, Philippines pulls markers from disputed waters, June 15, 2011; Barbara Mae Dacanay, Navy and Coast Guard remove Chinese markers, Gulf News,June16,2011andMichaelSainsbury,Chinesemarkersinciteseaenmity.TheAustralian,June17, 2011. QuotedbyAdiantoP.Simamora,SBY,AquinoagreeontalksoverSpratlys,TheJakartaPost,March9, 2011.

78

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On June 1, President Aquino paid an official visit to Brunei Darussalam for discussions with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. According to Presidential Communications Operations SecretaryHerminioColomaJr.,thetwoleadersexpressedtheirdesiretomaintainpeace andstabilityintheSouthChinaSeathroughamultilateraldialogueamongtheASEAN countries,claimantcountriesandChina.ClomaquotedtheSultanasstatingitsbestto havegoodrelationswithChina.79 President Aquino told the reporters covering his visit: We govern ourselves there [SpratlyIslands/KIG].InsteadofonecountryhasabilateralagreementwithChinaand theotherhasadifferentbilateralagreementwithChina.Letscometogetherasabody. Why do we have to fight or increase all of these tensions when it profits nobody?80 Aquinoalsorenewedhiscallfortheimmediateadoptionoftheimplementingguidelines on the DOC.81 The following day, June 12, Eduardo Malaya, a spokesperson for the DepartmentofForeignAffairs,calledforamorebindingCodeofConductorPartiesin theSouthChinaSeainresponsetoChineseintrusionsintoPhilippinewaters. During his state visit to Brunei President Aquino revealed that the Philippines was preparing to file a complaint to the United Nations in response to Chinese intrusions into its territory. According to Aquino, We are completing the data on about six to seveninstancessinceFebruary.Wewillpresentitto[China]andthenbringthesetothe appropriatebody,whichnormallyistheUnitedNations.82TheAquinoAdministrationis supportingtwolegislativemeasuresinresponsetoChinasassertivenessintheSpratly Islands.TheHouseofRepresentativeisdrawingupthePhilippineMaritimeZonesbillto delineate the Philippines maritime zones, while the Senate is considering the ArchipelagicSeaLanesbill.83

TheAFPandTerritorialDefence.OnMarch28,GeneralEduardoOban,chiefofthe
ArmedForcesofthePhilippines,announcedthatthePhilippineshadincreasedairand navalpatrolsintheSouthChinaSeaandhadplanstoupgradeRancudoAirFieldonPag Asa(Thitu)islandandrepairbarracks.84TheAFPwasallocatedUS$183millioninfunds
79

Regina Bengco, Peace in Spratlys is all they want, Malaya.Com, June 2, 2011; Shirley Escalante, Philippines,BruneipushfordialoguetosettleSpratleyIslandsdispute,AustraliaNetworkNews,June3, 2011andChinadeniesincursionintoWestPhilippineSea,ThePhilippineStar,June3,2011. Johanna Paola d. Poblete, Philippines preparing issues for UN about China intrusions, Business World,June2,2011. Adoptionofterritorialguidelinesurged,ManilaBulletin,June2,2011.

80

81 82

JohanaPaolad.Poblete,PhilippinespreparingissuesforUNaboutChinaintrusions,BusinessWorld, June2,2011;AmitaO.Legaspi,PalacepreparesSpratlysincursionsreport,GMANewsTV,June3,2011 and Jim Gomez, Philippines plans new UN protest as China denies aggressive acts in Spratly Islands, AssociatedPress,June3,2011. GMANews,DFA:StrongerseacodetopreventrepeatofMischiefReef,GMANewsTV,June2,2011. JaimeLaude,AFPtomaintainpresenceinSpratlys,ThePhilippineStar,March29,2011.

83 84

19

fromtheCapabilityUpgradeProgramtopurchasetwooffshorefastpatrolboats,long range maritime aircraft, surveillance and communication equipment including air defenceradartobetterprotectitsterritory.85PresidentAquinoearlierhadreleasedUS $255milliontothearmedforces. ThePhilippinesrecentlyacquiredtheU.S.CoastGuardCutterUSCGCHamilton,whichis expectedtoenterserviceinAugustandthencommencepatrollingdisputedwatersin the South China Sea.86 The Philippines also expects to take delivery of three new Taiwanmanufactured MultiPurpose Attack Craft early in 2012.87 In May, a Philippine navystudyrecommendedtheacquisitionofsubmarinesasadeterrentagainstfuture potentialconflicts.88 ThePhilippinesdefenceandmilitaryagenciesaredrawingupanewstrategyinresponse todevelopmentintheSouthChinaSea.Thenewstrategywouldfocusonbothinternal security operations and external territorial defence. AFP chief General Oban said the militarywasplanningtosetupacostwatchsystemonthewesternseaboardinthenext twotothreeyearstomonitorandsecuremaritimebordersandnaturalresources.89In JuneitwasreportedthatthePhilippinesEmbassyinWashingtonwasinthemarketfor excessdefenceequipmentfromtheU.S.underitsForeignMilitarySales(FMS)program includingoneormorepatrolships.90 The Philippines also announced a new U.S. training program for its naval forces to enable them to better carry out their mission of providing security for oil exploration activitiesintheSouthChinaSea.91 OnMay14,PresidentAquinoandseveralmembersofhisCabinetflewouttotheUSS CarlVinsonaircraftcarrierintheSouthChinaSeaasitheadedtowardsthePhilippines.
85

JonGrevatt,PhilippinestoinvestUSD183millionindefenceofSpratlyIslands,JanesDefenceWeekly, March 30, 2011; Reuters, Philippines steps up presence in South China Sea, March 28, 2011 and AssociatedPress,PhilippinestobolsterwatchindisputedSpratlys,BloombergBusinessweek,March28, 2011. PhilippinessettodeploynewpatrolshiptoKalayaanIslands,ManilaBulletin,April14,2011andAFP, Philippines to boosts Spratly patrols, Channel News Asia, April 15, 2011. The USCGC Hamilton, a WeatherHighEnduranceCutter,wasrenamedtheBRPGregoriodelPilarandwillbethelargestshipin thePhilippinenavy;MarichuA.Villanueva,KeepingPhlNavyafloat,ThePhilippineStar,May16,2011. Reuters,Philippinessayswillspend$255minonmilitaryhelicopters,boats,April13,2011.

86

87 88

Katherine Evangelista, Philippines eye submarines to boost navy, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 17, 2001. ChinadeniesincursionintoWestPhilippineSea,ThePhilippinesStar,June3,2011. MichaelLimUbac,PhilippinesshopsforUSmilitarygear,PhilippineDailyInquirer,June5,2011.

89 90 91

ShirleyEscalante,Philippinesincreasesecurityforoilexploration,AustraliaNetworkNews,April28, 2011.

20

TheaircraftcarriermadearoutineportcallandgoodwillvisitaccompaniedbytheUSS Bunker Hill, USS Shiloh and USS Gridley.92 In fact the visit by the carrier was a reaffirmationofthealliancerelationshipwithChinalefttoreadintoitwhatitwould.

VisitbyChineseDefenceMinister.ChinasDefenceMinister,GeneralLiangGuanglie,
paid an official visit to the Philippines from May 2125 for discussions with his counterpart Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. A joint statement issued after the meetingdeclared,unilateralactionswhichcouldcausealarmshouldbeavoided.93The twoministersalsoagreedtoholdregulardiscussionstopromotetrustandconfidence and find common ground on territorial disputes in the Spratly Islands. A statement issuedtheDepartmentofNationalDefencestated,bothministersexpressedhopethat theimplementingguidelinesofthe2002DeclarationofConductwouldsoonbefinalized andagreedupon,thatresponsiblebehaviorofallpartiesintheSouthChinaSeaissue wouldhelpkeeptheareastablewhileallpartiesworkforthepeacefulresolutionBoth ministers recognized that unilateral actions which could cause alarm should be avoided.94 WhenDefenceMinisterLiangmetwithPresidentAquinoSouthChinaSeaissues were discussed in general, but the latter refrained from directly mentioning the Reed Bank incident of March 2 and the reported intrusion of Chinese aircraft into Philippine air space.95 President Aquino also told General Liang that more maritime incidents in disputedareasoftheSouthChinaSeacouldsparkaregionalarmsrace.96Immediately afterthedefenceministersmet,SunYi,DeputyChiefofPoliticalSectionattheChinese EmbassyinManila,announcedthatChinalookedforwardtoanaccelerateddialogue withthePhilippinestoresolvethedisputeintheSouthChinaSea.Itsabilateralissue. Werepeatedlysaidthatandwebelieveitsabilateralissue,SunYistated.97

ShangriLaDialogue.AllofthesixsevenincidentsofChineseincursionsintoPhilippine
territory, and the first cable cutting incident involving Vietnam, occurred prior to the
92

Christine O. Avendano, Dona Pazzibugan and Jerome Aning, Palace sees no terror backlash against Aquinovisittoship,PhilippineDailyInquirer,May16,2011. JimGomez,China,PhilippinesdefensechiefsdiscussSpratlys,AssociatedPress,June4,2011.

93 94

QuotedbyChina,PHagreetoholdregulartalksonSpratlys,ABSCBNNews,May23,2011;Christine O.AvendanoandDonaZ.Pazzibugan,PeacefulSpratlysresolutionreaffirmed,PhilippinesDailyInquirer, May 24, 2011; Simone Orendain, Philippines, China Support Discussion on South China Sea, Voice of AmericaNews,May24,2011andJimGomez,China,PhilippineswarnrivalsonSpratlys,TheChinaPost, May24,2011. WillardCheng,Philippines,ChinaOKSouthChinaSeadialogue,ABSCBNNews,May23,2011.

95 96

AgenceFrancePresse,PhilippineswarnsofarmsraceinSouthChinaSea,May24,2011andWilliam B.Depasupil,PhilippinesWarnsofArmsRaceinSouthChinaSea,ManilaTimes,May25,2011. PiaLeeBrago,ChinawelcomesdialoguetoendNanshadispute,ThePhilippineStar,May25,2011.

97

21

tenthannualmeetingoftheShangriLaDialogueheldinSingaporefromJune35.Itwas notsurprisingthatterritorialdisputesintheSouthChinaSeawereraisedinallplenary sessions by defence ministers attending the Shangrila Dialogue. The Philippine SecretaryofNationalDefence,VoltaireGazmin,reportedlywatereddownthedrafttext ofhisremarksontheSouthChinaSeabeforedelivery.98Hisaddressbeganbynoting that, maritime security is one of our foremost concerns. In an obvious reference to the March 2nd incident, Gazmin stated that the actions by other states make the Philippinesworryandconcerned.Theseactionsnecessarilycreateinsecuritynotonlyto thegovernmentbutmoredisturbinglytoordinarycitizenswhodependonthemaritime environment for their livelihood. He then gave details of recent incidents involving ChinesevesselswithoutmentioningChinabyname.99

Exchange of Diplomatic Protests. On June 4, the Department of Foreign Affairs

issuedastatementrevealingithadlodgedaprotestwiththeChineseEmbassyonJune2 overtheincreasingpresenceandactivitiesofChinesevesselsincludingnavalassetsin theWestPhilippinesSea(SouthChinaSea).Thenotestated,TheseactionsofChinese vesselshamperthenormalandlegitimatefishingactivitiesoftheFilipinofishermenin theareaandunderminesthepeaceandstabilityoftheregion.100 China responded on June 7 with a statement by Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hong Lei: Chinese vessels were cruising and carrying out scientific studies in waters under Chinas jurisdiction and their activities were in line with the law China asks the Philippine side to stop harming Chinas sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, whichleadstounilateralactionsthatexpandandcomplicateSouthChinaSeadisputes. ThePhilippinesshouldstoppublishingirresponsiblestatementsthatdonotmatchthe facts.101 Liu Jianchao, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, followed up these comments on June 9. Ambassador Liang responded to complaints by the Philippines government for thefirsttimewhenhemetwithreportersinManila.TheambassadorstatedthatChina had not yet started to drillforoilin Spratly Islands.Werecalling onotherparties to stopsearchingforthepossibilityofexploitingresourcesintheseareaswhereChinahas itsclaims.102InresponsetoaquestionhowChinawouldreactifcountrieswentahead
98 99

ConfidentialsourcewhospokewithSecretaryGazminattheShangriLaDialogue.
th

VoltaireGuzmin,RespondingtoNewMaritimeSecurityThreats,The10 IISSAsianSecuritySummit TheShangriLaDialogue,June5,2011. Statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs On the Presence of Chinese Vessels In the West PhilippineSea(SouthChinaSea),June4,2011. Quoted by Xinhua, China rejects Philippines accusation on South China Sa issue, June 7, 2011; AgenceFrancePresse,ChinasaysPhilippinesharmingitsmaritimerights,ABSCBNNews,June7,2011; Reuters,ChinascoldsPhilippinesoverdisputedwaters,June8,2011. JimGomez,Chinawarnsneighbors:StopoilsearchinSpratlys,AssociatedPress,June9,2011.

100

101

102

22

and continued to explore without Beijings permission, the ambassador said China wouldusediplomaticmeanstoassertitsrights.Wewillneveruseforceunlessweare attacked,hesaid.LiangalsoconfirmedtoreportersthatChineseforcestookactionto keeptheexplorationvesselfromReedBank.Thatspartofourexerciseofjurisdiction. Itsnotharassment,hesaid.103

ZoneofPeace,Freedom,FriendshipandCooperation.Inlaunchinganewinitiative,
theZoneof Peace, Freedom,FriendshipandCooperation(ZOPFF/C),PresidentAquino explainedwhatisoursisours,andwithwhatisdisputed,wecanworktowardsjoint cooperation.104HedirectedtheDepartmentofForeignAffairstopromotetheZOPFF/C conceptthroughsustainedconsultationsanddialogue. AccordingtotheDepartmentofForeignAffairs,theZOPFF/Cprovidesaframeworkfor separating the disputed territorial features that may be considered for collaborative activities from nondisputed waters in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) in accordance with international law in general and UNCLOS in particular.105 A disputed area could be turned into a Joint Cooperation Area for joint development and the establishment of marine protected area for biodiversity conservation. Areas not in dispute, such as Reed Bank that lies on the Philippines continental shelf, can be developed exclusively by the Philippines or with the assistance of foreign investors invitedtoparticipateinitsdevelopment.

3.ChinaMalaysia:BetwixtBilateralismandMultilateralism

Chinese Premier Visits Malaysia. In June 2009, Malaysias Prime Minister Dato Sri
NajibTunRazakpaidastatevisittoChina.InApril2011,DeputyPrimeMinisterTanSri MuhyiddinYassinwenttoChinatoprepareforthereturnvisitofPremierWenJiabao. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin met with Vice Premier Li Keqiang on April 18. Li pressed Chinas policy of resolving territorial disputes in the South China Sea on a bilateralbasisinhisdiscussionswithMuhyiddin.Muhyiddinagreedandofferedtorelay Chinas request for bilateral talks to other ASEAN members particularly claimant states.106 Prior to Premier Wens visit China played down the importance of the Spratly Islands dispute and highlighted that agreements would be signed relating to telecommunicationsandinfrastructureconstruction.ChinasAssistantForeignMinister HuZhengyoustated,forexample,TheSouthChinaSeaproblemisanoldone.Ithink
103 104

JimGomez,Chinawarnsneighbors:StopoilsearchinSpratlys,AssociatedPress,June9,2011.

QuotedinARulesBasedRegimeinTheSouthChinaSeaBy:AlbertF.DelRosario,SecretaryofForeign Affairs,PublicInformationServiceUnit,June7,2011. AmitaO.Legaspi,PalacepreparesSpratlysincursionsreport,GMANewsTV,June3,2011. Bernama,TalkstorevolveclaimsoverSpratlys,NewStraitsTimes,April19,2011.

105 106

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thatwhentheleadersofbothnationsmeettheywontdeliberatelytrytoavoidit,but aswebothunderstandeachothersstance,thiswontbeamajorissue.107 OnreturntoMalaysiaMuhyiddinannouncedthatoverlappingclaimstotheSouthChina SeawouldbediscussedbetweenPrimeMinisterDatukSeriNajibTunRazakandPremier Wen.AccordingtoMuhyiddin,MalaysiaisoftheopinionthatdiscussionswithChinaon theissueofoverlappingclaimsshouldbecarriedoutafterofficialshavecomeupwitha basicframeworkontheclaimsbasedonfacts,lawandhistory.Hefurtherstated,We believenegotiationsamongtheASEANclaimantsareimportant.Buttherewillbeacase where the overlapping claims involve three countries, so discussions will have to be morethatbilateral.108 Before setting out on his trip (which also included Indonesia), Premier Wen gave an interviewtoMalaysianandIndonesianjournalists.Hewasasked,whetherChinawould holdtalksonjointdevelopmentinthesecontestedislandsandreefswithMalaysiaand otherrelevantcountriesthathavecrossclaimswithChina?PremierWenreplied: ChinaremainscommittedtotheDeclarationonConductofthePartiesintheSouth China Sea. We take the position that territorial disputes over maritime rights and interests should be peacefully addressed and resolved by the countries concerned throughbilateralchannels. We disapprove of referring bilateral disputes to multilateral forums because that willonlycomplicatetheissue.YouhaverightlymentionedthatalthoughChinaand MalaysiahavesomedisputesoverthementionedislandandreefsintheSouthChina Sea, these disputes have not impeded our efforts to have peaceful coexistence betweenthetwocountries. Secondly, I totally agree that the countries concerned can and should have joint developmentofresourcesintheSouthChinaSeabecausethisis intheinterestof regionalpeaceintheareaanditalsoservestheinterestsofallclaimantcountries.109 Premier Wen visited Malaysia from April 2728 and discussions with Prime Minister DatoSriNajibTunRazakmainlyfocusedoneconomicandeducationalissues.

ShangriLaDialogue.MalaysiasPrimeMinisterNajibandDefenceMinisterDatukSeri
Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi both spoke at the ShangriLa Dialogue. Prime Minister Najib gavetheopeningkeynoteaddressandofferedtheupbeatassessmentthatASEANand Chinawillsoonbeabletoagreeonamorebindingcodeofconducttoreplacethe2002 Declaration on Conduct in the South China Sea and that overlapping claims in the South China Sea have generally been managed with remarkable restraint. He then
107 108 109

Reuters,Chinaeyesenergy,bankdealswithMalaysia,Indonesia,April21,2011. NajibandChinesePremiertodiscussterritorialclaims,TheStarOnline,April26,2011. PremierWenshowsgreatinterestinChinaMalaysiaties,TheStarOnline,April27,2011.

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concluded, I remain fully committed to the common ASEAN position in terms of our engagementwithChinaontheSouthChinaSea,Iamequallydeterminedtoensureour bilateralrelationshipremainsunaffectedand,infact,continuestogofromstrengthto strength.110 DefenceMinisterHamididrewattentiontothefactorsinfluencingdisputesintheSouth China Sea geopolitics, Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) security and competition over petroleum resources. He argued that the 2002 DOC needed to be supported by actual activities that can promote confidence building among the claimants and suggestedthatclaimantcountriesintheSouthChinaSeaworktowardsidentifyingand realizing actual confidencebuilding (CBM) activities that would help alleviate some of thetensioninthearea.111

4.Taiwan:JointDevelopmentthroughaMultilateralMechanism
OverthelastthreeyearsChinahasapproachedTaiwanwithaviewtowardsadoptinga common position on sovereignty claims in the South China Sea. Taiwan has so far declined out of concern that this may affect its international status and relations with ASEAN, Japan and the United States.112 In response to rising tensions Taiwan has continuallyrestateditssovereigntyclaimstotheSouthChinaSea.Taiwanhasalsotaken steps to strengthen its capacity to defend Itu Aba (Taiping) Island and is considering furtherenhancementsofitsmilitarycapacity. BetweenJuly2010andJune10,2011,Taiwanissuedfivemajorstatementsreiterating itsclaimstosovereigntyandcallingforjointeffortstodevelopnaturalresourcesinthe SouthChinaSea.113InresponsetothePhilippinesnoteverbaleofApril5totheUnited Nations, on April 17 Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement declaring the Spratly, Paracel, Macclesfield and Pratas islands as well as their surrounding waters,seabedsandsubsoil,areallaninherentpartoftheterritoryoftheRepublicof China(Taiwan).114Thestatementconcluded:
110

Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak, Keynote Address, The 10 IISS Asian Security Summit The ShangriLa Dialogue,June3,2011. Bernama,Comprehensiveeffortsneededtoensureregionalmaritimesecurity,TheStarOnline,June 5,2001. Chen Ihsin, Protecting the Pratas and Spratly islands is in Taiwans best interests, Taiwan Today, May 6, 2001 and Lydia Lin, DPP would welcome sitdown discussions with mainland: Tsai, The China Post,June21,2011. Emmannuelle Tseng, Chen Yiwen and S. C. Chang, Lawmaker calls for marines to be stationed on SouthChinaSeaislet,FocusTaiwanNewsChannel,June12,2011. MinistryofForeignAffairsNewsReleasequotedinTaiwan,PHLofficialsdiscussSpratlyissue,GMA NewsTV,April19,2011.

th

111

112

113

114

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TaiwancalloncountriesborderingtheSouthChinaSeatorespecttheprinciplesandspiritof theCharteroftheUnitedNationsandtheUnitedNationsConventionontheLawoftheSea, andtorefrainfromadoptingunilateralmeasuresthatmightthreatenthepeaceandstability oftheregion. Taiwanreiteratesthatitupholdsthebasicprinciplesofsafeguardingsovereignty,shelving disputes, peace and reciprocity, and joint exploration and remains willing to work with othercountriesonexploringresourcesintheSouthChinaSea. Taiwan also urges the countries concerned to exercise selfrestraint so that peaceful resolutions to the disputes can be reached through consultation and dialogue. Taiwan remainswillingtoparticipateinsuchdialoguethatseekstofindresolutionstodisputesand promoteregionalpeace,stabilityanddevelopment.115

On April 18, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also summoned officials from the ManilaEconomicandCulturalOfficetostateTaiwansformalposition.116Atthesame time, the Director General of the Foreign Ministrys Department of East Asian and PacificAffairsreiteratedTaiwanspolicytosetdisputesasideandjointlyexplorenatural resourcesin theSouth ChinaSea.Heproposed bilateraltalkswiththePhilippinesand Vietnam to be followed by discussions on joint development through a multilateral mechanism.117 OnMay9,TaiwansMinistryofForeignAffairsrespondedtoVietnamssubmissionofa diplomaticnotedatedMay3totheUNSecretaryGeneralclaimingsovereigntyoverthe Paracel and Spratly islands, by issuing a statement reaffirming sovereignty along the samelinesastheApril17statement.118 In1999TaiwanwithdrewitsmarinesfromItuAbaandreplacedthemwithCoastGuard personnel.OnApril19,inresponsetorisingtensions,theMinistryofDefenceassigned theeliteMarineCorpstoreplacethearmyintrainingCoastGuardpersonnelassignedto Itu Aba.119 The Marine Corps will provide a fiveweek combat training course in

115

MinistryofForeignAffairsNewsReleasequotedinTaiwan,PHLofficialsdiscussSpratlyissue,GMA NewsTV,April19,2011. Taiwan,PHLofficialsdiscussSpratlysissue,GMANewsTV,April19,2011;ChrisWang,Taiwanwants peacefulresolutiontoSouthChinaSeadispute:MOFA,FocusTaiwanNewsChannel,April21,2011and ShihHsiuchuan,Taiwancallsformechanismtodiscussdisputedareas,TaipeiTimes,April22,2011. ShihHsiuchuan,Taiwancallsformechanismtodiscusdisputedareas,TaipeiTimes,April22,2011.

116

117 118

GraceKuo,MOFAremainsfirmsonsovereigntyoverSouthChinaSeaislands,TaiwanToday,May10, 2011andChinaNewsAgency,SpratlyIslandsbelongtoTaiwan:MOFAofficial,TheChinaPost,May11, 2011. Joel Atkinson, Taiwan on Tightrope as South China Sea Tensions Mount, Jakarta Globe, May 26, 2011.

119

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maritimecombatandpreventionofamphibiousattackandlanding.120TheCoastGuard Administration turned down the Defence Ministrys offer to provide missiles, tanks, mortars and 40mm automatic guns.121 Taiwan has also deferred a proposal to replace the Coast Guard with marines but is currently considering deploying tanks to Itu Aba andSeagullclassboatstothearea.122 TaiwansnavynormallyconductsthreeannualvisitstoItuAbausuallyinMarch,June andSeptemberinordertoprovidesuppliesandtoshowtheflag.OnApril27anaval friendshipfleetvisitedItuAbawhileembarkedonitsannualdeploymenttotheSouth ChinaSea.123

5.ASEANsRole

JointWorkingGrouptoImplementtheDOC. In 2004, two years after negotiating

theDeclarationonConductofPartiesintheSouthChinaSea,theASEANChinaSenior OfficialsMeetingdecidedtoestablishtheASEANChinaJointWorkingGroup(JWC)to Implement the DOC. The Joint Working Group held its first meeting in Manila from August45,2005.TheTermsofReferencefortheJointWorkingGroupspecifiedthatthe JWGwastomeettwiceayeartoformulaterecommendationsinfourareas: GuidelinesandtheactionplanfortheimplementationoftheDOC SpecificcooperativeactivitiesintheSouthChinaSea A register of experts and eminent persons who may provide technical inputs, nonbinding and professional views or policy recommendations to the ASEAN ChinaJWG Theconveningofworkshops,astheneedarises124

ASEANtableddraftguidelinesfordiscussion.Itimmediatelybecameapparentthatpoint two was a major sticking point. Point two stated, ASEAN will continue its current
120

Elaine Hou, CGA bolsters combat readiness of South China Sea personnel, Taiwan Today, April 19, 2011 and Cindy Sui, Taian to boost forces in disputed Spratly Islands, BBC News AsiaPacific, April 19, 2011. RichChang,CGArejectsTaipingplan:report,TaipeiTimes,May2,2011.

121 122

Agence France Presse, Taiwan plans missile boats in Spratlys, June 12, 2011 and Agence France Presse, Taiwan navy prepares missions to contested waters, The Straits Times, June 14, 2011. The SeagullboatsarearmedwithtwoHsiungfeng1shiptoshipmissileswitharangeoffortykilometres. RichChang,CGArejectsTaipingplan:report,TaipeiTimes,May2,2011.

123 124

Terms of Reference of the ASEANChina Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the DeclarationonConductofPartiesintheSouthChinaSea,availableat:http://www.asean.org/16886htm. AccessedMay20,2011.

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practice of consulting among themselves before meeting with China. China objected and insisted that outstanding disputes should be resolved by consultations among relevant parties and not with ASEAN. The Joint Working Group did not make much progress subsequently and, in the words of one seasoned observer, was on life support.125 Threemonthslater,theJWCwasrevivedandhelditsfifthmeetinginKunming,China from December 2123, 2010. The media reported that paragraph (or point) two still remainedthemainstickingpoint.126TheASEANWorkingGroupontheSouthChinaSea reportedontheoutcomeofKunmingmeetingtoASEANSeniorOfficialsatathreeday retreatbyASEANForeignMinistersinLombokfromJanuary1517,2011.Ontheeveof the meeting Djauhari Oratmangun, Director General for ASEAN Affairs in Indonesias Foreign Minister, revealed, We havent agreed on the guidelines as there are still differencesbetweenChinaandASEANontheperceptionsofthegoalsofthemeeting. Actually,wearestilltryingtoclosethatgapandcreatingguidelines,whichcanevolve intocodesofconductthatcanbeusedtokeeptheareapeaceful.127 The6thASEANChinaJointWorkingGroup metinMedan,IndonesiafromApril1820. This meeting failed to make appreciable progress. According to a veteran observer representatives of ASEAN claimant states fought with China over the wording of the DOCimplementingguidelinesandgivencurrenttensionandgrowingmutualsuspicion it is doubtful if they could finalise the guidelines in time for next years tenth commemorationinPhnomPenh.128AnASEANinsiderhasrevealedsubsequentlythat theJWCmeetingconsideredthetwentyfirstdraftoftheDOCguidelines.Agreementon paragraph two still remained the main obstacle.129 It has been suggested that one compromisewouldbetoremovepointtwofromthetextofthewrittenguidelinesbut adoptitscontentinaverbalagreement.130
125 126

BarryWain,Aseancaughtinatightspot,TheStraitsTimes,September16,2010.

Kyodo,IndonesiafretsaboutU.S.,JapaneseinterferenceinS.ChinaSea,MainichiShimbun,January 22,2011. Quoted by Abdul Khalik and Andi Haswidi, FMS address South China Sea, Myamar issues, Jakarta Post,January15,2011. KaviChongkittavorn,SouthChinaSeadisputesathreattoAseanChinarelations,TheNation,May30, 2011. Kavi concluded, Beijing views the Asean positions over the guidelines as problematic as underminingitssovereigntyclaimsAseanChinarelationswillbeunderseveretestsfromnowon. Comments by Termsak Chalermpalanupap, Director of the Political and Security Directorae, ASEAN Secretariat,totheConferenceonMaritimeSecurityintheSouthChinaSea,sponsoredbytheCenterfor InternationalandStrategicStudies,Washington,D.C.,June20,2011. Thereisalsothesuggestionthattheclaimantstatesshouldmeetfirstandformacommonposition, meetwithASEANforendorsementandthenconveneameetingbetweenASEANandChina.

127

128

129

130

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InApril,IndonesianForeignMinisterMartyNatalegawawenttoBeijingtopreparefor theforthcomingvisitbyPremierWenJiabao.InapressinterviewMartyrevealedthatin discussions with his counterpart Yang Jiechi, he stressed the importance of using the momentum of twenty years of ASEANChina relations to make progress in adopting guidelinesfortheDOCasabasisforaCodeofConduct.Henotedthatseveralsticking points remained including whether the guidelines are to be used as a point of settlement for any conflict, or only a mere declaration without legally binding implications.131

IndonesiaasASEANChair.Indonesia,asASEANChairfor2011,madeitclearthatit
wishedtotakealeadershiproleinaddressingterritorialdisputesintheSouthChinaSea. In January, for example, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono indicated the he would try to persuade China to join multilateral talks to revolve disputes in the South China Sea. President Yudhoyono stated, The problems of Asia should be discussed by all players in the region. We will convince China that this dialogue will bring benefits to all.132 WhenaskedbyajournalistifitwaspossibletoadvanceasettlementoftheSouthChina SeadisputesunderIndonesianchairmanship,PresidentYudhoyonoreplied:
Although Indonesia is not a country of claimancy, Indonesia has an interest in seeing a peaceful, stable, secure South China Sea. That is why under Indonesias chairmanship, we want to discuss several situations in Asia, including the South China Sea, with the aim of ensuringthateverybodymustbeapartofthisbigtestofmaintainingpeaceandsecurityin theSouthChinaSea So,yes,theSouthChinaSeaisbecominganimportantissueoftheday,butIbelievethereis a way to deal with the problem in the South China Sea diplomatically, politically, and peacefully.Weshouldfindawaytodiscussthenecessityofworkingtogetherinmaintaining peaceandsecurityintheSouthChinaSea.Becauseitwilltakeplaceinourownterritory,I willaskallparticipantsoftheEAS[EastAsiaSummit]inBaliinOctoberthisyeartohavea politicalsecuritydialogue,includingregionalcooperationovertheSouthChinaSea.133

In March, after the Reed Bank incident (discussed above), President Yudhoyono met with President Aquino in Jakarta. At a joint press conference President Yudhoyono suggestedthattheReedBankincidentcouldbediscussedattheforthcomingEastAsia

131

AbdulKhalik,RI,Chinasettradetargetof$80bby2015,JakartaPost,April20,2011.TheCOCcould incorporatesanctionstorestraincountriesfromcarryingoutactivitiesthatwouldaffecttheinterestsof othercountries;seeYangFang,ChinasPositionontheSouthChinaSea:ProblemsandProgress,RSIS CommentariesNo.162/2010,December2,2010. TakeshiFujitani,YudhoyonotourgeChinatojointalks,AsahiShimbun,February18,2011. TakeshiFujitani,YudhoyonotourgeChinatojointalks,AsahiShimbun,February18,2011.

132 133

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SummitinJakarta.PresidentYudhoyonoalsoadvancedpropositionthattheSouthChina Seacouldbecomeazoneofpotentialeconomiccooperation.134

ASEANandRelatedMeetings.ASEANheldits8thSummitinIndonesiafromMay78.
TerritorialdisputesintheSouthChinaSeawereaddressedintheChairmansStatement attheconclusionofproceedings.Accordingtothechairman:
126.WereaffirmedtheimportanceoftheDeclarationontheConductofthePartiesinthe South China Sea (DOC) as a milestone document signed between ASEAN and China embodyingthecollectivecommitmenttopromotingpeace,stability,andmutualtrustinthe South China Sea and to ensuring the peaceful resolution of disputes in this area in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UnitedNationsConventionontheLawoftheSea(UNCLOS). 127. We stressed that continuing the positive engagement of ASEANChina is essential in movingforwardtheDOCissue.Westressedtheneedtofurtherintensifytheeffortsofboth ASEAN and China to ensure the effective and full implementation of the DOC and move forwardtheeventualconclusionofaRegionalCodeofConduct(COC). 128.Wewelcomedtheconveningofthe6thASEANChinaJointWorkingGroupontheDOC on1820April2011inMedan,Indonesia.Inthisconnection,weencouragedthecontinued constructiveconsultationsbetweenASEANandChina,includingtheearlyconveningofthe ASEANChinaSOMontheDOC.WethereforereaffirmtheprincipleofASEAN,onthebasis ofunityandsolidarity,tocoordinateandtoendeavourtodevelopcommonpositionsinits dialogueswithitsDialoguePartners. 129.Weresolvedtotakeadvantageofthemomentumoftheanniversaryofthe20yearsof ASEANChinarelationsin2011and10yearsoftheadoptionoftheDOCin2012tofinalize the Guidelines on the implementation of the DOC and initiate discussions on a regional COC.135

ASEANDefenceMinistersheldtheirfifthMeetingonMay19.136Theytoodiscussedthe South China Sea. Indonesias Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro met with his ChinesecounterpartGeneralLiangGuanglie.Whenaskedbyreportershowthemeeting went, Purnomo replied, fine and that General Liang did not react negatively to the Joint Declaration issued by the ASEAN Defence Ministers. With respect to the South ChinaSeathisdeclaration:
8. Reaffirm ASEAN Member States commitment to fully and effectively implement the DeclarationontheConductofthePartiesintheSouthChinaSea,andtoworktowardsthe

134 135

PhilipTubza,LetAseantackleseaincident,PhilippineDailyInquirer,March9,2011.

ChairsStatementofthe18thASEANSummitJakarta,78May2011,ASEANCommunityinaGlobal CommunityofNations. Ridwan Max Sijabat and Novan Imam Santosa, Overcoming conflicts, ASEAN defense chiefs are movingintherightdirection,JakartaPost,May20,2011.

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adoptionofaregionalCodeofConductintheSouthChinaSeathatwouldfurtherpromote peaceandstabilityintheregion; 9.Reaffirmalsotheimportanceofregionalpeaceandstability,andfreedomofnavigationin and overflight above the South China Sea as provided for by universally recognized principlesofinternationallaw,includingthe1982UnitedNationsConventionontheLawof theSea(UNCLOS).137

FromJune710,ASEANseniorofficialsasagroup(ASEANSeniorOfficialsMeetingor SOM)andASEANseniorofficialsandtheirdialoguepartnersheldaseriesofmeetingsin Surabaya to prepare for the ASEAN and Related Meetings scheduled for July 1623. During this period the following meetings were held: ASEAN SOM, ASEAN Plus Three SOM, Ad Hoc East Asia Summit Senior Officials Consultation, ARF SOM, ARF Defence Officials Dialogue and the ARF Security Policy Conference. Approximately 400 officials frommemberstatesofASEAN,EastAsiaSummit,andtheASEANRegionalForumplus the ASEAN Secretariat attended. These meeting were held to prepare the agenda for the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the 18th ARF ministerial meeting, the ASEAN Plus ThreesummitandtheEastAsiaSummit. TheSouthChinaSeafeaturedprominentlyindiscussionsattheASEANSeniorOfficials and Dialogue Partners meeting.138 At the ASEAN Regional Forum Senior Officials Meeting, China and four ASEAN claimant states reiterated their commitment to a peaceful resolution of disputes over the Paracel and Spratly islands. According to the SecretaryGeneralofIndonesiasDefenceMinistry,ErisHerryanto,Chinahasconveyed its own commitment to peace, so have the other four countries. Other countries also urgedtheimmediateimplementationoftheDeclarationonConductofParties[DOC]on theSouthChinaSea.DjauhariOramangun,DirectorGeneralforASEAN,notedthatthe majority of the ARFs twentyseven members urged an immediate settlement of the disputes.139 The 8th ARF Security Policy Conference was held in Indonesia on June 8. Indonesias DefenceMinisterPurmonoYusgiantororevealedthatnewprogresswouldbemadeon theCodeofConductbytheendoftheyearandthatitmightbeadoptedattheASEAN Summit in Cambodia on its tenth anniversary. Vietnamese sources were less upbeat,

137

JointDeclarationoftheASEANDefenceMinistersonStrengtheningDefenceCooperationofASEANin theGlobalCommunitytoFaceNewChallenges,Jakarta,19May2011. Republic of Indonesia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ASEAN to Discuss South China Sea and Nuclear WeaponFreeZoneintheRegion,June8,2011. IndraHarsaputra,ChinaagreestoimmediatepeaceinS.ChinaSea,JakartaPost,June9,2011.

138

139

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theynotedthatthenoagreementhadbeenreachedontheCOCandthatUNCLOShad notbeenfullyimplemented.140 TheASEANSeniorOfficialspreparatorymeetingforthe18thARFMinisterialMeetingwas heldonJune11.Accordingto DjauhariOramangun,Intodaysagenda,allthedelegates agreedonamaritimesecurityworkplanandagreedtopushforupgradingoftheDOC [Declaration on Conduct (of Parties) in the South China Sea] to the COC [Code of Conduct].141

Conclusion
ChinasrecentaggressiveassertionofsovereigntyovertheSouthChinaSeahasraised thesecuritystakesforSoutheastAsianstatesandallmaritimepowersthatsailthrough thesewaters.EnsuringthesecurityoftheSouthChinaSeaisnowaninternationalissue thatmustbeaddressedmultilaterallybyallconcernedstates. Three major incidents mark the new wave of Chinese aggressive assertiveness. On March2ndChinesepatrolboatsoperatingwithinthePhilippinesKalayaanIslandGroup approachedaPhilippineseismicsurveyshipinwatersoffReedBankandordereditto leave the area. On May 26th three China Maritime Surveillance ships accosted a VietnamesestateownedoilexplorationvesseldeepwithinVietnamsdeclaredEEZ.The vesselwasorderedtoleavetheareaafteraChineseshipdeliberatelycutitssubmerged surveycable.AndonJune9th,asecondVietnameseexplorationvesselwasaccostedby Chineseboatsinasecondcablecuttingincident. InMay2009,whenMalaysiaandVietnamfiledajointsubmissiontotheUnitedNations CommissionontheLimitsoftheContinentalShelf,Chinalodgedaprotestaccompanied by a map. The Chinese map contained nine dash marks in a rough ushape covering virtually all of the South China Sea. China claims indisputable sovereignty over the SouthChinaSea.Yetithasnevermadeclearthebasisofthisclaimdespitetwodecades ofentreatiesbyregionalstates.ItisunclearwhatitisthatChinaisclaiming.DoesChina claimsovereigntyoveralltherocksandfeatureswithinthesedashmarks?OrisChina claimingtheSouthChinaSeaasitsterritorialwaters? Some maritime specialists speculate that Chinas claim is based on the nine rocks it occupies in the Spratly archipelago. In other words, China claims that the rocks are in factislandsininternationallawandthusattracta200nauticalmile(370kilometer)EEZ. Thisisalegalfiction.Islandsmustbeabletosustainhumanhabitationontheirownand
140

VietnamNewsAgency,VietnamattendseighthASEANsecurityconference,VoiceofVietnamNews, June10,2011andMultilateralnegotiationsneededtosettleregionalEastSeaissues,VietNamNews, June10,2011. Indra Harsaputra, N. Korea again denies sinking ship, commits to security, Jakarta Post, June 12, 2011.

141

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have an economic function. Rocks, which do not meet these criteria, cannot claim an EEZorcontinentalshelf. Chinas dash marks cut into the EEZs that have been declared by Vietnam and the Philippines. These EEZs are based firmly in international law. Both states have drawn straight base lines around their coasts and then extended their claim from these baselinesseawardoutto200nauticalmiles(370kilometres).UndertheUnitedNations ConventiononLawoftheSealittoralstateshavejurisdictonoverthesewatersinterms ofexploitationofnaturalresourcessuchasfisheriesoroilandgasdepositsontheocean floor. InNovember2002,ChinaandASEANreachedagreementonaDeclarationonConduct of Parties in the South China Sea. This was a nonbinding document in which the signatoriespledgednottouseforcetosettletheirsovereigntydisputes.TheDOC,which contains numerous proposed confidencebuilding measures, has never been implemented. ChineseassertivenessinpushingitssovereigntyclaimsintheSouthChinaSeain2009 and 2010 provoked an international backlash. The issue featured prominently at the ASEANRegionalForumandattheinauguralASEANDefenseMinistersMeetingPluslast year.Chinawasoutmaneuvereddiplomaticallyandsoughttolimitfurtherdamageby agreeing to revive the heretoforemoribund ASEANChina Joint Working Group to Implement the Declaration on Conduct of Parties. This working group has stalled over Chinas insistence that territorial and sovereignty claims can only be settled bilaterally bythestatesconcerned.ASEANmembersinsistontherighttomeettogethertowork outacommonpositionbeforeengagingChina. ASEAN, under the chairmanship of Indonesia, has been pushing China to upgrade the DOCintoamorebindingCodeofConduct.Someregionaldiplomatsarehopefulthatan agreementcanbereachedbythetenthanniversaryoftheDOCinNovember2012.This isunlikelytobeachievedunlessASEANmaintainsitsunityandcohesionandadoptsa commonstance.ItiscleartherearenervousNelliesamongitsmembers. Intheearlytomid1990s,whenChinabegantooccupyrocksintheSpratlysincluding thecelebratedMischiefReef,securityanalystsdescribedChinesestrategyascreeping assertiveness and talk and take. The events of this year are best described as aggressive assertiveness. China is now paying back Vietnam for its role in internationalizing the South China Sea last year when it was Chair of ASEAN. Chinese actionsintheReedBankareaaredesignedtoexposeambiguitiesintheU.S.Philippines MutualSecurityTreatyoverwhetherornottheKalayaanIslandGroupiscoveredbythis treaty. ASEAN and the international community, both of which rely on transit through the South China Sea, must diplomatically confront China over its aggressive assertiveness. They should bring collective diplomatic pressure to bear on China at the forthcoming annualmeetingoftheASEANRegionalForumandEastAsiaSummittobeheldlaterthis yeartohonoritscommitmentsundertheDOC.

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Meanwhile both the Philippines and Vietnam should take steps to enhance their capacitytoexertnationalsovereigntyovertheirEEZs.TheirweaknessonlyinvitesChina toactmoreassertively.OnJune11,NguyenPhuongNga,spokespersonfortheMinistry ofForeignAffairs,whenaskedaquestionaboutapossiblerolefortheUnitedStatesand other countries in resolving South China Sea disputes, responded, Maintaining maritime peace, stability security and safety in the Eastern Sea is in the common interestsofallnationswithinandoutsidetheregion.Everyeffortbythe international community toward peace and stability in the Eastern Sea is welcome.142 It is in the interest of the United States and its allies as well as India to assist both nations in capacity building in the area of maritime security. At the same time this coalition of likemindedstatesshouldbackASEANinitseffortstosecureagreementonacodeof conductfortheSouthChinaSea.ASEANmembersthemselvescoulddrawupaTreaty onConductintheSouthChinaSea,andafterratification,openittoaccessionbynon memberstates.

142

Quoted by John Ruwitch, Vietnam welcomes international help as sea dispute escalates, Reuters, June11,2011.