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ACTIVITIES OF RELATED PARTIES

China

China's supreme court clarifies maritime jurisdiction

The China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) on August 2nd issued a regulation on judicial interpretation to clarify China's jurisdiction over its seas. The explanation provides a clear legal basis for China to protect the maritime order, marine safety and interests, and to exercise integrated management over the country's jurisdictional seas, said an SPC statement. "Judicial power is an important component of national sovereignty," said the statement, adding, "People's courts will actively exercise jurisdiction over China's territorial waters, support administrative departments to legally perform maritime management duties, equally protect the legal rights of Chinese and foreign parties involved and safeguard Chinese territorial sovereignty and maritime interests."

China's defense minister stresses preparedness for "war at sea"

Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan has warned of offshore security threats and called for substantial preparation for a "people's war at sea" to safeguard sovereignty. Chang was speaking during an inspection of national defence work in coastal regions of east China's Zhejiang Province. He called for recognition of the seriousness of the national security situation, especially the threat from the sea. Chang said the military, police and people should prepare for mobilization to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also asked to promote national defence education among the public. Speaking at a reception celebrating the 89th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on July 31, he also stressed that the Chinese military will firmly safeguard state sovereignty, national security and development interests. Chang said the PLA has emerged from grueling years of war and is "destined not to fear war, but will definitely cherish peace." In response, Vietnam's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh on August 5 urged China to refrain from threats of violence toward other nations with regard to the current situation in the South China Sea.

Chinese military aircraft patrol South China Sea

Chinese Air Force aircraft, including H-6K bombers and Su-30 fighters, have completed a patrol of airspace above the Spratly islands and Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, said a spokesperson August 6. The flight is part of actual combat training to improve the Air Force's response to security threats, said Senior Colonel Shen Jinke of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force. Two Su-30 airplanes conducted air refueling twice above the sea, Shen said. Several types of planes -- bombers, fighters, Airborne Early Warning Aircraft, reconnaissance and tanker airplanes -- performed the patrol, he said, adding that they took off from several airports.

230 Chinese vessels enters waters near Senkakus

According to Japan's foreign ministry, 230 Chinese vessels were spotted swarming waters near the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The roughly 230 fishing boats and six China Coast Guard vessels were confirmed in a contiguous zone near the uninhabited islets, which are also claimed by China. The number of fishing vessels, which appeared to be escorted by the coast guard ships, was larger than has previously been spotted. Previously on August 1, The Chinese navy held a large-scale “live ammunition” drill in the East China Sea, which involved China's East Sea, North Sea and South Sea fleets. The exercise mobilized some 300 ships, dozens of fighter planes, and involved troops that are responsible for coastal defense radars, communications, and electronic warfare defense, daily newspaper The China Times reported.

The Philippines

PH fishers asked to stand down as China court warns vs illegal fishing

Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Charles Jose on August 3 told reporters that the Permanent Court of Arbitration clearly declared Scarborough Shoal a common fishing ground. However, he said the government still needs to discuss the issue with China, which has refused to recognize the arbitral tribunal’s ruling. "We know that China has occupied Scarborough Shoal. Let’s wait for clarifications on how our fishermen can return without being subjected to harassment," he added.

PH eyes ‘early’ adoption of code of conduct in South China Sea

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on August 3 said it hopes that a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea would soon be adopted and implemented by concerned parties. “The Philippines wants to see the early adoption of the COC,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said in a speech read by his representative at the 2nd Manila Conference on the South China Sea. “All parties need to work expeditiously towards the establishment of an effective code of conduct (COC), and undertake activities that are in good faith and consistent with international law with the aim of advancing, and not delaying, the process,” Yasay said. According to the DOC, signed by Asean member states and China, a COC “would further promote peace and stability in the region and agree to work, on the basis of consensus, towards the eventual attainment of this objective.”

PLP gov’t websites attacked

Several Philippine government websites have been subjected to various forms of cyberattacks following the release of the ruling on the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China. The STAR learned yesterday that at least 68 websites have been subjected to attacks, which included attempts of hacking and defacement, slowdowns and distributed denial of service attacks. Among those at the receiving end were agencies such as the Department of National Defense, the Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, the Presidential Management Staff and the gov.ph domain registry website. The website of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas was also subjected to a supposed hacking, although authorities were able to immediately foil it.

Ex-Philippine leader Ramos travels to Hong Kong as 'icebreaker' with China

Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos on August 8 departed on a five-day trip to Hong Kong to meet "old friends" and rekindle ties with China soured by a maritime dispute in the South China Sea. "This may pave the way for future diplomatic talks," Ernesto Abella, a spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte, said in a text message, adding that Ramos would "meet old friends and possibly play a few rounds of golf" in the Chinese territory. Ramos, 88, who described his role as "an icebreaker", accepted an offer from Duterte to be special envoy to China after the Hague court's ruling on July 12. "That is not my mission," Ramos said, however, when asked if he would raise the topic of the ruling. "It is not me who will raise that issue," he told a news conference in Manila before his flight. "My mission is to rekindle ties with China."

Singapore

Singapore PM to affirm the rule of law in the South China Sea

Speaking at the US Chamber of Commerce/US ASEAN Business Council Reception on August 2, Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong said that: "The ruling of the tribunal has made a strong statement on what the international law is. Ideally, international tribunal rulings set the order for the world because ideally, when you have disputes between countries, it is much better to have an arbitration and adjudication based on acknowledged principles than to fight it out and see whose guns are more powerful. Speaking from the point of view of a small country, this is all the more fundamental important principle." In response, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying stated: "The Arbitral Tribunal was illegal and invalid and thus not binding at all. The Chinese side hopes that Singapore will respect China's position and its consensus with ASEAN, stay objective and impartial, play its role well as the coordinator of China-ASEAN relations and work for the sound the steady growth of China-Singapore as well as China-ASEAN relations."

The U.S.

US urges peaceful resolution

In an e-mail interview with The Straits Times on August 1, US President Barack Obama stated: "The Philippines made a lawful and peaceful effort to resolve their maritime claims with China using the tribunal established under the Law of the Sea Convention. The tribunal's ruling delivered a clear and legally binding decision on maritime claims in the South China Sea as they relate to China and the Philippines - and that ruling should be respected." Asked how the US would engage China on the issue after the ruling, Mr Obama said the US would continue urging a peaceful resolution. "We continue to urge China and other claimants to work constructively to resolve these disagreements, so that the South China Sea - which is so vital to the global economy - can be defined by commerce and cooperation."

REGIONAL SNAPSHOTS

Indonesia to start joint sea patrols with Malaysia, Philippines

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines on August 1 signed a document on standard operating procedures (SOP) for trilateral maritime cooperation, marking the official start of coordinated joint sea patrols to secure regional waters. The signing of the framework was the result of a two-day trilateral defense ministers' meeting held in Bali from Aug. 1 to 2, where the ministers discussed follow-ups from a joint declaration on maritime security made in Yogyakarta in May. Indonesia's Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu asserted the importance of the immediate implementation of the joint sea patrol to his counterparts, especially to tackle piracy and transnational crimes such as terrorism, human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Leaders of Indonesia and Malaysia to discuss about the South China Sea issue

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) raised the South China Sea issue in talks with visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on August 2. According to Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, who accompanied Jokowi during the meeting, "that was the essence of what the president said at the meeting and Prime Minister Najib also expressed his agreement with the principles we adopt so far." She said in principle Indonesia attached importance to respecting international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982. She said Indonesia does not want South China Sea became an arena for "power projection" by big powers.

US, Singapore discourage militarization in South China Sea

The United States and Singapore urged all concerned parties in the disputed South China Sea to avoid actions that would escalate tensions in the contested waters such as the militarization of outposts in the area. US President Barack Obama and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong released a joint statement on August 2, reaffirming the two nations' commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability. "They emphasized the importance of resolving disputes peacefully, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, including as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," the joint statement read. The two leaders also reaffirmed the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea following the decision of an arbitral tribunal on the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines.