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Activities of the related Parties

China

China-Philippines relations are at a new turning point

On September 13th 2016, Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin met with the delegation of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Philippines led by Chairman Jose Romulo in Beijing. He said that for most of the 41 years since the establishment of diplomatic relationship between the two countries, China-Philippines relations have enjoyed smooth development, but suffered a setback in recent years due to reasons well known to all. At present, China-Philippines relations are at a new turning point. He expressed hopes that the Philippine side can meet China halfway, properly handle differences, and pull bilateral relations back to the track of negotiation and friendly cooperation.

Vietnam

Deputy PM raises South China Sea issues at Non-Aligned Movement Summit

In his speech at the 17th NAM Summit kicked off in Margarita, Venezuela on September 17th, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister Pham Binh minh referred to ASEAN’s efforts in building its community, especially in promoting peace, security, stability and development, and addressing complicated regional challenges, including the East Sea (South China Sea) issue. He called upon all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint and solve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully respect diplomatic and legal processes, implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and expedite the completion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The Philippines

PH to keep status quo in South China Sea

Before the House committee on appropriations during the hearing for the Department of National Defense’s proposed P178.2 billion budget for 2017, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that “Lacking the capability to enforce the Philippines’s rights in the West Philippine Sea, Manila will maintain the status quo in territories also being claimed by other countries.” Philippine President Duterte has been perceived as favoring China over long-time ally, the United States.

Philippines eyes talks with China sans preconditions

At a meeting in the Philippine embassy in Washington on September 16th, Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said that  the Philippines is quietly making arrangements through diplomatic channels for bilateral talks with China without any preconditions to discuss their competing claims in the South China Sea. He added that the inadequately armed Philippine military cannot fight China in any battle and this is why President Duterte ordered the Navy not to conduct joint patrols in the South China Sea with the US. He said joint patrols could be seen by China as a provocative act, making it more difficult to peacefully resolve territorial problems.

The U.S.

Senator McCain Rebukes ‘Bully’ Beijing for ‘Militarizing’ South China Sea

Delivering remarks on U.S. policy in the Asia-Pacific region at the Heritage Foundation on September 12th, Sen. John McCain condemned China’s “militarization” of the South China Sea, characterizing Beijing as a “bully” that has used its power to disrupt the international order in the Asia-Pacific. “In the South China Sea, China has shattered the commitments that it made to its neighbors in the 2002 declaration of conduct as well as more recent commitments to the U.S. government by conducting reclamation on disputed features and militarizing the South China Sea at a startling and destabilizing rate,” McCain stated. The high-ranking lawmaker also said China’s aggressive behavior has “dramatically accelerated” under the current leadership of President Xi Jinping.

Japan

Japan to join US in South China Sea patrols

Speaking at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Headquarters on September 15th, Tomomi Inada, Minister of Defense of Japan, said that Japan is planning on upping its activities in the South China Sea through joint training patrols with the United States and exercises with regional navies. Japan would also be giving military aid to countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam as it increases its role in the contested waters of the South China Sea, she added. Inada mentioned how China's recent activities in the East China and South China seas were "raising serious concern in the Asia-Pacific and beyond." "I would like to underline my government's resolve to protect our territorial integrity and sovereignty," said Inada. "To this end, we will continue our own defense efforts and also maintain and enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance."

Australia

Australia’s minister questions Philippine statements on sea row

Australia’s Financial Review quoted Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as saying she was informed of Duterte’s announcement that the Philippines, “as a claimant state” and as the country “that instigated” the arbitration, “will not be sending their ships into contested areas.” “So the question should be directed to the Philippines as to what they are doing to reinforce the arbitration findings,” Bishop said in the article.

Regional Snapshots

China, Vietnam agree to manage differences on maritime issues

Vietnam and China issued a joint communiqué on September 14 on the occasion of the official visit to China by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. In this joint communiqué, “the two sides sincerely and straightforwardly looked into sea-related issues. They agreed to continue complying with the important common perceptions reached by leaders of the two Parties and nations, along with the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues. Vietnam and China agreed to push ahead with comprehensively and effectively carrying out the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the Eat Sea (DOC) and expeditiously build a Code of Conduct (COC) in the waters. They will manage sea disputes efficiently, avoid actions that can complicate or expand disputes, and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea (South China Sea).”

Duterte wants to stop joint patrols in South China Sea

Speaking at the anniversary of the Presidential Airlift Wing at Villamor Air Base on September 13th, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants to stop joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea even after an arbitral tribunal had ruled in favor of the country's legal claim over the territory. “We will not join any expedition or patrolling. I will not allow it because I do not want my country to be involved in a hostile act. I just want to patrol our territorial waters.”

China, Russia start joint navy drill in South China Sea

China and Russia started a joint naval drill off Guangdong Province in the South China Sea on September 18th. The "Joint Sea 2016" drill will run until September 19th, featuring navy surface ships, submarines, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, marines and amphibious armored equipment. Several procedures will be undertaken during the drill, including joint air defense, anti-submarine operations, landing, search and rescue, island-seizing and weapon use.

Vietnam, China agree to boost cooperation in maritime issues

Vietnam and China affirmed to continue promoting cooperation in less sensitive maritime issues during the ninth round of talks between their working groups held in Hanoi on September 18th-21st. At the talks, the two sides emphasised to strictly implement the common perceptions of the two countries’ senior leaders and the Vietnam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues. They reviewed the implementation of cooperation projects in less sensitive issues they signed, including a project on a comparative study on Holocene-era sediments in the Red River Delta and the Chang Jiang River Delta, and another on the management of maritime and island environment in the Gulf of Tonkin. Both sides also exchanged notes on other areas of cooperation. The next meeting will be organised in China in the first quarter of 2017.