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Activities of Related Parties

China

China's air force conducts combat air patrol in South China Sea

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducted a combat air patrol in the South China Sea recently, which will become a "regular" practice in the future, said a military spokesperson on July 18. The PLA sent H-6K bombers and other aircraft including fighters, scouts and tankers to patrol islands and reefs including Scarborough Shoal, said Shen Jinke, spokesman for the PLA Air Force. During the mission, the aircraft carried out tasks including aerial scouting, air combat and island and reef patrol, fulfilling the patrol's objective, Shen said.

PLAN’s Wu: Beijing Won’t Stop South China Sea Island Building

The head of the People’s Liberation Army Navy told his U.S. counterpart that China has no intention of stopping its island building campaign in the South China Sea Spratly islands. In the meeting between Adm. Wu Shengli and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, Wu told Richardson China would complete its push to outfit several artificial islands off the coast of the Philippines despite an international arbitration tribunal ruling. “We will never stop our construction on the Nansha Islands [Spratly] halfway… the Nansha Islands are China’s inherent territory, and our necessary construction on the islands is reasonable, justified and lawful,” PLAN’s Wu Shengli told Richardson, as quoted by the Xinhua on July 18. “Any attempt to force China to give in through flexing military muscles will only have the opposite effect.” Previously, on July 17, during a recent inspection of the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, Fan Changlong, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for strengthened combat readiness and well-organized naval and air patrols to "resolutely and properly tackle various emergencies" and safeguard border security.

South China Sea to get SOE cruises

Three China's state-owned enterprises from the shipping, tourism and construction sectors will cooperate to equip up to eight cruise liners and offer diversified sightseeing services in the South China Sea. Sanya International Cruise Development Co Ltd, a joint venture by COSCO Shipping, China National Travel Service (HK) Group Corp and China Communications Construction Co Ltd, will purchase between five and eight cruise and passenger liners over the next five years and build four cruise liner docks in Sanya. Liu Junli, chairman of Sanya International Cruise, said the company is already operating Dream of the South China Sea, a brand new cruise ship. It plans to add another two cruise liners by June 2017.

China to extend 4G service to Spratly islands

China Telecommunications Corp, the country's third-largest telecom carrier by subscribers, has expanded its 4G signal to seven reefs of the Spratly islands, giving islanders faster internet speed and enabling them to make video calls and conduct online commerce. China Telecom's larger competitor China Mobile Communications Corp also offers similar services around the region.

Taiwan urges multilateral talks to settle S. China Sea dispute

Taiwan on July 19 called on fellow claimants of the South China Sea to settle their long-standing dispute through multilateral negotiations. "We call on all parties to settle the dispute through peaceful dialogue in the spirit of shelving differences and jointly developing resources," Tung Chen-yuan, spokesman of Taiwan's Executive Yuan or Cabinet, told a press conference. Tung said Taiwan should be included in the envisioned multilateral talks on an equal footing, adding that it is committed to establishing a mechanism for negotiations and cooperation to jointly promote peace and stability in the region. Later, a delegation of Taiwan lawmakers on July 20 visited the Taiwan-controlled Itu Aba Island.

The Philippines

Philippines rejects talks not based on arbitral ruling

Speaking at an interview with ANC's Headstart on July 19, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said that he and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had the chance to discuss the tribunal's ruling at the sidelines of the Asia-Europe meeting in Mongolia last weekend. "They had insisted for us to not even to make any comments about that... and had asked us also to open ourselves for bilateral negotiations but outside of the arbitral ruling," Yasay said. The Foreign Affairs chief, however, rejected Wang's offer citing that it was not consistent with the country's Constitution and national interests. Yasay added that Wang warned him of a possible confrontation if the Philippines will insist on the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The top diplomat that he wants to see assurance that Filipino fishermen will be allowed access to the Scarborough Shoal, which China has been claiming.

PLP: Bilateral talks with China still on the table

Speaking at a press release July 20, Philippine Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said "The Philippines continues along a diplomatic path to fully realize the Exclusive Economic Zone rights granted by the Arbitration Court – engaging in bilateral talks to find mutually acceptable arrangements to the Philippines, China; and consulting with our regional allies." Abella clarified that bilateral talks with Beijing are still on the table as long as they abide by Philippine and international law. "Engagement with China through bilateral talks towards the peaceful resolution of the issue must be compliant with the Constitution, international law, and the rule of law," said Abella.

Laos

Laos voices support for China on S. China Sea

Lao Defense Minister Chansamone Chanyalath expressed support for China on the South China Sea issue when meeting with senior Chinese military officials in Beijing on July 19. Chansamone Chanyalath told vice chairman of the Central Military Commission Xu Qiliang that Laos always supports China on the South China Sea and looks forward to a peaceful resolution. Chansamone Chanyalath reaffirmed that Laos will continue a friendly policy toward China and promote new development of military relations between the countries.

Cambodia asserts its position on the South China Sea issue

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong on Juy 18 met with Australia’s ambassador to Cambodia to argue the government’s position on the South China Sea following last week’s ruling by an international court. “The deputy prime minister informed the newly appointed Australian ambassador that Cambodia’s position over the South China Sea, which Prime Minister Hun Sen has already stressed, is that it is a bilateral issue between China and the Philippines and does not involve ASEAN and Cambodia,” his adviser said.

The U.S.

U.S. to assert its presence in Asia-Pacific

Speaking after the meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on July 19, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden stated: "The United States is a Pacific power.  We are going nowhere.We reaffirmed our commitment to continue to work together to uphold the liberal international order that has served the world so well for the past 75 years, and to maintain the free flow of commerce and trade in the air and on sea, making sure the sea lanes are open and the skies are free for navigation.  They are the lifeblood lines of commerce and the economic growth worldwide. That's why both our nations issued strong statements urging China and the Philippines to abide by the Arbitral Tribunal’s decision with regard to the South China Sea." Joe Biden on July 20 also aserted that the U.S. is committed to its pivot strategy to Asia-Pacific region, "Anyone who questions America’s dedication and staying power in the Asia Pacific simply is not paying attention.  Our commitment to our military strength is unparalleled.  We continue to outpace our competitors, spending more on our overall defense than the next eight nations in the world combined.  We have the most capable ground forces in the world, an unmatched ability to project naval and air power to any and every corner of the globe and simultaneously.  We’ve bolstered our special operations forces, enhanced our cyber and space capabilities, invested in game-changing technologies in order to maintain our qualitative edge for years to come.  And we’ve committed to put over 60 percent of our fleet and our most advanced military capabilities in the Pacific by 2020. At the same time, we’re stronger and more effective when we work side-by-side with our closest and most trusted partners, with those nations who share our interests, our concerns, and our commitment to upholding a rules-based international order."

U.S. says its forces will keep operating in South China Sea

U.S. military forces will continue to operate in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson said on July 21 during a visit to a Chinese naval base. Meeting Yuan Yubai, commander of the Chinese North Sea Fleet, Richardson "underscored the importance of lawful and safe operations in the South China and elsewhere professional navies operate", the U.S. Navy said. U.S. forces would keep sailing, flying and operating wherever international law allows, Richardson added. "The U.S. Navy will continue to conduct routine and lawful operations around the world, including in the South China Sea, in order to protect the rights, freedoms and lawful uses of sea and airspace guaranteed to all. This will not change."

Canada

Canadian statement on South China Sea Arbitration

On July 21, Stéphane Dion, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement, stressing that "Whether one agrees or not with the ruling, Canada believes that the parties should comply with it. All parties should seize this opportunity as a stepping stone to renewed efforts to peacefully manage and resolve their disputes, in accordance with international law. “We are deeply concerned about regional tensions that have been escalating for a number of years and have the potential to undermine peace and stability. It is essential that all states in the region exercise restraint and avoid coercion and actions that will escalate tension. All claimants must refrain from land reclamation, militarization and other actions that can undermine regional security and stability. Actions that could jeopardize freedom of navigation and overflight exercised in accordance with international law, maritime security and international trade must also be avoided."

Australia to continue patrols across South China Sea

Australia's Air Force chief, Leo Davies, on July 20 says he wants to see warships and planes continue to regularly sail and fly into the South China Sea, despite the rising military tensions in the disputed waterway. "Air Force will focus on building and encouraging a rules-based global order. Air Force will work closely with our allies, partners and other like-minded air forces to determine how we can make a practical contribution to ensuring freedom of navigation," he said. Air Marshal Davies also says Australia will continue to meet its international engagement goals as set out in this year's Defence White Paper. "We need to send P3s and tankers and hornets, naval ships. We need to go where our regional neighbours are and we need to be able to function as we have for the last 30, 40 years plus," he said.

Regional Snapshots

Vietnam, Slovakia calls on a peaceful resolution for South China Sea disputes

At the invitation of Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico paid an official visit to Vietnam from July 16 to July 19. During a meeting, the two leaders shared their concerns over recent developments in the East Sea (South China Sea) and stressed the need to address disputes in the waters through peaceful measures and in line with international law, the UN Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and seriously observe the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea towards the early formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

India-Vietnam Solidarity Committee calls on China to respect Hague ruling

The India-Vietnam Solidarity Committee, an India-based non-governmental panel, has urged China to obey the final ruling of PCA. The committee supported the judgment, which rejected China’s groundless claim of “historic rights” over the waters within the “nine-dash line.” In a statement released on July 20, the committee said China is damaging its international image by trying to bully smaller claimants in the dispute.

US ship to be turned over to PH Navy

The United States Coast Guard will formally turn over its decommissioned cutter, the USCG Boutwell, to the Philippine Navy on July 22. The transfer ceremony will be held at the Coast Guard Base in Alameda, the USCG said in an advisory. “The decommissioned cutter was declared an excess government asset and is being transferred to the Philippines through the Excess Defense Articles program,” it said. The ship will also be christened and commissioned to active service of the Philippine Navy as Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Andres Bonifacio (FF-17).