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Activities of Related Parties

China

China's South China Sea ad displayed on billboard at New York’s Times Square

Launched last Saturday (Jul 23), the promotional video will continue to be screened on the billboard until Aug 3, according to Xinhua. Xinhua has leased the advertising space, which is occupied by a 60 feet (18 metre) high by 40 feet wide LED sign, since 2011, according to the New York Times. In an online article, Xinhua said that the video explained "the historical and legal basis backing China's indisputable territorial sovereignty and rights" over the South China Sea. It said that the video will be played "about 120 times a day" and that it has "triggered strong approval among Chinese residing in New York".

Wang Yi Meets with Secretary of State John Kerry of the US

In a meeting between China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the Chinese side expressed the hope that the US could take concrete actions to support the resumption of dialogues between China and the Philippines and the efforts of China and the ASEAN to maintain regional peace. He also added that the Chinese and ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement on full and effective implementation of the DOC, which indicates that the settlement of the South China Sea issue still requires a return to the correct track of dialogue and consultations between the parties directly concerned.

Wang Yi Refuting the Joint Statement by US, Japan and Australia

On July 26, when attending the 6th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting, in response to the trilateral statement issued by US, Japan and Australia on the night of July 25 which touched upon the South China Sea situation, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that this trilateral statement is fanning the flames in the South China Sea. "If you truly want stability in the South China Sea, you should support the efforts by China and ASEAN in implementing the DOC and the settlement of the dispute through dialogue and consultation by countries directly concerned. Now it is the time to test whether you are peacekeepers or troublemakers," he added.

China launches maritime ecological protection fund

The so-called China's Sansha city has decided to allocate 5 million yuan (about $748,000) annually for maritime environmental conservation in the next three years. The funds will be used to support scientific research and development of new methods and equipment in environmental protection, said Shi Guoning, a senior official of the land resources and environmental protection bureau of the so-called Sansha city. Over the past four years, Sansha city has invested more than 30 million yuan in "treatment and restoration of reefs and islets", according to the bureau.

Vietnam

Vietnam slams Taiwanese officials' visit to Spratly Island

Vietnam has issued a stern response to the recent trip made by Taiwanese officials to Ba Binh (Taiping) Island in the Spratlys. The fact that some Taiwanese officials have visited Ba Binh Island has seriously violated Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over the Spratlys, Le Hai Binh, Vietnam’s foreign ministry spokesman, said in a statement on July 28. “Vietnam affirms its indisputable sovereignty over Truong Sa (the Spratlys) and Hoang Sa (the Paracels). All activities in these areas without Vietnam's consent are deemed illegal,” Binh said.

The Philippines

5 Philippine presidents unite to discuss China

President Rodrigo Duterte on July 27 gathered four past presidents, most of whom have been politically at odds with one another, to discuss a unifying worry: their country's territorial disputes with China. Duterte convened the National Security Council mainly to discuss his government's strategy in negotiating with China a resolution to the long-seething South China Sea conflict, officials said. Four ex-presidents attended the meeting at the Malacañan Palace: Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, in the most incumbent and former Filipino leaders to gather in one meeting in Philippine history.

Duterte: PH-China talks to be based on international law

President Duterte on July 27 told visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry the Philippines would negotiate its territorial dispute with China using as basis the recent international arbitral decision upholding the legitimacy of the Philippine position. “The President did mention that whatever talks we will engage in will begin with the ruling, that will be the foundation, the ruling regarding the area,” the President’s spokesperson, Ernesto Abella, later told reporters. Asked about China’s insistence that the Philippines must disregard the international tribunal’s decision for bilateral talks between the two to move forward, Abella said the situation was “not a stalemate.” “Conversation will continue to proceed,” he said.

The U.S.

US tells Beijing sea patrols will continue

The US will continue naval patrols in the disputed South China Sea, Washington's National Security Adviser Susan Rice told Chinese representatives during a series of meetings in Beijing, a senior American official said July 26. In her meetings with top diplomatic and military officials, Rice told her counterparts that "those operations are lawful. They will continue", according to a senior US official, who asked for anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject.

Kerry urges China to comply with ‘legally-binding’ UN ruling

United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday said the Philippines and China should follow the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on disputed areas in South China Sea. “We have made clear that the decision of the arbitral tribunal convened under the [Unclos] is legally binding and that we expect the parties will comply with their obligations on the law,” Kerry said during his visit to the Philippines. Speaking before Filipino and foreign journalists, Kerry said the rights of all countries should always be respected. Previously, speaking at ASEAN summit on July 26, John Kerry said it was time to “move away from public tensions and turn the page” over South China Sea disputes, pledging he would encourage the Philippines to resume talks with China. “Hopefully this can become a moment that we can all take ­advantage of, where we work out some of the modalities of how do you deal with the fishing? How do you deal with natural resources? How do you deal with the free movement of vessels and protect the rights of everybody?” he added.

Japan

Japan presses China to accept South China Sea ruling

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida urged China in a meeting with his counterpart Wang Yi on July 25 to comply with the South China Sea ruling. Kishida conveyed Japan's concern about the situation in the South China Sea and hope that any action that could heighten tension in the region will be avoided, a Japanese official said. Previously on July 24, he conveyed Japan’s stance on South China Sea disputes to his Laotian counterpart, Saleumxay Kommasith, who is chairing an ASEAN meeting debating the issue.Japan says the ruling is binding on parties to the dispute — China and the Philippines — and has called for a peaceful resolution to rival territorial disputes in the area, and compliance with international law.

India

Show ‘utmost respect’ for law of seas: India on South China Sea row

Identifying maritime cooperation as a key priority, India on July 25 called for all stakeholders in the South China Sea issue to show “utmost respect” for the UN body that establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans as it sought peaceful resolution of the dispute. Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh described the sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea as “critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development” and appealed to all parties in the matter to avoid any activity that could escalate tensions. “India believes that States should resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability,” he said, without naming any country.

Regional Snapshots

AMM 49 issued Statement expressing concerns over the South China Sea

In the Joint Communiqué Of The 49th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, ASEAN ministers affirm: "We remain seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments and took note of the concerns expressed by some Ministers on the land reclamations and escalation of activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region. We reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and over - flight above the South China Sea. We emphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities, including land reclamation that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea."

US, Japan, Australia urge China to abide by the South China Sea ruling

The United States, Japan and Australia have urged China not to construct military outposts and reclaim land in the disputed South China Sea. "The ministers expressed their serious concerns over maritime disputes in the South China Sea. The ministers voiced their strong opposition to any coercive unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions," said the statement issued by Secretary of State John Kerry and foreign ministers Fumio Kishida and Julie Bishop. The three met in Vientiane on the sidelines of a series of meetings organized by the ASEAN.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister hails ties with Vietnam

The Thai Deputy Prime Minister, Tanasak Patimapragorn, has expressed his satisfaction at Vietnam-Thailand relations and stressed good prospects for cooperation among ASEAN. The Thai Deputy Prime Minister made the remarks at the meeting with President Tran Dai Quang in Hanoi on July 28, who is in Vietnam to attend the “Thai Cultural Days” programme marking the 40th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (August 6). Regarding maritime issues, the President proposed increasing the use of a hotline between the two countries’ naval forces to promptly settle maritime issues, including incidents relating to their fishermen, which, he said, should be resolved in the humanitarian spirit, the strategic partnership and the friendship between their people.

China, Russia Plan Joint Military Drills in South China Sea

The air and sea drills will be held sometime in September and were aimed at deepening relations between the two militaries and boosting their capacity to respond to maritime threats, ministry spokesman Col. Yang Yujun said at a monthly news briefing. Yang said the exercises weren't targeted at any third parties. He didn't disclose the specific location, and some areas of the South China Sea are not disputed.