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Activities of related parties

China

China warns Japan against ‘playing with fire’ in South China Sea

Speaking at a regular press conference on September 29th, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun stated that "If Japan wants to have joint patrols or drills in waters administered by China, this really is playing with fire. China’s military will not sit idly by.” In a connected move, Beijing dispatched the large contingent of more than 40 bombers and fighter jets through the Miyako Strait earlier this week.

The U.S.

US concerned over Philippines' sea row agenda

At a press briefing following his trip to the US, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said that United States officials were concerned over the Philippines' next steps on the dispute over the South China Sea, but the Philippines is not keen on discussions with other parties besides China. "I told them that at this point in time, it is not in our national interests that we pursue multilateral negotiations with other countries who are not involved insofar as our dispute with China is concerned," Yasay added. He said involving other parties in the "multilateral negotiations" will further "complicate the issues."

The Philippines

Philippines accuses China of harassing Filipino fishermen

Quoting reports from the Philippine Coast Guard, the National Security Council said in a statement that the first incident took place on September 6th, when a number of Filipino fishing vessels were allegedly prevented from carrying out fishing activities in the vicinity by the China Coast Guard. A day after, the Philippine Coast Guard monitored a Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy vessel patrolling in the area of the shoal, which lies some 220 kilometers from the main Philippine island of Luzon. Finally, on September 10, a Filipino fishing vessel was reported to have been "encircled" and later taken photographed and videoed by China Coast Guard personnel. "The Filipino (vessel) decided to leave the area to avoid further harassment," the statement said.

US, ASEAN reaffirm commitment to regional security

Following the ASEAN-China Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting in Hawaii on September 30th, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said that "we all recommitted our militaries to keeping the region's waterways open and secure and to help all our nations see more, share more and do more in Southeast Asia's vital waterways. We discussed the path forward for the Asia Pacific's principled and inclusive security network, which will help us all to connect, to cooperate and to contribute to regional security". Carter added that he shared with his counterparts the U.S. plans and commitments of the third phase of the rebalance to the Asia Pacific, which is meant to cement the progress of the previous phases that enhanced and improved the U.S. military force posture there. As part of the third phase, the Defense Department will take steps to "help catalyze our shared principles and inclusive security network," he said.

Japan

Japan’s top admiral urges resumption of China port calls to ease tensions

Speaking at a Washington thinktank on September 26th, Adm. Tomohisa Take, the head of the Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, said that Inada’s (Japan’s Defense Minister) statement that Japan would step up engagement in the South China Sea with “joint training cruises” with the United States does not mean it intends to carry out patrols there, and that this has been misinterpreted. “It means transit from one point to another; to use such occasions to conduct mutual or bilateral exercises, training with a foreign country,” he said. “That is the usual training and operation we have already conducted for several years.” Takei said Japan has no plans “at this time” to join the U.S. in freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, even though it is a vital waterway for the transit of 90 percent of Japan’s crude oil and 80 percent of its natural gas.

Regional Snapshots

Singapore, Japan want to maintain international order

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Singapore’s counterpart held talks at Tokyo on September 28th. Speaking at the press conference following the meeting, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that “We also discussed the South China Sea. Singapore is a non-claimant state and does not take sides on the competing territorial claims. But we have key interests to protect. These include freedom of navigation and overflight, and also a rules-based regional and international order – an order that upholds and protects the rights and privileges of all states and shows full respect for legal and diplomatic processes in the resolution of disputes.”

Vietnam, the Philippines call for the peaceful resolution of South China Sea disputes

Vietnam and the Philippines issued a Joint Statement on the official visit on September 28-29 of President of the Republic of Philippines Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Vietnam. In the Joint Statement, “the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as unimpeded commerce in the region particularly in the South China Sea. Furthermore, the two leaders called for the peaceful resolution of disputes including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, self-restraint in the conduct of activities, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”

Chinese tabloid Riles Singapore in South China Sea spat

The Global Times on September 21st reported that Singaporean delegates at a recent The 17th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit lobbied aggressively to add sterner language about the South China Sea to the meeting’s final communique. The requested wording, according to the Global Times, included references to a recent international ruling that rejected Beijing’s claims to certain rights in the strategic waters. “The representative of Singapore was flustered and exasperated, and made sarcastic remarks on the stance of countries which objected to its attempt. The representative even used offensive words during the argument, and launched malicious attacks on the representatives of countries taking a fair position. Moreover, during and after the foreign ministers' meeting, Singapore continued to complicate matters by openly challenging the ruling of Venezuela as the host nation, and this was met with unequivocal opposition from many countries,” it added. In response, Singapore’s Ambassador to China Stanley Loh stated that the Global Times’ report “attributed actions and words to Singapore which are false and unfounded.” According to Mr. Loh, Singapore didn’t raise the South China Sea or the tribunal ruling at the summit. He said the proposal to revise the summit communique was made collectively by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which wanted the document to reflect regional concerns over recent South China Sea tensions.

Chinese naval fleet call at Myanmar port

A Chinese naval fleet comprising Xiangtan and Zhoushan of the 23rd Escort Task Group called at the Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa (MITT) in Yangon's Thanlyin township Friday, following the completion of its escort mission in the Gulf of Aden. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet's five-day visit to Myanmar aims to implement the important consensus reached by military leaders of both sides, that is to strengthen strategic communication, promote practical cooperation and enrich the China-Myanmar comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The call also aims to enhance exchange and cooperation and increase mutual understanding and traditional friendly ties between navies of the two countries.