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Activities of related parties

China

China confirms vessels on Scarborough, denies reclamation

The Chinese Embassy in Manila on September 7th confirmed that Chinese ships and fishing boats are in the waters around the Scarborough Shoal, "The Chinese side has maintained the presence of a number of coast guard vessels for law enforcement patrols. There are also some Chinese fishing boats around that area," it said. “The situation has not changed. There are no dredging or building activities there," the embassy added. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that China hadn't done anything to alter the circumstances in the waters surrounding the shoal.

China rebukes US and Japan over South China Sea as summit wraps up in Laos

Speaking after the East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Chinese vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin praised the 10-strong Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes four rival claimants, for showing restraint and willingness to find solutions to the disputes. “A total of 16 out of 18 nations, including all Asean member nations, supported the joint efforts by China and Asean to push ahead with negotiations on the code of conduct on the South China Sea,” he said. “Only two nations mentioned the international arbitration ruling and insisted the ruling should be binding and implemented,” Liu said, without naming the US or Japan.

Chinese premier urges Beijing, Manila to jointly bring ties back on normal track

During the talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the East Asia leaders' meetings in the Laotian capital of Vientiane on September 8th, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on voiced his hope that China and the Philippines will work together to bring bilateral ties back on the normal track so as to realize their healthy and stable development. Duterte, for his part, expressed his aspiration for better Philippines-China relations, saying that Li's remarks represent one of his principles.

Vietnam

Vietnam’s Prime Minister expresses concerns over South China Sea disputes

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the ASEAN Plus One Summits on September 8th, within the framework of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings. In those meetings, he voiced concerns about the complex happenings in the East Sea (South China Sea), saying it deals with not only maritime sovereignty but also the safeguarding of peace and cooperation; security, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight over the East Sea; and the respect for international law, including the effective implementation of the DOC and non-militarising activities.  He called on all parties to show goodwill and determination to enter a new phase of transforming the East Sea into a region of peace, stability, cooperation and development. Following the opening session of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings, he met with Philippine President. Rodrigo Duterte The leaders stressed the importance of maintaining peace and security, stepping up cooperation, and handling disputes by peaceful measures in compliance with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, in the East Sea and consented to work together for those goals.  On September 9th, he met with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.  Both the Vietnamese and Japanese PMs expressed concern about recent complicated developments in the region and underlined the importance of maintaining peace, security and cooperation in the East Sea. They stressed the rule of law and the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), and reached a consensus that the two countries will intensify joint efforts towards those goals. On September 8th, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also had a meeting with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull. The two sides underscored the significance of maintaining peace, security and cooperation in the East Sea, respecting international law, and settling disputes through peaceful measures in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, and agreed to enhance coordination for the targets.

The Philippines

Philippines accuses China of secret island building

The Philippines has released photos to back its claims that China had secretly begun work to cement control over Scarborough shoal in the South China Sea. The images showed Chinese ships at the shoal last weekend that were capable of dredging sand and other activities required to build an artificial island. “We have reason to believe that their presence is a precursor to building activities on the shoal,” Philippine defence department spokesman Arsenio Andolong told AFP in a text message. “We are continuing our surveillance and monitoring of their presence and activities, which are disturbing.”

PLP to get 2 aircraft from US in December

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said that PCG is scheduled to receive two used military aircraft from the United States in December. He added that the two Sherpa 30-seater aircraft will help the Coast Guard extend its sea patrol in the South China Sea.

Thailand

Thailand 'supports' China's efforts to maintain maritime peace

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of an Asian summit on September 7th, Major General Weerachon Sukondhapatipak, a Thai government spokesman, said that “"promoting peace and stability in the ocean is important to all parties and Thailand supports China's efforts in this regard. Discussions must reduce mistrust.” Asked whether Thailand was siding with China, he said Thailand "wants to see peace maintained in the interests of all parties", without giving further details.

The U.S.

Obama puts South China Sea back on agenda at summit

President Barack Obama put the long-simmering dispute in the South China Sea front and center on the agenda at a regional summit on September 8th. "We will continue to work to ensure that disputes are resolved peacefully, including in the South China Sea,” Obama said at a meeting with leaders of the 10-member ASEAN. He added an international arbitration ruling on July 12 against China was binding and "helped to clarify maritime rights in the region." Referring to the arbitration panel's ruling that invalidated China's territorial claims, Obama said, "I realize this raises tensions but I also look forward to discussing how we can constructively move forward together to lower tensions and promote diplomacy and regional stability."

Australia

Australia calls for peaceful resolution to East Asia and South China Sea disputes

Speaking at the East Asia Summit on September 8th, Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that every country in the region has a vested interest in peacefully resolving territorial disputes in East Asia and the South China Sea. There are efforts to establish a code of conduct between China and the other claimants but Malcolm Turnbull said a breakthrough was not expected any time soon. "Progress is slow but there is, I would say, a sense of cautious optimism that agreement can be reached on the code of conduct," he said.

Japan

Abe tells Asian leaders of ‘serious concern’ with China posturing in South China Sea

Speaking at the East Asia Summit on September 8th, Japan’s Prime Minister said that the country is “seriously concerned” about Beijing’s increasingly muscular claims in the South China Sea. “I hope that both parties to the dispute in the South China Sea will abide by the ruling by the China-Philippines tribunal court, which legally binds the parties to the dispute, and it will lead to a peaceful settlement of the dispute,” he added.

Japan to provide planes, ships for PH amid sea dispute with China

On the sidelines of ASEAN meetings on September 7th, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to provide two large-sized patrol ships and lend up to five used surveillance aircraft to the Philippines. Japan has already agreed to provide 10 smaller-sized patrol ships to the Philippines.

India

India urges related parties to adhere by international law

The Chairman’s Statement of The 14th ASEAN-India Summit affirmed that the two sides “emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability, unimpeded commerce, freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea. We underscored the importance for the states concerned to resolve disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In this regard, India urged all parties to show utmost respect for the 1982 UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of seas and oceans.”

Russia

Russia Supports China’s Stance on South China Sea

Speaking to reporters in Hangzhou on September 5th, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow supports China’s stance on the South China Sea court dispute and opposes any third-party interference. "Chairman Xi Jinping and I have developed very trusting, I would say friendly, relations. But he never – I want to emphasize this – never approached me requesting to somehow comment, somehow intervene in the matter," he said. "We of course have our own opinion on this matter. It is that, first of all, we do not interfere and we believe that any intervention of a non-regional power goes only to the detriment of settling these issues. The intervention of third-party non-regional powers, in my opinion, is harmful and counterproductive," he added.

Regional Snapshots

Vietnam, France a rules-based resolution for South China Sea disputes

Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and his French counterpart, Francois Hollande, agreed on various measures to boost the countries’ relations during their talks in Ha Noi September 5th morning as part of the French President’s State visit to Việt Nam. At the talks, the Presidents clarified the importance of maintaining peace and stability and promoting regional and international co-operation. They reiterated the commitment to ensuring free navigation and aviation, stressing the peaceful settlement of East Sea (South China Sea) disputes through diplomatic and legal processes, and with respect to international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Regarding The Hague tribunal’s ruling on July 12, 2016, both sides affirmed the law-abiding principle at seas and oceans. They underlined the importance of fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), while supporting efforts to reach a Code of Conduct (COC) in the waters.

Germany-Australia calls for a peaceful resolution for South China Sea disputes

The Joint Statement of the German-Australian 2+2 Ministerial Meeting in Berlin on September 6th highlighted that “Ministers recognised that peace and stability in the South China Sea is an issue of global concern. They urged all parties to exercise restraint, ease tensions and resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS. They reaffirmed the importance to all countries of upholding the existing rules-based international order.”

ASEAN expresses concerns over South China Sea disputes

Chairman’s statement of the 28th and 29th ASEAN summits highlighted that “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; reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation, and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); 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. Chairman’s Statement of The 11th East Asia Summit “We stressed the importance for the parties concerned to resolve their disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We also emphasized the importance of non-militarization. We welcomed the Joint Statement issued by Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member States and China on the full and effective implementation Final of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and emphasized the need for ASEAN Member States and China to ensure the full and effective implementation of the DOC in its entirety.”

Abe, Turnbull resolute on Chinese territorial issue in South China Sea

In a roughly hourlong meeting on the fringes of regional gatherings in the Laotian capital, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Turnbull agreed on the importance of maintaining a rules-based order. The leaders reaffirmed that the South China Sea issue should be resolved peacefully in line with international law, including the July ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which sided with the Philippines in denying China’s claims to vast parts of the area. In a veiled reference to China’s territorial assertions at sea, they reaffirmed their strong opposition to one-sided attempts to alter the status quo by force in a way that can raise tensions.