South China Sea Forum

[Malaya]

Philippines wants to give US, Japan access to bases

The Philippines said Thursday it was looking to give the United States and Japan greater access to its military bases, as it seeks to counter what it perceives as a rising security threat from China.

Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin (R) speaks as his Japanese counterpart Itsunori Onodera listens during a joint press conference in Manila. (AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE)

MANILA: The Philippines said Thursday it was looking to give the United States and Japan greater access to its military bases, as it seeks to counter what it perceives as a rising security threat from China.

The government is initially drafting a plan that would allow US forces to spend more time on Filipino bases, something that could also be offered to Japan's military later, Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

"If and when there is agreement on the access, then there will be equipment coming in from the (United) States," Gazmin told a joint news conference in Manila after meeting with visiting Japan Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera.

"Now as far as Japan is concerned, we do welcome other countries -- particularly Japan since Japan is a strategic partner -- in accordance with our existing protocols."

President Benigno Aquino had already stated that the Philippines would welcome an increased US military presence, amid tense disputes with China over competing claims to parts of the South China Sea.

However Gazmin's comments indicated the Philippines was hoping to expand on the standard military exercises that the two nations' armed forces regularly engage in.

"Modalities for the increased rotational presence are right now being examined. One modality is the conduct of high-value, high-impact exercise," Gazmin said, without elaborating.

However Gazmin emphasised the plan would not see any new bases or a permanent US presence in the Philippines.

The United States had tens of thousands of troops stationed in the Philippines, at the Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base north of Manila, until the early 1990s.

The United States, a former colonial ruler of the Philippines, was forced to abandon the bases amid anti-US sentiment and a row over rent. The constitution now bans any permanent foreign bases in the Philippines.

However the Clark and Subic facilities, now partly converted to business use, still host and service US military aircraft and warships on short-term exercises.

One of those began Thursday in waters between the Philippines' main island of Luzon and a disputed shoal now occupied by China.

Several hundred US Special Forces troops have also been rotating through the southern Philippines since early 2002 to train Filipino soldiers who are fighting Islamic militants.

Philippines wants to give US, Japan access to bases - Channel NewsAsia

 

[Malaya]

Japan vows to help Philippines amid China sea row

Visiting Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera (left) hugs his Philippine counterpart Voltaire Gazmin after a joint press conference in Manila on Thursday, June 27, 2013. Japan pledged on Thursday to help the Philippines defend its "remote islands", as both governments expressed concern over China's robust moves to stake its claims to disputed Asian waters. -- PHOTO: AFP

MANILA (AFP) - Japan pledged Thursday to help the Philippines defend its "remote islands", as both governments expressed concern over China's robust moves to stake its claims to disputed Asian waters.

Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said China's contentious claim to nearly all of the South China Sea and its territorial dispute with Japan in the East China Sea were discussed during top-level talks in Manila.

"We agreed that we will further co-operate in terms of the defence of remote islands... the defence of territorial seas as well as protection of maritime interests," Mr Onodera told a joint news conference.

"We face a very similar situation in the East China Sea of Japan. The Japan side is very concerned that this kind of situation in the South China Sea could affect the situation in the East China Sea," he said, speaking through an interpreter.

Japan vows to help Philippines amid China sea row

 

[Fsjal]

Well, China seems unafraid.
Anyway, let the masters come back home.

 

[BoXilai]

The Philippines may still believes that military bases of the U.S Army will makes Chinese scares and American will reacts stronger in their conflicts in the SCS. I saw these opinions in mind of many South Vietnam officers/generals before 1975. They may have not changed much in opinion of relation with the U.S after a long time.

When American invaded Vietnam, I saw Thailand, The Philippines invited their "ally" to their country to used military bases, sent troops to Vietnam vehemently. And when tension between The U.S and North Korea rising, their President one more time keep the deportment of previous leaders generation. To be honest, if I have a friend who has genitive like that in my life, I'm sure I will feel shame when known him and start to disdain that guy. Really!

 

[Malaya]

Indonesia, Vietnam, Code of Conduct in South China Sea.
Fri, June 28 2013

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Vietnam agreed to continue to encourage discussions to find agreement for the implementation of "Code of Conduct" in South China Sea.

"We have discussed situation in East Sea or South China Sea with an aim of assuring peaceful solutions of all problems in the region according to international law with a spirit of finding peaceful resolution," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in a joint press conference with visiting Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang here on Thursday.

He said Indonesia and Vietnam had common view with regard to code of ethics in South china Sea.

"We also wish what has been agreed between ASEAN and China could be continued to move from declaration of conduct towards code of conduct which will certainly be good for all countries connected with South China Sea," he said.

President Yudhoyono said Indonesia and Vietnam had also agreed to support each other with regard to the two countries` nominations various positions in the US such as including membership in the UN Security Council.

President Truong Tan Sang arrived here on Thursday afternoon for a two-day state visit.

President Yudhoyono and First Lady Any Yudhoyono welcomed President Truong Tan Sang and First Lady Mai Tinh Hanh in a state ceremony at the Merdeka Palace.

After the ceremony the two heads of state held a private meeting which was then followed a bilateral meeting.

President Yudhoyono held a state dinner in honor of President Truong Tan Sang in the evening.

Antara News : Indonesia, Vietnam, Code of Conduct in South China Sea.

 

[Malaya]

US, Philippines start military exercise in South China Sea

Naval forces from the Philippines and the United States have started a massive six-day joint military exercise in the South China Sea, adding to tensions with China.

A fleet of American naval vessels including two warships has been deployed to the region to take part in the drills which are being led by the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald.

About 500 American and 500 Filipino sailors will take part in the war games which will be held from June 27 to July 2.

The drills will take place off the west coast of Philippines' main island of Luzon, close to Scarborough Shoal.

The Scarborough Shoal is a reef located in the strategically vital South China Sea which both China and the Philippines claim as their own territory.

However, the Philippines says China has, for more than a year, effectively occupied Scarborough Shoal where the two countries engaged in a maritime standoff last year.

The U.S. announced in 2011 that it would increase joint training exercises with the Philippines in order to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

On Thursday, the Chinese embassy in Manila released a statement warning the Philippines and the U.S. not to increase tensions in the area with their war games.

"We hope relevant sides should take actions that are beneficial for maintaining peace and stability in the region, not the other way around," the statement said, citing a foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing.

The Obama administration has been trying to encircle and contain China with a new strategy called the “Asia Pivot.”

The aggressive policy involves surging American military presence throughout the region, including in the Philippines, Japan, Australia, Guam, South Korea and Singapore among other countries.

A study last year by David Shambaugh, the director of the China Policy Program at George Washington University shows that the U.S. and China are heading toward a more strained relationship with increased mutual distrust.

PressTV - US, Philippines hold war games

 

[Malaya]

 

[Malaya]

US passed resolution condemning intimidation by China
June 27, 2013

United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations recently has passed a resolution condemning China's actions related to the territorial dispute in the East China Sea and South China Sea. ANTĐ reported on June 27.

Japanese media reported on June 15 that a bipartisan group of U.S. senators has introduced a resolution condemning intimidation by China in its assertion of territorial claims in the South and East China Seas and reaffirming the U.S. support for the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the region.

The resolution, put forward by Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and other senators on the committee, is expected to be approved at a plenary session of the Senate after passing the committee.

It warns against threatening moves by China to claim sovereignty over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

The U.S. government "acknowledges that they are under the administration of Japan and opposes any unilateral actions that would seek to undermine such administration," the resolution says.

It also says the government "affirms that the unilateral actions of a third party will not affect" that acknowledgement and "remains committed" under the U.S.-Japan security treaty to "respond to any armed attack in the territories under the administration of Japan."

In an other move, on June 26, Sankei newspaper reported that Japan's Defense Ministry is considering developing long-range ballistic missile with a range of 400-500 km, in order to prevent a potential attack on Senkaku islands / Diaoyu. Ballistic missile is expected to be located on the island of Okinawa, southern Japan. If this project is done, this will be the first time the Japanese Self-Defense Forces are equipped with far ranged attack weapons.

From The Philippines:

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez on Friday welcomed US Senate Resolution 167, filed June 10 in an effort to ease tensions in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

The resolution, filed by US Senator Robert and his co-sponsors Senators Benjamin Cardin, Marco Rubio and Bob Corker, particularly cited China’s aggressive assertion of its nine-dash line claim in regional waters and sought to calm the tense air among claimants.

“We understand that the resolution has yet to undergo the necessary congressional process before it is passed by the US Senate, nonetheless, we extend our appreciation on the mere fact that some US senators have deigned it necessary to express their views on a fundamental issue that affects the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region,” Hernandez said in a statement issued Friday afternoon.

Hernandez said the Philippines “especially appreciates the reaffirmation of the peaceful resolution of disputes,” earlier expressed by top US officials in supporting the Philippines.

The resolution noted recent tension in Asia-Pacific waters, including Chinese incursions into the Ayungin and Panatag Shoals within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, as the Manila government refers to part of the South China Sea.

It also cited China’s “unilateral steps” in laying claim to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands to the Chinese) in the East China Sea.

The resolution also made reference to the Philippines’ arbitration bid against China in the United Nations, a process that seeks to clarify maritime boundaries in the West Philippine Sea, stop Chinese incursions into the country’s EEZ and nullify China’s nine-dash line claim to the waters.

It sought the US Senate’s condemnation of “the use of coercion, threats, or force… to assert disputed maritime or territorial claims or alter the status quo” and “strongly urges that all parties… to exercise self-restraint” in undertaking their respective activities within the waters.

The Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have been asserting their respective claims to parts of the South China Sea while Japan and China bicker over the East China Sea islands.

The resolution also expressed support for peaceful and diplomatic means of settling maritime disputes and for the United States’ political and military role in maintaining stability in the waters.

 

[Bienvenido]

BEIJING (Reuters) - Countries with territorial claims in the South China Sea that look for help from third parties will find their efforts "futile", China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned on Thursday, adding that the path of confrontation would be "doomed".

Beijing's assertion of sovereignty over a vast stretch of the South China Sea has set it directly against Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also lay claim to other parts of the sea, making it Asia's biggest potential military troublespot.

At stake are potentially massive offshore oil reserves. The seas also lie on shipping lanes and fishing grounds.

Wang didn't name any third countries, but the United States is a close ally of Taiwan and the Philippines, and has good or improving relations with the other nations laying claim to all or part of the South China Sea.

"If certain claimant countries choose confrontation, that path will be doomed," Wang said after a speech at the annual Tsinghua World Peace Forum.

"If such countries try to reinforce their poorly grounded claims through the help of external forces, that will be futile and will eventually prove to be a strategic miscalculation not worth the effort."

The Philippine military said this week it had revived plans to build new air and naval bases at Subic Bay, a former U.S. naval base that American forces could use to counter China's creeping presence in the South China Sea.

Wang's comments came days before the minister is due to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations grouping in Brunei from Saturday to Tuesday.

The 10-member ASEAN hopes to reach a legally binding Code of Conduct to manage maritime conduct in disputed areas. For now a watered-down "Declaration of Conduct" is in place.

The path to a Code of Conduct will be slow and deliberate, Wang said, adding that the Declaration of Conduct was a commitment made by China and the 10 ASEAN countries and China would continue to abide by it.

"The right way is to fully implement the Declaration, and in this process, move forward with the Code in a gradual way," Wang said.

Yeah, we know it's doomed for China. Chinese fears a conflict that would undermine their economic and financial capability. Of course, all countries involved would suffer nevertheless, but China for sure would suffer most. So talking peace and respect to one's territory and 200 nautical miles economic zone would be the start.

 

[peaceful]

it is so funny that losers still dream support from their masters.

guys, wake up, you are nothing other than a loser nation, the US doesn't have the obiligation to protect and fight a full out war with China.

one day loser, always loser.

 

[Zero_wing]

it is so funny that losers still dream support from their masters.

guys, wake up, you are nothing other than a loser nation, the US doesn't have the obiligation to protect and fight a full out war with China.

one day loser, always loser.

Wow so says the chinese aggressors

 

[Malaya]

Chinese media warns of "counterstrike" in South China Sea dispute
29 Jun 2013

Chinese state media accused the Philippines of using the ASEAN group of nations as an "accomplice" in the violation of its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea on Saturday, and warned of a potential "counterstrike"

BEIJING: Chinese state media accused the Philippines of using the ASEAN group of nations as an "accomplice" in the violation of its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea on Saturday, and warned of a potential "counterstrike".

The editorial in the overseas edition of the People's Daily, from China's ruling Communist Party, came as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was due to meet in Brunei, with disputes in the sea expected to dominate discussions.

The Philippines, which has sought closer ties with Washington amid territorial disputes with Beijing, "calls on the United States as 'patron'" and uses ASEAN as an "accomplice," the editorial said.

It added that the Phillipines was guilty of "seven sins," including the "illegal occupation" of parts of the Spratly Islands, strengthening control over disputed coral reefs, inviting foreign companies to develop oil and gas resources in disputed waters, and promoting the "internationalisation" of the sea.

"If the Philippines continues to provoke China... a counterstrike will be hard to avoid," the editorial said.

Members of the ASEAN group hope to reach a legally-binding code of conduct aimed at easing tensions over disputed areas in the sea, which is claimed almost in its entirety by Beijing, leading to long-running disputes with several neighbouring countries including the Philippines.

China has resisted ASEAN efforts to create a legally-binding code to govern conduct on the sea, and analysts say Beijing will continue to oppose any agreement weakening its claims.

The Philippines this year sought UN arbitration over its dispute with China, a move condemned by Beijing.

A US destroyer joined the Philippine Navy's flagship this week for military exercises close to the Scarborough Shoal, which China insists it owns.

Countries around the region have boosted spending on their navies in recent years in response to tensions, raising fears of a military conflict.

Chinese media warns of "counterstrike" in South China Sea dispute - Channel NewsAsia

 

[Malaya]

Be ready for 'counterstrike,' PH warned by China media
06/29/2013

MANILA, Philippines (Updated) - The Philippines should brace itself for a possible "counterstrike" should Beijing continue to be provoked in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).

The warning was contained in a front-page commentary published Saturday in the state-owned People's Daily.

"If the Philippines continues to provoke China... a counterstrike will be hard to avoid," the editorial said.

The overseas edition of the People's Daily slammed the Philippines for committing "seven sins" in the South China Sea. These include the supposed illegal occupation of the Spratly islands, inviting foreign capital to engage in oil ang gas development, and internationalizing the disputed waters, a report that appeared in the South China Morning Post said.

The comments come a day before an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Brunei, where ministers from member-countries will attempt to forge a legally binding "code of conduct" on the West Philippine Sea.

People's Daily called out ASEAN for becoming an "accomplice" and also criticized the Philippines for calling on the United States to act as a "patron," according to the report.

Members of the military are presently holding war games with the United States near the Scarborough Shoal.

In a joint press conference with visiting Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera on Friday, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the government wants to give the United States and Japan more access to military bases.

Stirring up trouble

China slammed the plans. In an article published in People's Daily on Friday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying was quoted as saying that China is "glad" to see other countries develop relations but is opposed to "relevant countries' moves to form factions, stir up trouble, deliberately play up tensions in the region and mislead international opinion."

In another People's Daily report, Chen Qinghong, a Chinese expert on Philippine Studies, acccused the Philippines of using its US ties to strengthen its military force.

"The Philippines hopes to seek more support from the US to balance China's increasing power in the region, so that it is sufficiently emboldened to bargain with China on the South China Sea issue," Chen said.

Amid concerns that the war games could provoke China, Philippine Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic earlier said the exercises are not targeted against the Chinese and will instead focus on inter-operability.

Aside from China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam have also posted their respective claims on the disputed territory. - with Agence France-Presse

 

[Malaya]

DFA: China's 'counterstrike' statement provocative
By XIANNE ARCANGEL, GMA News June 29, 2013

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said China's warning of an inevitable "counterstrike" against the Philippines is a provocative statement that has "no place in the relations of civilized nations."

In a text message to GMA News Online, DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said China is obligated under international law, specifically the United Nations Charter "to pursue a peaceful resolution of disputes – meaning without the use of force [or] the threat to use forces."

China's state media warned on Saturday a "counterstrike" against the Philippines was inevitable if it continues to provoke Beijing in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

The overseas edition of the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, said in a front-page commentary that the Philippines had committed "seven sins" in the West Philippine Sea, including the "illegal occupation" of the Spratly Islands, inviting foreign capital to engage in oil and gas development in the disputed waters and promoting the "internationalization" of the waters.

China's statement comes on the heels of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin's confirmation on Thursday of a plan to give the United States and its allies access to military bases in the Philippines.

However, Malcañang on Saturday clarified the plan is not yet final as the Department of National Defense is still studying it to make sure it will be done in accordance with the 1987 Constitution and the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement.

On the other hand, Hernandez called on China "to be a responsible member in the community of nations" and resolve territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea through the "rules-based, transparent, binding and non-provocative" mechanism of the UN Charter.

The DFA spokesperson in particular cited Part XV of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, which provides that "State Parties shall settle any dispute between them" by peaceful means.

"A peaceful and rules-based resolution to the disputes in the West Philippine Sea is durable and beneficial to all and will ensure peace and stability in the region," Hernandez said.

The People's Daily commentary is not the first time this week that China issued a statement regarding territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Thursday that countries with territorial claims in the South China Sea that look for help from third parties will find their efforts "futile" and that confrontation over the area is "doomed."

Wang's speech at the Tsinghua World Peace Forum coincided with the start of the US-Philippines naval forces' military exercises off Luzon's west coast.

But Philippine Navy has insisted the war games, being held just a few miles away from the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, were not meant to provoke China. — LBG, GMA News

 

[Malaya]

Malaysia respects PH decision to bring sea row to UN

by Pia Lee-Brago, The Philippine Star
06/29/2013

MANILA, Philippines - Malaysia respects the Philippines’ decision to bring its territorial dispute with China to a United Nations tribunal, a Malaysian official said recently.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, who was in Manila for a working visit, told Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario last Thursday that Malaysia had also resorted to international legal adjudication in the past.

During a meeting, Del Rosario briefed Anifah on the two rules-based components of the Philippines’ approach to the West Philippine Sea issue: the arbitration case filed by the Philippines and the Code of Conduct.

Both expressed support for the expeditious beginning of negotiations on the Code of Conduct, which will be taken up at the 46th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) to be held in Brunei starting today until July 2.

Anifah and Del Rosario also discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Malaysia, including the convening of the 8th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) preferably within the year.

The JCM, which will be hosted by Malaysia, is the main bilateral consultative mechanism between the Philippines and Malaysia.

Del Rosario thanked his counterpart for Malaysia’s commitment to the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and requested their support for the closure of the tripartite review process.

The two ministers also discussed cooperation in relation to the standoff in Lahad Datu, Sabah, between the army of the Sulu sultanate and Malaysian security forces.

Anifah’s visit was his first trip to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) capital following his reappointment as foreign minister.

Last October, Anifah was also in Manila with Prime Minister Najib Razak for the signing of the framework agreement between the government and the MILF.