South China Sea Forum

[Viet]

Hanoi facing false, unfair accusations of ganging up against Beijing
Global Times | 2012-11-11 20:35:04
By Bui Hong Phuc | former Vietnam ambassador to China

As China's neighbor, Vietnam has a better understanding of China than it does of Vietnam. The Vietnamese know that China is an outstanding country with a centuries-old history and splendid civilization. They also remember the material and spiritual help provided by China.

Nowadays, the Vietnamese get their stories about China via newspaper and TV every day, and are glad to see that China has become the second biggest economy in the world.

It's unfortunate that some Chinese don't know enough about Vietnam.

Many groundless accusations - Vietnam is drawing the US into the South China Sea disputes, or the US is making Vietnam an ally to contain China - have repeatedly appeared on Chinese media reports, making Chinese believe such accusations are based on facts.

Seeking an independent, diverse and multilateral diplomacy, trying to make friends with countries all over the world, never allying with a country to confront another, never joining a military alliance and never allowing other countries to station troops in Vietnam, are the principles of Vietnam's foreign policy.

Vietnam has stated many times that it won't undertake any military cooperation with other countries in the Cam Ranh Bay.

Every time Vietnam conducts any activity with the US, some Chinese media immediately raise questions such as "Is Vietnam moving toward the US to confront China?"

In fact, compared with the activities between China and the US, the cooperation between Vietnam and the US is not even worth mentioning. Can Vietnam also say that China is allying with the US to confront Vietnam when China and the US cooperate?

The US pivot to Asia is a result of the country's strategic adjustment made out of its own interests.

The South China Sea issue is one of three problems left over from the history of Sino-Vietnamese territorial disputes. Through mutual efforts, the land border dispute has been resolved and demarcation of the Beibu Gulf has been completed.

As for the maritime issue, both sides should stick to negotiations, be calm and restrained so as not to affect the stability of the bilateral relations.

China and Vietnam should actively change ideas on transitional and short-term measures of joint cooperation and development and also seek a solution that is acceptable to both sides.

During the period of fighting for national liberation, the two countries supported each other. People from both countries know that friendship should be most valued and maintained in bilateral relations.

The author is former Vietnam ambassador to China. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn

 

[HongWu]

The new Chinese leadership knows Vietnam cannot be trusted and also knows that Vietnam talks big because it is actually very political fragile and VCP can be overthrown anytime.

At the right moment, our new leader Xi Jinping will put a strangle-hold on Vietnam and cause it to collapse into anarchy. Then we can take over again.

 

[EastSea]

The new Chinese leadership knows Vietnam cannot be trusted and also knows that Vietnam talks big because it is actually very political fragile and VCP can be overthrown anytime.

At the right moment, our new leader Xi Jinping will put a strangle-hold on Vietnam and cause it to collapse into anarchy. Then we can take over again.

I think dictatorship regime in China will collapse first, then Tibet, Xin Gang, Inner Mongolia, Manchu Guo to be independence States. he he.

 

[EastSea]

The Vietnamses must love the Americans, for the latter killed hundreds of thousands of the former, burned down thousands of villages and gave the whole country a chemical-wash.

The Americans are now back!

In order for the Vietnamses to love the Americans, the latter must redo what it did during the 1960s and 70s.

Such is the irony and logic of history and human mind.

1979, aggressors chinese killed thousands of innocent Vietnamese, we don't forget that.

 

[yusheng]

Chinese marine troops hold drills

10-24-2012 16:00 BJT



Play VideoA South China Sea Fleet marine brigade has conducted coordinated drills to practice disembarking from helicopters to ships.

The exercise involved teams of landing ships, helicopters, tanks, warships, and assault vessels to transfer in difficult waters. The drill aims to speed up boarding for marine troops and strengthen their combat capability.

After successfully disembarking, the troops quickly took up good positions to shoot at targets.

At the same time, tanks collaborated with landing ships to board and disembark.

A South China Sea Fleet marine brigade has conducted coordinated drills to practice
disembarking from helicopters to ships.

A South China Sea Fleet marine brigade has conducted coordinated drills to practice
disembarking from helicopters to ships.

A South China Sea Fleet marine brigade has conducted coordinated drills to practice
disembarking from helicopters to ships.

 

[WuMaoCleverbot]

Philippines to call for common stand on territorial disputes
By Michael Lim Ubac in Manila/Philippine Daily Inquirer | Asia News Network – Fri, Nov 16, 2012

Excerpt:
Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - This time, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III will do the talking in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and he will insist that Southeast Asian nations take a common stand on territorial disputes with China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Aquino leaves for the Cambodian capital today to attend the 21st plenary session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that observers expect will be dominated by a raft of territorial rows.

Philippines to call for common stand on territorial disputes - Yahoo! News Philippines

 

[Zero_wing]

1979, aggressors chinese killed thousands of innocent Vietnamese, we don't forget that.

Wow epic fail for our chinese forumers

 

[Viet]

LOL I like the way you and Bach Dang pick a line or two from her speech and alter the whole meaning of what she's saying. The whole purpose of her speech is to tell every party that's concerned she'll not be involve in these disputes and support peaceful resolutions. She neither said the US is going to be the policeman nor there's a need to to police this area, after all, these water is not the off shores of Somalia.

Simply put, leave us alone on your petty disputes, we have better things to do.

He he he...You should better know me, I have some sense of humor, in contrast to some humorless Chinese members here in the forum. Sure, the US says one thing, and does the opposite. Just see their moves ahead of the East Asia summit in Cambodia.

No, the world is not big enough to two superpowers. The US will never leave Asia. China must deal with it.

 

[applesauce]

What is the bolded part supposed to mean

there was one incident in which a supposed chinese captain told an indian ships to leave chinese waters in the scs

the broadcast was done in english without a chinese accent
it was over an open channel which any one could access
no proof the person was chinese other than them say "hurr this is chinese captain"
indian ships never saw any chinese ships in vicinity just heard the broadcast
was huge news and "proof" of chinese "agression"

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

there was one incident in which a supposed chinese captain told an indian ships to leave chinese waters in the scs

the broadcast was done in english without a chinese accent
it was over an open channel which any one could access
no proof the person was chinese other than them say "hurr this is chinese captain"
indian ships never saw any chinese ships in vicinity just heard the broadcast
was huge news and "proof" of chinese "agression"

Source for the above incident?

 

[kurup]

Source for the above incident?

 

[Bobby]

China's pant is wet now.....

 

[JSCh]

Assault ship INS Airavat was not confronted by China: Indian Navy

 

[Viet]

Still tough on Japan, China takes a softer tack with other countries
November 17, 2012| asahi.com

A Chinese flag flies from one of the two newly-finished concrete structures on the Mischief Reef off the disputed Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea in this aerial photo taken on Feb. 8, 1999. The State Department said that the Chinese construction on the disputed islands is potentially provocative, and urged China to continue direct discussions with all parties involved. China claims the structures are only for their fishermen seeking shelter. (AP Photo)


The territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands between Japan and China has hurt the Japanese economy, cast doubt on exchange programs between the two nations and led to a wave of animosity from both Chinese and Japanese citizens.

But for other countries embroiled in territorial disputes with Beijing, the row with Japan has provided a breather, as China attempts to garner international support by taking a softer approach in settling these claims.

China's different stances were clearly evident at the Asia-Europe Meeting held in Laos in November.

At a session on Nov. 6, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Yang Jiechi, China's foreign minister, exchanged harsh words of criticism over the Senkakus.

At that same session, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said, "Disputes must be resolved based on international law and treaties."

And Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said, "Disputes should be resolved fairly based on international law."

In order to deal with territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been seeking to compile a code of conduct that would legally require peaceful resolution of such disputes. The international body has been holding informal talks with China about the issue, but Beijing has taken a passive stance, leading to the comments by Dung and Aquino, even as they stopped short of naming China as the target of their criticism.

In a marked contrast to the harsh words he had for Japan, Yang took a decidedly calmer approach in responding to the Southeast Asian nations.

"China's position has remained consistent based on historical and legal grounds," Yang said. "There have been no issues related to navigational freedom and safety in the South China Sea until now nor will such issues arise in the future."

As recently as April, ships from China and the Philippines were involved in a standoff near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, leading to a rapid worsening in bilateral relations.

Now, however, there are signs of change.

On Oct. 19, Fu Ying, a vice foreign minister, visited Manila and handed Aquino a message from Chinese President Hu Jintao that said emphasis should be placed on friendly relations between the two nations.

Chinese media described the visit as an "ice-melting" trip.

And Aquino has acknowledged that the situation in the South China Sea has improved considerably.

China has, in fact, temporarily softened its aggressive stance, reducing the number of maritime surveillance ships dispatched to the area.

A high-ranking Philippine government official said one aim behind the more cordial approach in the South China Sea was to avoid being isolated internationally as China deepened its confrontation with Japan.

Vietnam views the development in a similar light.

A government source said, "With China turning its attention to Japan, the aggressive action toward Vietnam has been relaxed, and we are relieved."

Vietnam launched one of its largest maritime patrol ships in October with an eye toward China's maritime advances. But rather than only strengthening maritime patrol activities, Vietnam would like nothing better than to avoid stirring up more trouble with China.

Due to these developments, Japanese government officials are concerned about how Cambodia will act as the host of the ASEAN summit that begins on Nov. 18 as well as the East Asia summit to follow.

In the July meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers, Cambodia handled the proceedings in a manner favorable to China.

This seemingly preferential treatment led to resistance from the Philippines and Vietnam, which contributed to the highly unusual development of no joint statement being released at the conclusion of that meeting.

At the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting immediately after the foreign ministers' meeting, Cambodia refused to include wording in the chairman's statement about freedom of navigation in the South China Sea that Japan, the United States and Australia had called for. China did not want such wording included.

The worst-case scenario for Japan at the East Asia summit will be if the chairman's statement refers to the Senkakus issue as a territorial dispute in response to such requests from China.

While Japan is the largest provider of aid to Cambodia, its confidence is now shaky.

On Nov. 5, Noda met with Prime Minister Hun Sen. Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba also sent a letter and other officials, including former ambassadors and a deputy chief Cabinet secretary, have been dispatched to Phnom Penh to ensure the summit proceeds in a favorable direction.

Japan has long been connected to territorial disputes in the South China Sea. During World War II, the Japanese military occupied most of the islands there, but its defeat immediately set off fierce competition for control.

Fuel was added to the fire when bountiful petroleum reserves that China has described as the "second Persian Gulf" were discovered under the sea.

While there are no definitive figures for total petroleum reserves in the South China Sea, a 2008 report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) gave a variety of estimates, including one of 28 billion barrels, made by the U.S. Geological Survey, as well as one of 213 billion barrels, made by China.

At the same time, EIA statistics for confirmed reserves that could be mined for profit put Saudia Arabia with the world's largest reserves of 267 billion barrels, while China was found to have 20.4 billion barrels.

A sharp increase in petroleum demand and the rapid increase in petroleum prices pushed China to strengthen its arguments for territorial sovereignty over the South China Sea.

The waters near the Senkakus, which are called the Diaoyu Islands in China, are estimated to have about 3 billion barrels of petroleum reserves. About 40 years ago, one estimate for those waters had reserves of about 100 billion barrels, and analysts have used that latter figure in explaining why China has begun asserting its claims to the islands in the recent past.

The territorial dispute in the South China Sea was temporarily tabled in 2005, and the state-run petroleum companies of China, Vietnam and the Philippines began joint exploration. However, cooperative efforts soon failed following minor tussles.

Since then, the three nations have proceeded with separate resource development projects.

Last June, China National Offshore Oil Corp. announced plans to begin resource development in waters near Vietnam. The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry issued a protest statement, and Do Van Hau, the president and CEO of Petrovietnam, held a news conference in which he called China's move "illegal."

Since the area is part of Vietnam's exclusive economic zone, Vietnam had proceeded with development while partnering with the United States, Russia and India. The nine drilling zones announced by China overlapped with the waters where Vietnam had been developing.

Petrovietnam is considering joint development with Japanese companies in about 20 drilling zones in the South China Sea off the coast of Da Nang in central Vietnam. But though there were initial plans to hold an explanatory meeting in July, the process has come to a standstill following the trouble with China.

A source at a Japanese company said, "While the resources are attractive, we do not want to shoulder the risk of disputes. We will take a wait-and-see attitude for the time being."

(This article was written by Manabu Sasaki in Hanoi and Takeshi Fujitani in Vientiane.)


Still tough on Japan, China takes a softer tack with other countries - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun

 

[SpArK]

India Backs Proposed Code of Conduct for South China Sea​

India today backed the proposed Code of Conduct to be established between ASEAN and China to govern the use of the resource-rich South China Sea even as differences cropped up in the 10-nation South East Asian grouping over "internationalising" the issue.

The support by India, which has also been involved in a tiff with China over use of resources in the disputed mineral-rich maritime region, came a day ahead of the East Asia Summit where the issue is expected to come up. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be attending the Summit meet.

"We support efforts to arrive at a Code of Conduct and firm up measures by which South China Sea will be an area of cooperation," Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters here.

Asked whether the issue would be discussed at the East Asia Summit (EAS) tomorrow, he said, "leaders can discuss any issue they wish... Obviously when leaders meet they would take up issues which are of immediate concern but these issues should be discussed in the light of need for EAS to have overriding priority of building of bridges of cooperation among various countries".

Citing the Prime Minister, Mathai said he has emphasised that EAS is important as a forum for acceleration economic development and enhancing ecomomic interests of all the countries.

Over a year ago, India was involved in a tiff with China which objected to its exploration of hydrocarbons off the Vietnamese coast.

Mathai's statement came against the backdrop of differences among the ASEAN members, with the Philippines refusing to agree with Cambodia to not to "internationalise" the dispute.

Philippines has said that it has the "inherent right to defend its national interests when deemed necessary".

Cambodia, this year's ASEAN chair and host of the summit, said yesterday that Southeast Asian leaders had agreed not to "internationalise" the disputes and would confine negotiations to those between the bloc and China.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda also chipped in warning that the South China Sea was of concern to the international community and could impact peace and stability in the region.

ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan, have claims to parts of the sea, which is home to some of the world's most important shipping lanes and believed to be rich in fossil fuels.

But China insists it has sovereign rights to virtually all of the sea.

FILED ON: NOV 19, 2012

India Backs Proposed Code of Conduct for South China Sea | news.outlookindia.com