South China Sea Forum

[cirr]

1st glimpse of CCG 3106

A new force in the SCS。

 

[cirr]

Meijidao（Mischief Reef Island）03.03.2015

When all is done and over(?)

 

[Zero_wing]

Good your putting it on file the destorrying of shoals and corals on the net good job china i guess no one told you guys the difference between natural and artificial but knowing your patriortic education this good because the party said so.

 

[ahojunk]

Meijidao（Mischief Reef Island）03.03.2015

When all is done and over(?)

@cirr,
Thank you for all these great pictures.

And I suggest to all to ignore the post immediately after it as it is just sour grapes.

@cirr, please keep these picture coming. I look forward to their progress and development.

How ironic, China is having some mischief on "Mischief Island", lol.
.

 

[terranMarine]

more oil rig deployments should also be expected

 

[NiceGuy]

I was surprised to see this article in SCMP, as they are generally biased against China. However, this is in their "Comment › Insight & Opinion" section.
I agree with every sentence in this report. I often wonder why China doesn't display the same kind of displeasure towards Malaysia. Of course, Malaysia seems to be doing things the right way, as far as China is concerned.

------------------------
Provoking China on South China Sea issues is a dangerous tactic | South China Morning Post

Provoking China on South China Sea issues is a dangerous tactic
Mark Valencia says those involved in South China Sea disputes with China must stop their hypocritical condemnations if they really want a peaceful resolution

Mark Valencia
PUBLISHED : Monday, 02 February, 2015, 5:01am
UPDATED : Monday, 02 February, 2015, 5:01am

View attachment 198342
Cornering China could have dire consequences for the region. More vision and wisdom are needed by all concerned.

The governments of the Philippines, Vietnam and the US have, in recent months, lashed out at China over its behaviour in the South China Sea. This includes reclaiming land around some of its occupied but disputed features in the Spratlys; violating the self-restraint provision of the 2002 declaration of conduct agreed on by China and Asean; undertaking unilateral activities like hydrocarbon exploration in disputed maritime areas, preventing others from doing so; and, in general, bullying the smaller claimants.

Many analysts and the national media have joined the fray by supporting their countries' positions. Given the regional security implications, it is time to inject some balance into this narrative.

This is not a defence of China's actions; some of the criticism is deserved. Like many countries, China's maritime policies and behaviour have been a mix of good and bad, even ugly. But some criticism by governments and their nationalistic analysts and media is exaggerated or biased as they seek to "blame and shame" China and demonise it as an arrogant bully. Worse, some of it is so hypocritical as to be ludicrous.

First, all the claims to sovereignty over the Spratly Islands have weaknesses when measured against the international standard of continuous, effective occupation, control and administration, as well as acquiescence by other claimants.

Second, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have undertaken reclamation on disputed features they occupy and have built airstrips and ports. Why have they not been criticised?

Third, the Philippines has publicly and formally criticised China for its "historical" claim in the South China Sea. But it had a similarly questionable historical claim there until 2009 (the so-called Treaty Limits) as well as a claim to islands, seabed and waters within Kalayaan. In fact, these claims have not been formally rescinded.

Fourth, all the other claimants have undertaken unilateral activities such as oil exploration, fishing, arrest of foreign fishermen, and scientific research in areas claimed by others, including China. Why are their activities not a violation of the declaration of conduct's "self-restraint" provision?

Fifth, China argues that the Philippines and now Vietnam are violating the declaration's provision that says "the parties undertake to resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned" (emphasis added). In China's view, they have "internationalised" the issue, the Philippines by filing a formal complaint with an international arbitration panel, and both by publicly appealing for the support of outside powers.

The US is involved because of its alliance with the Philippines and the fact it is now trying to draw closer, militarily, to Vietnam. Indeed, it may even provide Vietnam with maritime surveillance aircraft that it could use to help keep tabs on China's activities. This would obviously not be considered a friendly act by China.

Washington often urges Beijing to obey "international law" but has itself not joined some 166 countries that have ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, or several other popular international treaties. Referring to the South China Sea situation, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs Daniel Russel has asserted that "bigger nations cannot bully the small". Perhaps he has forgotten the history of US relations vis-à-vis Cuba, Nicaragua, and many others.

Last year, Vietnam's confrontation with China over its oil rig provided an opportunity for anti-China Vietnamese to vent their anger. One result was the deadly anti-Chinese riots. In turn, Vietnamese policy and actions have stimulated Chinese antipathy and distrust. This has led to increased strategic thinking about the possibility of Vietnam becoming a pawn in US-China rivalry for dominance in the region. Vietnam's pandering to the US is disingenuous, distasteful and unworthy, and shows a lack of understanding of US strategy for the region as well as disrespect for the millions of Vietnamese who suffered and died to reject US influence.

As Vietnam's leaders should well know, China has been - and always will be - an unpredictable giant on its northern and maritime borders. In stark contrast, the US presence in the region is comparatively fresh, fickle and probably fleeting.

The moral is that countries (and their supporters) who live in glass houses should not throw stones - at least not before boarding up their own windows. They need to remove their nationalistic blinkers, be realistic and think more long term and in the interests of the region and political centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in security.

Otherwise, they could well be contributing to the region again becoming a pawn in a Great Power chess game. Cornering and publicly embarrassing China on South China Sea issues could have dire consequences for the region. More vision, wisdom and balance are needed by all concerned.

Mark J. Valencia is an adjunct senior scholar at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Haikou, China
.

He got well paid from China for this article, if he thinks China is right, then pls tell China to debate abt the issue wt VN in the international court and let the Whole World can see who is right, who is wrong

 

[yusheng]

 

[BoQ77]

Pentagon official wary of China’s reclamation work in S. China Sea
March 5, 2015 | By Daily Witness Staff |

A senior official of the U.S. Defense Departmentexpressed concern Wednesday over the speed at whichChina is undertaking land reclamation work to claim a number of islands in disputed areas of the South China Sea.

“Chinese reclamation stands out,” David Shear, assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, told reporters, adding, “It’s something that we’re very concerned about.”

A number of claimants to features in the South China Sea have been conducting land reclamation activities over the past year, Shear said.

“China has certainly added more land to features it occupies over the last five months than other claimants have added there over the last five years,” Shear said.

While the Pentagon official did not go into specifics, China is involved in territorial disputes in the South China Sea with countries such as the Philippinesand Vietnam and is building various facilities to claim the features, including construction of an aircraft runway, despite objections by other claimants.

Shear warned China against building military facilities on the reclaimed features, saying, “It will have potentially negative effects on security and stability in the region.”

Before the Pentagon, Shear held posts including ambassador to Vietnam during a foreign service career of more than 30 years.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, who took office last month succeeding Chuck Hagel, is planning to make a trip to Asian countries “as soon as he can,” Shear said, without giving any time frame.

The possible destinations include Japan, South Korea, China and Southeast Asian countries, Shear said.

In Japan, Carter would discuss with Japanese officials “ways under the revised guidelines that we can further strengthen U.S.-Japan alliance cooperation,” Shear said.

He was referring to ongoing bilateral work on revising the guidelines on cooperation between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military for the first time since 1997.

Tokyo and Washington are hoping to release the new guidelines in the first half of 2015.

==Kyodo

 

[ahojunk]

ha ha. The Americans are up to their usual tricks again by continually sowing discord.

However, the Viets and Pinoys are stupid enough to be used as proxies by the Americans.

And they are going to be badly injured just like ants are when two elephants fight.

If you care to notice, the Malaysians are smart. They know how to play the game.
------------

Wow! Subi Island is now 1.18 square km and growing.

Well done, China. Keep the good work going!.


Image of Chigua Island on 24 Jan 2015.

On the top, we can see that the new building dwarfs the original outpost. The new building is multiple storeys.

 

[initial_d]

Th

ha ha. The Americans are up to their usual tricks again by continually sowing discord.

However, the Viets and Pinoys are stupid enough to be used as proxies by the Americans.

And they are going to be badly injured just like ants are when two elephants fight.

If you care to notice, the Malaysians are smart. They know how to play the game.
------------



Wow! Subi Island is now 1.18 square km and growing.

Well done, China. Keep the good work going!.


Image of Chigua Island on 24 Jan 2015.

On the top, we can see that the new building dwarfs the original outpost. The new building is multiple storeys.

View attachment 199407

This is why i dont buy chinese stuff, knowing this people act as a bully to its neighbours....

 

[Martian2]

Pentagon official wary of China’s reclamation work in S. China Sea
March 5, 2015 | By Daily Witness Staff |

A senior official of the U.S. Defense Departmentexpressed concern Wednesday over the speed at whichChina is undertaking land reclamation work to claim a number of islands in disputed areas of the South China Sea.

“Chinese reclamation stands out,” David Shear, assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, told reporters, adding, “It’s something that we’re very concerned about.”

A number of claimants to features in the South China Sea have been conducting land reclamation activities over the past year, Shear said.

“China has certainly added more land to features it occupies over the last five months than other claimants have added there over the last five years,” Shear said.

While the Pentagon official did not go into specifics, China is involved in territorial disputes in the South China Sea with countries such as the Philippinesand Vietnam and is building various facilities to claim the features, including construction of an aircraft runway, despite objections by other claimants.

Shear warned China against building military facilities on the reclaimed features, saying, “It will have potentially negative effects on security and stability in the region.”

Before the Pentagon, Shear held posts including ambassador to Vietnam during a foreign service career of more than 30 years.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, who took office last month succeeding Chuck Hagel, is planning to make a trip to Asian countries “as soon as he can,” Shear said, without giving any time frame.

The possible destinations include Japan, South Korea, China and Southeast Asian countries, Shear said.

In Japan, Carter would discuss with Japanese officials “ways under the revised guidelines that we can further strengthen U.S.-Japan alliance cooperation,” Shear said.

He was referring to ongoing bilateral work on revising the guidelines on cooperation between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military for the first time since 1997.

Tokyo and Washington are hoping to release the new guidelines in the first half of 2015.

==Kyodo

The US is a bystander. It keeps proclaiming neutrality. In the meantime, China keeps changing the facts on the ground. More jet fighters. More destroyers. More submarines in the South China Sea. Also, more airfields.

Th

This is why i dont buy chinese stuff, knowing this people act as a bully to its neighbours....

Indonesia is probably China's 50th largest trading partner. China won't even notice if all trade with Indonesia was stopped. The Chinese trade surplus is currently $60 billion per month (or $2 billion per day).

 

[yusheng]

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference on February 27, 2015

Q: Director of the US National Intelligence James Clapper said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that China is stationing ships and conducting land reclamation activities in the South China Sea, and the US is concerned with relevant activities. What is China' response to that?

A: China's position on the South China Sea issue is clear and consistent, and we have been acting in a restrained and responsible way. What China has been doing on its own islands and reefs and in its own waters is lawful, justifiable and reasonable, and other countries have no right to make unfounded accusations. We hope the US side can honor its commitments, mind what it says and does, and act in a way that is conducive to the development of China-US relations and regional peace and stability.


Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on March 3, 2015

Q: The Vietnamese side has protested against China's construction activities in the Nansha Islands. What is China's response to this?

A: China holds a clear and consistent stance on the South China Sea issue. China's normal construction activities on our own islands and in our own waters are lawful, reasonable and justifiable. We hope that relevant party can take a calm view on this.

 

[Martian2]

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference on February 27, 2015

Q: Director of the US National Intelligence James Clapper said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that China is stationing ships and conducting land reclamation activities in the South China Sea, and the US is concerned with relevant activities. What is China' response to that?

A: China's position on the South China Sea issue is clear and consistent, and we have been acting in a restrained and responsible way. What China has been doing on its own islands and reefs and in its own waters is lawful, justifiable and reasonable, and other countries have no right to make unfounded accusations. We hope the US side can honor its commitments, mind what it says and does, and act in a way that is conducive to the development of China-US relations and regional peace and stability.


Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on March 3, 2015

Q: The Vietnamese side has protested against China's construction activities in the Nansha Islands. What is China's response to this?

A: China holds a clear and consistent stance on the South China Sea issue. China's normal construction activities on our own islands and in our own waters are lawful, reasonable and justifiable. We hope that relevant party can take a calm view on this.

Business as Usual

This is business as usual. China reclaims islands, builds an armada, and basically does whatever it feels like in the South China Sea.

The US goes through the motions of holding meetings with Vietnam and the Philippines, issues "concerns" about Chinese activities, flies a spy plane over the South China Sea, and ultimately let's China do whatever it wants in the South China Sea.

Forum member BoQ77 has been very diligent in chronicling every American press release, but who cares? It's meaningless and only empty words. The same empty words were of no help to Georgia.

 

[Rechoice]

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on March 3, 2015

Q: The Vietnamese side has protested against China's construction activities in the Nansha Islands. What is China's response to this?

A: China holds a clear and consistent stance on the South China Sea issue. China's normal construction activities on our own islands and in our own waters are lawful, reasonable and justifiable. We hope that relevant party can take a calm view on this.

 

[Zero_wing]

Again the chinese maoist paid poster here as again failed to prove their claims and they should not because this not a forum simply they creating other pathetic rants