South China Sea Forum

[Rechoice]

China's Plan To Sink US Navy - Business Insider

China's plan to sink US fleet.

We can waiting for ever.

 

[p3avi8tor69]

China's Plan To Sink US Navy - Business Insider

China's plan to sink US fleet.

What a dumb article.

 

[Fsjal]

What a dumb article.

Agree
I read it and laugh at the missile intercepting plan part.

 

[NiceGuy]

New year in Spratly

 

[EastSea]

Khanh Hoa, Province Of Vietnam:
Displaying four maps to show the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) belong to Vietnamese territory.
[06/02/2013]

From the second to the fifth of February 2013, Khanh Hoa appropriate authorities deploy the installation of four ancient maps to show Paracel and Spratly Islands belong to Vietnamese territory at fifteen locations on Khanh Hoa Province. These maps originated from the Qing Dynasty (China), The Ming Dynasty (Vietnam) and France.

Accordingly, the four maps include: “Hoàng triều trực tỉnh địa dư toàn đồ” (a Chinese administrative map of provincial boundaries), published under the Qing Dynasty in 1904, which shows that the Southern point of China at that time ended at Hainan island only, not Tay Sa and Nam Sa Islands, means Paracel and the Spratly Islands belong to Vietnam; the second map is “An Nam dai quoc hoa do” (the Map of the Great Country of An Nam) drawn by Jean Louis Taberd of France in 1838, which depicts the “Paracel seu Cat Vang” archipelago belongs to the territory of Vietnam; the third map is a map of Indochinese meteorological stations, the French established in 1940, showed that meteorological Stations in Pattle (Hoang Sa) and Itu Aba (Spratly) were the two most important meteorological stations in Indochina; the last map is “Dai Nam thong nhat toan do” (the Complete Map of Unified Dai Nam), published under the Minh Mang reign in 1834. It showed that Hoang Sa and Van Ly Truong Sa belong to Vietnam’s territory;
As known, these maps are displayed at: Khanh Hoa conference centre (46 Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang city), Nha Trang Oceanology Institue, Cau Da Tourism port, Nha Trang Station, Nha Trang University, Cam Ranh international Airport and some administrative offices in Khanh Hoa province. The displaying of four maps is to popularize for local, domestic and international guests to understand more about territory and sovereignty of Vietnam when they come to Khanh Hoa province.

C

 

[WuMaoCleverbot]

Philippines draws German backing on sea disputes with China
By Fat Reyes in Manila/Philippine Daily Inquirer | Asia News Network – Fri, Feb 8, 2013

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - [B]A German foreign minister yesterday expressed his country's support for the Philippine position to solve its sea disputes with China under international law,[/B] saying that peaceful resolution was best for the two countries.

In a press briefing yesterday, German Federal Foreign Minister Guido said that the Philippines' territorial disputes with China over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) were discussed during a meeting with Philippine diplomats and officials and that his country remained supportive of peaceful resolution of the disputes.

"We appeal to all sides to resolve all the questions in accordance with international law and in a peaceful and cooperative way," Westerwelle said in a statement.
Westerwelle and a 12-man delegation from Germany were in Manila for a two-day visit, the first by Germany's top diplomat to the Philippines in 12 years.

For his part, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said that he conveyed to his foreign counterpart the Philippine initiative to bring the territorial disputes before an arbitral tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) to "clearly establish the county's sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea."

"I asked him to continue supporting the Philippine effort for a peaceful and durable solution to this dispute," Del Rosario said in a statement.

Westerwelle, when asked by reporters to explain Germany's support, Del Rosario said that a German professor of international public law was appointed as a judge to the tribunal, and that "all countries in the region, the European Union, have an interest in a stable and peaceful development."

"The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Chinese economies are closely linked by a free trade agreement and this shows us (that) everyone gains from cooperation and not confrontation," Westerwelle added.

In its "notification of statement and claim" filed before the UN, the Philippines said that it had appointed Judge Rudiger Wolfrum, a German professor of international law who served as president of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea from 2005 to 2008, as part of the arbitral panel .

China claims nearly the entire West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), while the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan have claims to parts of it.

Invoking the Unclos, the Philippines haled China to the UN arbitral tribunal in hopes of compelling Beijing to respect Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf encompassing territories in the West Philippine Sea.

China, however, had maintained that it has indisputable sovereignty over the area and that talks should only be on a bilateral basis with the countries directly involved.

Del Rosario, during the briefing, noted that based on his understanding, the Philippines' international partners, including the European Union, had taken the position that "we should seek a peaceful resolution to this dispute and the process of arbitration is considered a peaceful means in seeking this resolution."

Del Rosario also noted that the Philippines and Germany were taking steps to "re-invigorate defence relations" and that a delegation from the German Ministry of Defence (MOD) would be visiting Manila next week to "conduct bilateral discussions" with Philippine defence officials.

Asked whether discussions would involve exchanges in military training or procurement of defence equipment, Del Rosario just said that years ago, the two countries had an agreement which led to the training of Philippine military men in Germany and that the visit of German defence officials was part of a "current initiative to revisit and expand that."

"There will be a German military delegation that will be arriving to revisit this initiative and to work themselves into the possible drafting of a memorandum of understanding that would formalise other means of cooperation," he said.

Philippines draws German backing on sea disputes with China - Yahoo! News Philippines

I thought China and Taiwan have similar claim...the writer must be wrong.

 

[WuMaoCleverbot]

Japan plans to give patrol boats to Manila - report
By: Agence France-Presse
February 11, 2013 10:40 AM

TOKYO - Japan plans to donate patrol boats costing $11 million each to the Philippines, ramping up regional efforts to monitor China's maritime activity in disputed waters, a newspaper said Monday.

The Japanese government plans to finance the deal in its fiscal 2013 budget starting in April and hopes to officially sign it early next year, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Japan will then provide the Philippines with the newly built patrol vessels, which will cost more than one billion yen ($11 million) each, the newspaper said, without specifying the number of boats on offer.

Both countries are locked in separate territorial disputes with China.

Japan's dispute is over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China.

The Philippines is one of several Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, that are rowing with China over claims to parts of the South China Sea. Two of the hotspots are the Spratly islands and Scarborough Shoal.

The Japanese coastguard also plans to train Philippine and Vietnamese personnel as part of additional efforts to boost security cooperation with Southeast Asia, the Nikkei said.

In the fiscal 2013 budget draft, 2.5 billion yen has been allotted for such expenditure, it said.

Last month, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida visited Manila and called for stronger ties with the Philippines to help ensure regional peace.

Japan's coastguard last month said it would create a special unit comprising 10 new large patrol boats to boost its surveillance of the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.

The long-running row over the islands intensified in September when Tokyo nationalised part of the chain, triggering fury in Beijing and huge anti-Japan demonstrations across China.

In the most serious high-seas incident yet, Japan last week said that a Chinese frigate locked its weapon-targeting radar on a Japanese navy vessel on January 30. China has angrily denied the charge.


Japan plans to give patrol boats to Manila - report - InterAksyon.com

 

[Viet]

@WuMaoCleverbot

Not bad, very generous from the Japanese. $11 million each per boat. Philippines can expect 10 vessels, so $110 mil. I read you have some $100 bil forex, just wonder why Japan donates and not sell?

 

[Soryu]

@WuMaoCleverbot

Not bad, very generous from the Japanese. $11 million each per boat. Philippines can expect 10 vessels, so $110 mil. I read you have some $100 bil forex, just wonder why Japan donates and not sell?

Well, News appeared in long time ago, some sources said Japan donates for free, some said with credits, and some said Japan sell the ships.
I think second or third story is more realistic.

 

[Viet]

Vietnam courts India as likely protector in sea spat

Nirmala Ganapathy/ The Straits Times
Publication Date : 18-01-2013

As China continues to press its claims on islands in the South China Sea, worrying far smaller rivals, Vietnam is cozying up to a potential protector - India.

Top Indian and Vietnamese officials have been busy visiting each other, and are planning more flights and more trade between the two nations.

"There is some increase in engagement... and China is a factor in bilateral ties," said Professor Srikanth Kondapalli at Jawaharlal Nehru University. "Vietnam also would like to have somebody who can help them in the South China Sea."

India is not directly involved in the long-time territorial dispute, but its oil exploration there has irritated China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the Paracel and Spratly group of islands, putting it in direct confrontation with Vietnam and the Philippines.

While India is not ready to play any role in the territorial claims, it has been quietly stepping up its engagement with Vietnam on other fronts.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari (Photo: VNA)


On a four-day visit that ended yesterday, India's Vice-President Hamid Ansari called Vietnam a "a regional power in Southeast Asia". And when Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh visited India last week, India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid described Vietnam as a "major pillar of India's Look East policy".

Vietnam has been urging India to play a direct role in the South China Sea dispute, even persuading India to continue exploring for gas till March next year in a block off the Vietnamese coast, an area claimed by China.

India and Vietnam have agreed to add flights this year between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Delhi and set up a joint commission for trade. India is building a cultural centre in Hanoi.

Indian conglomerate Tata is in talks with Vietnam's officials to finalise a site to build a US$5 billion steel plant.

"Our close ties and cooperation with Vietnam are important in the context of the new trends that are emerging in the region and also in the context of the emerging regional architecture," said Sanjay Bhattacharyya, a joint secretary in India's Ministry of External Affairs.

Indian companies are already involved in 70 projects in Vietnam in areas like agriculture, fertilisers and IT with the two countries looking at increasing their bilateral trade from US$4 billion last year to US$7 billion by 2015.

India has given Vietnam a line of credit of around US$4.6 billion, most of which is for a hydropower project.

While Vietnam has obvious economic interests in courting India, another factor is "the fear of China", said Dr Sachin Chaturvedi, a senior fellow at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries, an autonomous think-tank under the Ministry of External Affairs.

"Vietnam sees India as a more pragmatic partner," he said.

Nor has India completely ruled out intervening in the South China Sea dispute.

Last month, India's navy chief D.K. Joshi said the navy would respond if India's interests were involved.

"Not that we expect to be in those waters very, very frequently, but when the requirement is there, for example in situations where our country's interests are involved, we will be required to go there," he said.

 

[Zero_wing]

Well, News appeared in long time ago, some sources said Japan donates for free, some said with credits, and some said Japan sell the ships.
I think second or third story is more realistic.

Its a soft loan just like any other Japanese assistance we been getting a lot of that lately our economy is picking maybe is the reason

 

[Malaya]

Philippines draws German backing on sea disputes with China
By Fat Reyes in Manila/Philippine Daily Inquirer | Asia News Network – Fri, Feb 8, 2013

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - [B]A German foreign minister yesterday expressed his country's support for the Philippine position to solve its sea disputes with China under international law,[/B] saying that peaceful resolution was best for the two countries.

In a press briefing yesterday, German Federal Foreign Minister Guido said that the Philippines' territorial disputes with China over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) were discussed during a meeting with Philippine diplomats and officials and that his country remained supportive of peaceful resolution of the disputes.

"We appeal to all sides to resolve all the questions in accordance with international law and in a peaceful and cooperative way," Westerwelle said in a statement.
Westerwelle and a 12-man delegation from Germany were in Manila for a two-day visit, the first by Germany's top diplomat to the Philippines in 12 years.

For his part, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said that he conveyed to his foreign counterpart the Philippine initiative to bring the territorial disputes before an arbitral tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) to "clearly establish the county's sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea."

"I asked him to continue supporting the Philippine effort for a peaceful and durable solution to this dispute," Del Rosario said in a statement.

Westerwelle, when asked by reporters to explain Germany's support, Del Rosario said that a German professor of international public law was appointed as a judge to the tribunal, and that "all countries in the region, the European Union, have an interest in a stable and peaceful development."

"The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Chinese economies are closely linked by a free trade agreement and this shows us (that) everyone gains from cooperation and not confrontation," Westerwelle added.

In its "notification of statement and claim" filed before the UN, the Philippines said that it had appointed Judge Rudiger Wolfrum, a German professor of international law who served as president of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea from 2005 to 2008, as part of the arbitral panel .

China claims nearly the entire West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), while the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan have claims to parts of it.

Invoking the Unclos, the Philippines haled China to the UN arbitral tribunal in hopes of compelling Beijing to respect Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf encompassing territories in the West Philippine Sea.

China, however, had maintained that it has indisputable sovereignty over the area and that talks should only be on a bilateral basis with the countries directly involved.

Del Rosario, during the briefing, noted that based on his understanding, the Philippines' international partners, including the European Union, had taken the position that "we should seek a peaceful resolution to this dispute and the process of arbitration is considered a peaceful means in seeking this resolution."

Del Rosario also noted that the Philippines and Germany were taking steps to "re-invigorate defence relations" and that a delegation from the German Ministry of Defence (MOD) would be visiting Manila next week to "conduct bilateral discussions" with Philippine defence officials.

Asked whether discussions would involve exchanges in military training or procurement of defence equipment, Del Rosario just said that years ago, the two countries had an agreement which led to the training of Philippine military men in Germany and that the visit of German defence officials was part of a "current initiative to revisit and expand that."

"There will be a German military delegation that will be arriving to revisit this initiative and to work themselves into the possible drafting of a memorandum of understanding that would formalise other means of cooperation," he said.

It was a good sign that our country is getting more support in International Community especially Europe.

Lets continue our fight in diplomatic way and peaceful means while we are building our country's credible defense system. It will takes time to become fully equipped militarily but we have to be serious and our government should strengthen and enhance more relations to gain support.

 

[Malaya]

Philippines expects to get 10 Japanese patrol boats

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines said Tuesday it expects to get 10 new Japanese patrol boats within 18 months, as it tries to strengthen its sea defense capabilities amid a deepening territorial row with China.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the boats were 40-meter (132-foot) vessels to be used by the Philippine coast guard.

“With the approval of Japanese parliament, the boats could be ready by next year,” Del Rosario said in a text message.

“All 10 are financed by official development assistance from Japan and are soft loans,” he said without specifying the cost of each boat.

DFA spokesman and Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez has said that Manila asked Tokyo in December for the loan program for 10 patrol boats.

“This is actually to upgrade the equipment of our Philippine Coast Guard for it to be able to do its mandate to monitor our seas, and make sure that there will be no intrusions in our maritime zones,” Hernandez said.

The Nikkei, a Japanese business daily, reported on Monday that Japan planned to donate patrol boats costing $11 million each to the Philippines, a move it linked to regional efforts to monitor China’s maritime activity.

Japan and the Philippines are embroiled in separate territorial disputes with China.

The Philippines’ dispute with China involves overlapping claims to parts of the South China Sea, which is believed to sit above vast amounts of oil and gas.

China claims most of the South China Sea, including waters approaching the coast of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.

Tensions between China and the Philippines escalated dramatically in April last year when vessels from both countries became locked in a standoff at Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground.

The shoal is about 230 kilometers (140 miles) west of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon. The Philippines says that China has maintained vessels at the shoal to bolster its claim, reneging on an agreement to pull them out.

The Philippines has conceded its poorly equipped navy and coast guard are of little deterrence to China.

Their fleets are made up mostly of ageing, second-hand vessels, many of which date back to World War II.

Philippines expects to get 10 Japanese patrol boats | Inquirer Global Nation

 

[Khitan21]

Although this thread is not about Vietnam, I can share my thoughts with you, my 10-point plan to resolve the dispute in the South China Sea. I posted the points some time ago. The idea is based on the current status-quo and a peaceful approach:

1# China abandons the 9-dash-claim
2# Vietnam accepts China sovereignty over Paracels including surrounding territorial waters (12 nautical miles)
3# China accepts Vietnam sovereignty over currently occupied Spratly islands including surrounding territorial waters (12 nautical miles)
4# Vietnam accepts China sovereignty over currently occupied Spratly islands including surrounding territorial waters (12 nautical miles)
5# both China and Vietnam give each other fishing rights in surrounding waters of Paracels and Spratlys, both cooperate in searching for oil/gas reserves in the SCS
6# China accepts Vietnam´s EEZ and continential shelf (200 nautical miles and beyond)
7# the SCS administratively to divide into 2 halfs (check map: the parralel line under Paracel islands), North part goes to China, South to Vietnam
8# China and Vietnam sign a 50-year non-aggression pact
9# China and Vietnam guarantee free navigation to all nations
10# China and Vietnam agree on regulary join patrols along the common sea border

That sounds like a great plan, I wonder why the Two Nations haven't talked more about this? I understand why China needs spartly islands; Not so much wanting the resource but rather China doesn't want to be contained by the US, but I think China can resolve that issue by working with Vietnam instead of claiming sovereignty over the entire spartly islands, that way China won't be as contained and they will have a more friendlier relationship with Vietnam

 

[Soryu]

That sounds like a great plan, I wonder why the Two Nations haven't talked more about this? I understand why China needs spartly islands; Not so much wanting the resource but rather China doesn't want to be contained by the US, but I think China can resolve that issue by working with Vietnam instead of claiming sovereignty over the entire spartly islands, that way China won't be as contained and they will have a more friendlier relationship with Vietnam

I think VN has never accept that!
Not like dispute with other country in SCS, China and Vietnam have conflict at both Paracel and Spratly Islands which battles began from China side to occupied Islands from Vietnam with military forces.