South China Sea Forum

[rott]

Wow, another Viet Nam News stuff.

We also know how groundless Vietnam news stuffs are.

 

[Viva_Viet]

We also know how groundless Vietnam news stuffs are.

Hard slap to China's face, huh

Mr. Surasit Thanadtang is Major-General in Thai Royal army (and he's pro-VN ). U can come and ask him again abt ur nine-dash line's claim

VN should support him to become Chief of royal Thai army

 

[Malaya]

Air Force defies China protest, to push with airstrip upgrade
Written by Mario J. Mallari Thursday, 19 June 2014

The planned upgrade of an airstrip on Pagasa Island in the contested Spratlys will go ahead despite opposition from China, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) yesterday said.

Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, however, stressed the government is “careful” in proceeding with the repair and upgrade of the airstrip, which has been there since the 1970s, so as not to be misconstrued by other claimant-countries.

The dispute between Manila and Beijing is over competing claims to parts of the South China Sea.

China claims nearly all of the sea, including waters close to the coasts of the Philippines and other claimant countries.
The Philippines has lodged repeated protests in recent years over China’s growing military and civilian presence on islands and in waters within what it considers as its exclusive economic zone.

Most recently, the Philippines has accused China of creating artificial islands on tiny islets and reefs, possibly as a prelude to building military installations.

At a press briefing after the courtesy call of the officers of the Defense Press Corps (DPC) to the PAF leadership, Delgado said the 1.3-kilometer air strip really needs repairs after the project was met with some “hitches” during the previous years, including lack of funds.

“We are addressing that, there were only hitches during the previous years. There was a time due to lack of funds...(and now) there are funds... the bottom line, we need to repair that but on how, that is being addressed now,” he added.

China had earlier accused the Philippine government of “double standard” for calling for a moratorium on all land formation activities in the disputed West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea while a code of conduct is yet to be agreed upon.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying reacted by picking on the air strip repair project on Pagasa Island, which China calls Zhongye Islands, accusing the Philippine government of building a world-class airport on the area.

“That is why we are also being careful on this because we have to clear it with the national government if we can pursue this... these are still plans,” said Delgado.

For his part, PAF Chief of Air Staff Maj. Gen. Edgar Fallorina said a winning bidder was already declared by the Department of National Defense (DND) for the first phase of the project, which is under the Philippine Navy.

“So far it’s a go,” he added.

Fallorina said the project was divided into two phases – the first phase is composed of providing an approach which includes dredging activities for the construction materials to be transported to the island under the Philippine Navy.

“The second part of the project is for the runway itself. So right now, we are content with the Navy project first and hopefully it will be finished this year,” he stressed.

Pagasa Island is part of the Kalayaan islands group (KIGs) or the Spratlys.

Hua also stressed China’s sovereignty over the Spratlys.

The government has allotted P480 million for the repair and upgrade of the 1.3-kilometer airstrip on Pagasa Island, the second largest island in the Spratlys.

The Air Force has also intensified its air patrols in the West Philippine Sea amid increased activities by China in the area.

“We have been there everyday...we are conducting almost every day patrol at the West Philippine Sea,” Delgado said.

He added around 12 to 10 foreign vessels are being sighted in the disputed areas during patrols.

“But it trickles down, at least three or four, so it depends on the level of activities that they are pursuing out there,” Delgado said.

He added the information obtained by air patrols is immediately forwarded to the DND and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“Right now, based on our role as far as territorial defense is concerned, is that we provide the needed information to higher headquarters as far as our patrols are concerned; we provide the things that we see from above as we conduct our air patrols to higher headquarters for their perusal, that’s our role for the moment, we provide the necessary air intelligence information,” he said.

At present, PAF reconnaissance flights are concentrating on Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) which lies 124 nautical miles off Zambales and Ayungin Shoal which is around 140 nautical miles from Palawan.

Delgado also reiterated the PAF’s commitment to defend the country’s airspace in the South China Sea despite its current shortage of equipment and growing assertiveness of China.

 

[tbquestion]

China has started moving a second rig into the SCS. I thought they would remove the first rig in August, now they adding a second rig. This is what I predicted in my earlier post. China is pushing Vietnam to make concession by adding so many rigs so soon.

 

[tbquestion]

I thought America was the real imperialist not China. I don't know what is worse for the Vietnamese people, the leadership(party, generals)that left Vietnam in this predicament or China. So sad. So many lives are lost in the Vietnam war only to find out that your real enemy is the bully from the North. For 40 yrs you have done the bidding of this bully and only to have it do this to you. Yesterday, the bully send its FM to Vietnam not for peace, but to tell you shut up. You threaten to take legal action against the bully before and it told you not to. So you obey it. Now it add a second rig. I guess the VCP must sleep well at night knowing that they have left their people and future generation in this mess. Brilliant. One party, but half a brain.

 

[sincity]

I thought America was the real imperialist not China. I don't know what is worse for the Vietnamese people, the leadership(party, generals)that left Vietnam in this predicament or China. So sad. So many lives are lost in the Vietnam war only to find out that your real enemy is the bully from the North. For 40 yrs you have done the bidding of this bully and only to have it do this to you. Yesterday, the bully send its FM to Vietnam not for peace, but to tell you shut up. You threaten to take legal action against the bully before and it told you not to. So you obey it. Now it add a second rig. I guess the VCP must sleep well at night knowing that they have left their people and future generation in this mess. Brilliant. One party, but half a brain.

What did Vietnamese lost in the SCS? Vietnam can send their own oil rigs there to drill for oil same as China, both drill oil in SCS. No one will lose anything but both country will gain all the oil they find in the SCS.

 

[BuddhaPalm]

Yet Thailand votes against Vietnam Philippines agenda in ASEAN every single time

 

[Malaya]

Yet Thailand votes against Vietnam Philippines agenda in ASEAN every single time

proof please

 

[IsaacNewton]

I feel that China gets far too much hate for the 9 dash line.
The Vietnamese claim over SCS is just as ridiculous (vietnam also claim both spartly and paracel).
China won't be called a bully if it was smaller, just 4 powers (CN, VN, PH, MY) fighting over the same islands.

 

[Malaya]

Now China will spank Philippines with our oil platform.

Bring it on. Since you started it. We will also do the same. As our economy grows. We will soon develop our 7 occupied islands and 3 reefs in Spratlys. We will build a fortress, a pier and pave the runway to all those islands. We don't need to make a fake or build an artificial islands because we have lots of real one to be developed. Anyway here is the good news.

Philippines, Vietnam can share disputed sea – envoy
Joint exploration, however, won't work with China. Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Truong Trieu Duong says it will be like recognizing China's claim and falling into its trap.

MANILA, Philippines – To keep peace and stability in the South China Sea, the Philippines and Vietnam can share marine resources in the disputed waters, the Vietnamese ambassador told Rappler as tensions rise between Hanoi and Beijing.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Truong Trieu Duong, however, said the same idea will not work with China.
“From my own point of view, I think that we can share and we can put aside differences, and we can jointly cooperate with each other to explore it,” Duong said weeks after China allegedly attacked Vietnamese vessels in the South China Sea and injured 6.

The 58-year-old ambassador explained that overlapping claims between the Philippines and Vietnam, after all, involve only “some small areas.” China, on the other hand, is claiming virtually the entire South China Sea – parts of which the Philippines claims as the West Philippine Sea, and as for Vietnam, the East Sea.

“The Philippines and Vietnam, we have some small areas. It's different. But for China, if we put differences aside and jointly cooperate with each other, like it or not, well, and in fact, it's just like recognizing China's claim – just like recognizing China's claim because China is claiming the whole sea,” Duong said.

“So we'll fall into the trap of China,” he said.

'That goodwill evaporated'

China has pushed for the joint exploration of the disputed waters – but always under the premise that it exercises indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea.

In 2005, Vietnam joined the Philippines and China in an agreement to jointly explore the disputed waters. The Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking expired in 2008 without the government extending it, however, in the face of public criticism. (READ: SC asked: Void expired PH-China offshore oil exploration pact)

In 2013, Vietnam and China again “agreed to establish a maritime work group for joint development at sea,” the Voice of America (VOA) reported. Duong Danh Dy, former Vietnamese consul general to Guangzhou, China, however dismissed this agreement as “just diplomatic rhetoric.”

“Vietnamese and Chinese interests over the South China Sea are like fire and water. Both countries claim sovereignty over the disputed islands in the area. The Chinese government has a long-term expansionist goal and it is willing to wait for an opportunity in 10, 20, 30, or even 100 years. It would not give up the South China Sea unless China is weakened,” the diplomat said, according to VOA.

The New York Times also noted Vietnam and China's announcement in 2013 “that they would try to find ways to jointly develop oil and gas fields.” “That goodwill evaporated,” however, because of the oil rig incident this year, the New York Times said.

Vietnam on Philippines: 'We can talk'

For now, then, one of Vietnam's best options is to boost ties with the Philippines as it did on Sunday, June 8, in a landmark act of sports diplomacy aimed to ease tensions in the South China Sea.

He said the two countries, for one, belong to the same regional bloc – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Both countries also signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, a key regional declaration in 2002 that upholds “self-restraint” in activities that will worsen the sea disputes.

“The Philippines and Vietnam, we are kind of a peaceful people. And we do not want to overpower one another, so we can talk. We can talk,” he said.

In contrast, he said: “China does not want to talk. It resorts to...some kind of forceful measures, in defiance of international law.”

When asked if Vietnam is considering filing a case against the Philippines over the South China Sea, Duong said: “No. Never. That would be unthinkable – because between the Philippines and Vietnam, we are now having...very good relations.... And it's not worth fighting when we can still solve everything peacefully.”

The most important thing he wants to stress, Duong said, is that the Philippines and Vietnam should “stand united” so they could “win.”

“We are on the same side.”

 

[Beast]

Just another powerless Thai general talks. Just last month Thai chief of army visit China. This kind of institute general has no influence with this kind of attention seeking talk.

 

[Raphael]

Does this "Surasit Thanadtang" even exist? A google search of his name literally only shows VN webpages. Either he's a complete nobody, or VN journalists went inside their jungle, found an ordinary rice-farmer, dressed him up in military fatigues, and took a photo.

 

[Viet]

Does this "Surasit Thanadtang" even exist? A google search of his name literally only shows VN webpages. Either he's a complete nobody, or VN journalists went inside their jungle, found an ordinary rice-farmer, dressed him up in military fatigues, and took a photo.

either you are lazy or dumb. here is one link.

Royal Thai Armed Forces

3.Major General Surasit Thanadtang
Director of Strategic Studies Center
Strategic Studies Center, National Defence Studies Institute
62 Vibhavadi- Rangsit Road, Dindaeng
Bangkok 10400
E-mail: s_thanadtang@yahoo.com

ASEAN Defence Establishments and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Cooperation on Non-Traditional Security

 

[BuddhaPalm]

Even after China spanked Vietnam with oil platform 981 and grabbed Scarborough Shoal, Vietnam and Philippines are still isolated in ASEAN.

 

[Raphael]

either you are lazy or dumb. here is one link.

Royal Thai Armed Forces

3.Major General Surasit Thanadtang
Director of Strategic Studies Center
Strategic Studies Center, National Defence Studies Institute
62 Vibhavadi- Rangsit Road, Dindaeng
Bangkok 10400
E-mail: s_thanadtang@yahoo.com

ASEAN Defence Establishments and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Cooperation on Non-Traditional Security

It's interesting he has no official Thai profile page, and instead depends on some ASEAN website. Furthermore, he relies on a yahoo email, not even a government email. In a university, even a visiting researcher would get their own profile page and email inbox. Finally, his bookshelf looks so cheap - even the bookshelves in China's most rural primary school would be better. It just goes to show that 'major general' is a low rank, and the Thai government cannot waste funds on nobodies like him. Struggling people like him are desperate for money - he probably accepted bribes to say whatever the journalists told him to say.