Tag: South China Sea

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China paradoxically breaks rules to assert SCS control

China says its actions are “professional, restrained and appropriate”, but there is unanimous condemnation of Chinese behaviour….reports Asian Lite News

China’s twisting of the truth is becoming increasingly bizarre as it attempts to drive the Philippines out of its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.

Clashes on and over this troubled sea have become more regular in the past 18 months, as Beijing ramps up its aggression.

The latest incident occurred on 31 August, when China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel ‘5205’ deliberately rammed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel ‘9701’ several times near Sabina Shoal, 75 nautical miles from the Palawan coast. The Philippines has permanently deployed this vessel there since April, after China secretly sought to develop the shoal into an artificial island, just as it has done in other places in the South China Sea.

The presence of two tugboats of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) suggested that China might even have been seeking to tow the Philippine vessel away after immobilizing it. Such an intention was inferred on 26 August as a formidable Type 055 cruiser of the PLAN tailed a pair of small PCG boats sailing to resupply ‘9701’ at Sabina Shoal.

The two small PCG vessels found themselves surrounded by six CCG vessels and three PLAN warships. The PLAN warned them, “This is China warship. We’re taking measures to control Philippine Coast Guard ship ‘9701’, which is illegally staying in Xianbin Jiao [the Chinese name for Sabina Shoal]. You’ll not be allowed to enter Xianbin Jiao to carry out any replenishment.”

In fact, this was the fifth time in August alone that China had confronted Philippine law enforcement vessels or aircraft within the Philippines EEZ.

China’s version of events at Sabina Shoal, that the PCG boat “provoked troubles in an unprofessional and dangerous way and intentionally rammed into the CCG ship,” was far from the truth. Lyle Morris, Senior Fellow for Foreign Policy and National Security at the Asia Policy Center for China Analysis, commented, “No, this is actually the CCG deliberately ramming the PCG vessel. The CCG’s actions and behavior are a threat to the safety and security of the PCG and its crew, and should be condemned by all law-abiding nations.”

Indeed, video footage released by the PCG clearly showed that the Chinese vessel deliberately rammed the Philippine boat three times. Incidentally, a US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was circling overhead at the time of the incident.

Liu Dejun, a CCG spokesperson, said, “The Chinese coast guard will take the measures required to resolutely thwart all acts of provocation, nuisance and infringement and resolutely safeguard the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”

Beijing also routinely accuses Manila of “sensationalizing the South China Sea issue and tarnishing China’s international image”. However, China is successfully damaging its own image without anyone’s assistance.

China says its actions are “professional, restrained and appropriate”, but there is unanimous condemnation of Chinese behaviour. After the latest Sabina Shoal incident, Matthew Miller, the US Department of State spokesperson, said, “The PRC’s unlawful claims of ‘territorial sovereignty’ over ocean areas where no land exists, and its increasingly aggressive actions to enforce them, threaten the freedoms of navigation and overflight of all nations.”

The same US statement reasserted that Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty “extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft – including those of its coast guard – anywhere in the South China Sea”.

Shortly thereafter, Chen Xidi, a researcher at the China Institute for Marine Affairs of the Ministry of Natural Resources, contributed an opinion piece to the Chinese tabloid Global Times. He wrote that the Philippines “is continuously making unilateral provocations and intensifying disputes, trying to satisfy the demands of some countries outside the region seeking to unsettle the South China Sea and contain China, in exchange for vague and distant ‘support’, ‘aid’ and ‘guarantee’.”

Chen threatened, “Until Manila fundamentally changes its mindset of using the South China Sea issue for geopolitical speculation, China is fully prepared both psychologically and in action for any possible backtracking or provocation by the Philippines. If the Philippines attempts to move forward one step, China will firmly push it back. China will not allow the Philippines to gain any advantage.”

China’s ongoing actions and threats also make a mockery of a bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea. In July, China and the Philippines agreed to a “provisional arrangement” to de-escalate the tense situation. However, as many find out, guarantees issued by China are often not worth the paper upon which they are written.

China hides behind phrases like “indisputable sovereignty” and “in accordance with the law and regulations”. However, the Permanent Court of Arbitration declared in 2016 that China’s sweeping South China Sea territorial claims had no legal basis. It is laughable that China now sometimes appeals to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international regulations to criticize the Philippines.

Four key elements of UNCLOS are defining maritime zones (i.e. establishing rules for delimiting state maritime boundaries); balancing coastal-state rights and international freedoms; protecting the marine environment; and stabilizing through the dispute resolution process.

Peter Alan Dutton, a professor at the Stockton Centre for International Law at the US Naval War College, warned in a report for the UK-based Council on Geostrategy, “The PRC, however, is systematically and dangerously undermining each of these foundational elements, threatening to return the global maritime domain to its former state of instability.” Dutton explained: “Beijing asserts it has ancient rights to make maritime claims its own way, despite its ratification of UNCLOS in 1996, and claims domestic jurisdiction to enforce them. In doing so, it weakens the principles underpinning UNCLOS, leaving international law of the sea in danger of further unraveling.”

In terms of maritime territory, China’s ambiguous Nine-Dash Line claim in the South China Sea “is entirely divorced from the cardinal principle that the land dominates the sea,” Dutton highlighted. Its unilateral claim of 2.7 million km2 of water space has been entirely refuted under international law, and China can never overturn that 2016 decision.

Unfortunately, since then, Beijing “has escalated its use of coercion to force acceptance of its claims. The effect is to deny Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia the resource rights which international law unambiguously allocates to them.”

China has performed a number of brazen violations of international law, such as employing active sonar against Australian naval divers in November 2023. Flouting the environmental provisions of UNCLOS, China dredged up 100 square miles of healthy coral reefs too, severely damaged the underwater environment, when it built seven artificial islands from 2013-15.

UNCLOS provides a compulsory dispute resolution process and, while China accepts the

benefits of the convention, it refuses to submit to its responsibilities. This was demonstrated by officials vehemently advocating no acceptance, no participation, no recognition and no implementation of the 2016 ruling. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared the “award is null and void and has no binding force. China neither accepts nor recognizes it.”

Dutton of the US Naval War College assessed, “Until the PRC’s challenge, UNCLOS had brought decades of steadily advancing maritime order and stability because it provided a single set of rules which balanced fairly the interests of all states. But the PRC’s approach to the four foundational elements of UNCLOS has steadily gutted the universality of its provisions. As a state with substantial power and influence in the international system, the PRC is inherently, and inescapably, a rule-maker. In breaking down the careful tradeoffs in UNCLOS, the PRC creates room for others to follow its approaches and threatens to reverse historical advances in maritime order.”

In a telephonic conference, ANI asked Rear Admiral Andrew M. Sugimoto, Deputy Commander of the US Coast Guard (USCG) Pacific Area, about the best ways to counter China’s mounting aggression. He replied: “One is to demonstrate what those international rules-based orders are that are so important for us to follow, and for us to lead by example, along with our partners. It’s to point out those transgressions that occur from nations that are counter to those things, and help them understand how the rest of the world wants to operate.”

Rear Admiral Sugimoto said too, “We unequivocally condemn the ramming of vessels. The whole point of rules on the water is so that we don’t run into each other, and so this is a clear act of bullying by one individual that wants to exert its influences over another nation with complete disregard for the rules and the international law that exists.”

The USCG official noted that global consensus does matter, and that if the world continues to condemn China’s actions, then “perhaps they’ll change the way they do business”. He added: “China wants to be seen as a member of the world that has a set of rules and enforces it, but whenever they do things like ramming or water cannoning unarmed vessels, it does not appear to be so. When they uphold the rules themselves and they stand and lead by example, that’s when the rest of the world will notice that they are in fact world leaders and not bullies.”

However, this hope appears forlorn. In order to illegally grab maritime territory in the South China Sea, Beijing is willing to pay a reputational price, as the number of dangerous incidents by Chinese ships and aircraft has surged.

Rear Admiral Sugimoto, whose headquarters is in Alameda, California, said he is “grateful for the professional and truly safe way in which the Philippines has responded back to this, because it really demonstrates that this nation, the Philippines, do stand for the conduct that we all recognize is what we want in this world, and not that of the other individual that keeps bullying smaller nations”.

He said the PCG is like family to the USCG. “We’re working with the Philippine Coast Guard in a number of different ways through training, through helping them with the organization and buildout of the Philippine Coast Guard.” The USCG has transferred vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard, and helped them with operations and maintenance.

“We’re looking for whatever the Philippine Coast Guard wants us to help them with. That’s what we’re here for in training, capacity building, legal structures, building out the laws necessary to support them, maritime domain awareness, any of those things.”

Rear Admiral Sugimoto continued, “…We stand together with the Philippines and we condemn the actions of aggressive individuals that do such things as ram or try to prevent humanitarian supplies from reaching individuals resupplying their fellow citizens…” He pointed out that using water cannons to flood or sink vessels is “not what we call safe and professional operations”.

Rear Admiral Sugimoto said the USA upholds the very standards that China is flouting. “We’re a firm believer in reinforcing the right of every nation to be able to transit freely, as long as they do so in accordance with customary law and international law. It’s an important part of upholding rules-based order. Similarly…we do not aggressively harass Chinese vessels or other vessels in the world when they come north into the Arctic off of Alaska or in other places. We respect their right to transit when they want to go through the Aleutian Islands, and so we expect the same ability to do so wherever we are in international waters to be able to freely and safely navigate according to those rules that are out there.”

Sugimoto asked which international rules condone ramming as a measure for upholding international law, especially when collision regulations are designed to prevent vessels from hitting each other. He put it succinctly, “So it’s a little astounding to say that I’m going to break the law in order to uphold the law. It just doesn’t make sense, and I think most nations out there see that as unsafe and unprofessional conduct, which only highlights and further emphasizes the bullying that is going on, right?” (ANI)

ALSO READ: US slams China’s aggressive actions in South China Sea 

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Jaishankar Urges ‘Effective’ Code Of Conduct For SCS

Jaishankar stressed that a “substantive and effective” code of conduct should be in place that is “consistent with international law and should not prejudice legitimate rights and interest of nations not party to the discussions”.

The Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) passing through the South China Sea are crucial for peace, stability, prosperity, and development of the Indo-Pacific Region, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said at the 14th East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministerial meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on Saturday.

He stressed that a “substantive and effective” code of conduct should be in place that is “consistent with international law and should not prejudice legitimate rights and interest of nations not party to the discussions”.

“The EAS process completes two decades next year and India will contribute towards a stronger EAS process,” he said in a post on X, mentioning the statements he conveyed at the meeting.

He said the Act East Policy, announced at that 9th EAS, has completed a decade, and India will continue to “uphold ASEAN unity and centrality through our Act East Policy.”

The EAM emphasised that India remains a steadfast supporter of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and values its convergence with the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

Additionally, he stressed that the country encourages more EAS members to join the IPOI.

He said India has consistently contributed towards the EAS Plan of Action, citing the summit conference on Maritime Security and Cooperation held in Mumbai on July 4-5.

Jaishankar also mentioned the realisation of the Nalanda University resolution, highlighting it as an “important commitment” to the EAS.

Calling for de-escalation and restraint in Gaza, the EAM said, “India continues to extend humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine. Attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea are concerning. India is independently contributing to ensuring the safety and security of maritime shipping.”

On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he maintained the importance of dialogue and diplomacy, recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He also said that India “stands ready to contribute” in any manner possible.

Underlining the significance of EAS in bringing together nations at a time when “differences are sharp and interests are diverse”, the EAM said, “India will always stand firm in its commitment to the EAS process.”

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SCS tensions: A revisit to China’s old tactics

Experts suggest that China’s provocative actions in the South China Sea are not only acts of aggression but also attempts to drag the US to the brink of war….reports Asian Lite News

Chinese coast guards engaged in a confrontation with Filipino sailors in waters controlled by the Philippines while these boats were transporting daily supplies to the Philippine military. According to visuals released by the Philippine military, the behaviour of the Chinese coast guards resembled that of non-state actors such as pirates rather than a state military. 

The disturbing footage shows three Chinese boats aggressively attempting to overtake the Filipino vessel. During the ensuing scuffle, Chinese coast guards brandished knives and used strobe lights to obscure the cameras recording the aggression.

They rammed the Filipino boat, seizing and destroying essential supplies meant for the troops. One Filipino sailor lost his thumb in the attack.

These visuals are reminiscent of Chinese aggression in disputed territories, similar to the Galwan Valley clash during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and 40 Chinese soldiers.

At the core of this dispute are China’s erratic claims over the South China Sea.

What is at the heart of the Dispute

The South China Sea, located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, is a shared maritime area involving China, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian nations. China arbitrarily claims the largest portion of this maritime space.

The South China Sea is globally significant, with around $3 trillion of international trade passing through it annually.

Additionally, it is rich in natural resources, including substantial oil and gas reserves.

As China ascended to economic power, it began asserting its erratic claims over territories already historically demarcated by other South-East Asian states.

In 2016, due to these contentious claims, the Philippines initiated an international arbitration action against China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favour of the Philippines, finding no legal basis for China’s claims.

China, however, responded negatively to the arbitration ruling and refused to accept the binding decision. In response to China’s aggressive stance in the region, major Southeast Asian powers, including the ten ASEAN members, Japan, India, Australia, and the US, have attempted to establish mechanisms for a free and open Indo-Pacific, which China opposes.

The recent confrontation between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea is not an isolated incident.

To strengthen its claim, the Philippines positioned a World War II-era ship, the Sierra Madre, on the partially submerged Second Thomas Shoal in 1999, stationing marines on it.

Over the past 25 years, the Philippines has consistently supplied essentials to the ship.

In 2021, China typically deployed only one ship during these resupply missions, but by 2023, this number had increased to an average of 14 ships. In one operation in December of last year, researchers identified at least 46 Chinese ships monitoring the second Thomas Shoal.

China continually provoking Philippines

The June 2024 incident is one of many aggressive acts by China in recent years, each escalating in provocation.

For instance, on April 30 this year, near the contentious Scarborough Shoal, Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at two Philippine patrol boats. Philippine officials indicated that water cannons could damage their ship engines or even capsize smaller vessels.

A similar incident occurred in March when Chinese coast guards fired water cannons near Philippine boats, injuring several crew members.

The Philippines has a longstanding security treaty with the US, one of the oldest such agreements between the US and its Asian allies.

This treaty stipulates that the US will assist the Philippines in the event of an attack or war-like situation. The Philippines has clarified that this protection extends to attacks on its coast guard.

Experts suggest that China’s provocative actions in the South China Sea are not only acts of aggression but also attempts to drag the US to the brink of war.

In his keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this year, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declared that any fatalities resulting from the ongoing standoff with Beijing in the South China Sea would be “very, very close to… an act of war”.

Responding to a question on US-Philippines mutual defense, he asserted that “we would have crossed the Rubicon” in such a scenario.

Conclusion

China has actively provoked nearly all of its neighbours, with the exception of Russia. Central to its aggression is the desire for hegemonic and authoritarian dominance in Asia.

China has consistently antagonised its neighbours, including India, Japan, Vietnam, and now the Philippines.

This pattern has intensified since Xi Jinping ascended to power. Experts describe this behaviour as ‘bluff brinkmanship’, where China’s grey zone military maneouvers, whether in the Galwan Valley or the South China Sea, have jeopardised regional security to assert its dominance.

Similar tactics were evident in the recent clash involving knives and fists between China and the Philippines.

Should a soldier use a lethal weapon next time, it could escalate into full-scale war.

Notably, post-pandemic, China’s economy is faltering, causing anxiety for Xi Jinping’s authoritarian regime, which may explain the surge in skirmishes over the past decade.

The international community must address China’s ongoing military escalation, while the threatened powers need to develop a collective strategy to counter its aggression.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sworn in as Philippines’ 17th President.(photo: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbidV2368058591112&set=pb.100044537672013.-2207520000 )

‘Philippines won’t get intimidated’

Amid China’s growing aggression, Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has said that the nation would not be intimidated by Beijing’s expansionist acts.

His remarks came at the headquarters of Philippine South China Sea forces at Palawan island.

According to the Philippine President “In defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that we would like to settle all these issues peacefully.”

During the visit to the headquarters, Marcos awarded medals to 80 sailors who took part in the resupply mission, and urged the sailors to continue defending their nation despite the situation being “dangerous”.

Quoting Marcos as saying, Al Jazeera reported that the Philippines will continue to exercise its freedom.

“We will never be intimidated or oppressed by anyone. Continue to exercise our freedoms and rights in support of our national interest, in accordance with international law,” Marcos said.

The statement came as a response towards the recent incident of a violent clash between Chinese and Philippine sailors near the Second Thomas Shoal about 200 km away from Palawan island.

During that incident, the Chinese forces injured Filipino navy personnel and damaged at least two military boats in the South China Sea.

Additionally, the Filipino sailors also accused Chinese coastguards of stealing and damaging their equipment, the Al Jazeera report claimed.

Previously, the Philippines News Agency (PNA) had reported that the Armed Forces of the Philippines had rejected China’s allegation that a Philippines ship illegally entered its waters and collided with one of its coast guard vessels, terming it “deceptive and misleading of the China Coast Guard.

In a message to reporters, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad stated, “The AFP will not discuss operational details on the legal humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, which is well within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone).” Trinidad added, “We will not dignify the deceptive and misleading claims of the China Coast Guard (CCG),” PNA reported.

The AFP official stressed that the presence and actions of Chinese vessels within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that infringe on Manila’s sovereignty and sovereign rights remain the main issue.

Trinidad said that the China Coast Guard’s continued aggressive actions escalated tensions in the region, according to PNA

The statement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines came after the China Coast Guard (CCG) claimed that a Philippine replenishment ship illegally entered waters near Ren’ai Reef (Chinese name of Ayungin Shoal) on Monday last week, forcing them to take appropriate actions.

Notably, Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef in the Spratlys Islands in the South China Sea (SCS). The BRP Sierra Madre, which is considered an outpost of the Philippine Navy, has been grounded in Ayungin since 1999. (ANI)

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India urges peace in South China Sea

Australian, Japanese, and German officials referred to China’s moves in South China as “dangerous” and “destabilising.”…reports Asian Lite News

Referring to the recent incident of water cannon being used at Philippines supply boat by Chinese coast guard ship, India on Friday said that issues in the South China Sea need to be resolved peacefully while urging China and the Philippines to adhere to international laws.

“Let me emphasize where we are on the South China Sea developments. We’ve always felt that the issues need to be resolved, disputes peacefully, and the rules-based order, and we would certainly urge parties to follow that as well as ensure that no such incidents do not happen,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said when asked whether the tension between China and Philippinesis concerning India.

He further stated, “I mentioned specifically that I have already made a comment regarding the need to adhere to international law. I think I’d leave it at that.”

The “excessive and offensive” use of a water cannon by Chinese ship to block a Filipino supply boat occured at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

He reiterated that India has a long-standing position on the disputes regarding South China Sea as parties need to adhere to international laws.

“We have also underlined the need for peaceful settlement of disputes,” he added.

On August 5, the Philippines accused Chinese Coast Guard ships of firing water cannons and making dangerous manoeuvres at its ships in the South China Sea.

“The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) strongly condemns the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) dangerous manoeuvres and illegal use of water cannons against PCG vessels,” the PCG wrote in a statement shared on its official Facebook account Saturday.

PCG vessels were escorting ships carrying supplies to military troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, in the Spratly Islands chain, known in China as the Nansha Islands.

China’s action received backlash from different countries. By Sunday, Washington, Manila’s principal ally, had denounced China’s actions and reaffirmed that it will uphold its end of the mutual defence pact with the Philippines.

Australian, Japanese, and German officials referred to China’s moves as “dangerous” and “destabilising.”

Meanwhile, China also reacted on the incident and in a response accused the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) of trespassing in its waters.

“Two Filipino supply vessels and two coast guard vessels illegally intruded into the waters adjacent to Renai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands,” Gan Yu, spokesman for the China Coast Guard, said according to the statement published on its website.

“China coast guard implemented the necessary controls in accordance with the law and prevented the Philippine vessels carrying the illegal construction materials. We urge the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringing activities in that maritime area,” Gan Yu said according to the statement.

Beijing has disregarded a 2016 decision from an international court finding that its claim to practically all of the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade flow every year, has legal standing.

On July 12, 2016, the arbitral tribunal ruled in favour of the Philippines on most of its submissions. the arbitral tribunal adjudicating the Philippines’ case against China in the South China Sea ruled overwhelmingly in favour of the Philippines, determining that major elements of China’s claim—including its nine-dash line, recent land reclamation activities, and other activities in Philippine waters—were unlawful, according to the  United States–China Economic and Security Review Commission.

However, China doesn’t accept the ruling, maintaining it was “null and void.” (ANI)

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China quietly flexing muscle in SCS

Indonesia leads ASEAN to counter China's heft in South China Sea(indianarrative)

China and Indonesia are at loggerheads over latest incursions in the South China Sea, writes Baladas Ghoshal

China’s greed for territories and resources, be it in the land or sea is again on display in the South China Sea. When the world is distracted by the ongoing Ukraine war and its geopolitical and economic impacts, it is again quietly flexing its muscles in disputed areas of the South China Sea — in this instance an area of the North Natuna Sea claimed by China and Indonesia. Vessel-tracking data show the Chinese vessel, CCG 5901, has been sailing in the Natuna Sea since 30 December, particularly near the Tuna production sharing contract — administered by Indonesia — and the producing Chim Sao oil and gas field across the maritime border with Vietnam, according to the Indonesian Ocean Justice Initiative.

The timing of China’s latest incursion into contested waters of the Natuna Sea is significant as it mirrors the Indonesian authorities’ approval of the plan of development for Harbour Energy’s Tuna block — close to the Indonesia-Vietnam maritime boundary — for which the UK operator is expected to this year to take the final investment decision. As per the arrangement, the Tuna’s gas would be supplied to Vietnam via a subsea pipeline. Production start-up from the offshore block is scheduled in 2027 with output expected to peak at 115 million cubic feet of gas.

Indonesia has recently decided to divide the Co2-heavy East Natuna gas field into three separate blocks is an effort to revive it as an economic proposition employing new carbon capture technology. Apparently, the move is influenced by economic reasons, but it may have been motivated by an attempt at resisting China’s efforts to enforce its illegal nine-dash line of territorial sovereignty over the maritime area situated at the southern reaches of the South China Sea. With the D Alpha block as its centrepiece, the northern extremity of East Natuna lies 75 kilometres south of the Tuna Block, a smaller discovery close to the Indonesia-Vietnam maritime border which is now being developed in the face of Chinese ownership claims.

The development of so-called carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) technology over the past decade could breathe new life into D Alpha, discovered more than 50 years ago at the height of the oil boom and last explored in October 1983. At that time it was found to be not very economical, but now the perspective has changed, conditioned by the availability of new technology and willingness to defend its own EEZ.  Amelia Gustin, an energy security analyst, interestingly wrote in a paper last year.” The development of the (East Natuna) block can be interpreted as a way for Indonesia to protect its sovereignty and sovereign rights against all forms of interference and threats ….(It) is an affirmation of the state’s presence in the outermost areas and a manifestation of the government’s commitment to positioning the outermost island (Natuna) as a front porch, not a backyard.” .

CREDIT — Representational Image (ANI)

Last month, Vietnam and Indonesia concluded talks on the boundaries of their exclusive economic zones (EEZs), which also lie within the imaginary “nine-dash line” that Beijing uses to demarcate what it calls its “historical rights” over almost 90% of the South China Sea. An EEZ gives a state exclusive access to the natural resources in the waters and seabed, which Beijing does not respect and is a habitual offender of the UNCLOS principle. Hanoi and Jakarta have not disclosed details of the agreement and China has not protested officially, but Beijing is showing its disapproval of the agreement by deploying its largest coast guard ship sailing in the areas falling within the EEZ of Indonesia and Vietnam. The CCG 5901, also the world’s largest coast guard ship, larger than a US Navy guided-missile cruiser or destroyer; although carrying a less lethal armament of 76 mm rapid-fire guns, two auxiliary guns and two anti-aircraft guns, it is more heavily armed than most other coast guard vessels. It was still in the area on last Tuesday, according to ship tracker Marine Traffic, and has not shown any inclination to leave the area.

Earlier this month, Indonesia’s Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Task Force (SKK Migas) approved the plan to develop the Tuna oil and gas field, also known as the Tuna Block, in the North Natuna area. The Tuna Block lies entirely inside Indonesia’s EEZ and just 13 km (8 miles) from the border of the Vietnamese EEZ but the area is frequented by Chinese law enforcement and fishing boats. This is not the first time the Tuna block have courted unwarranted attention. In 2021, vessels from Indonesia and China shadowed each other for months after Chinese vessels were sailing near to where appraisal drilling was being performed. At the time, Beijing had urged Indonesia to call a halt to the drilling claiming sovereignty over the maritime area. Jakarta maintains that under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), the southern end of the South China Sea is its exclusive economic zone, and named the area as the North Natuna Sea in 2017.

China rejects this, saying the maritime area is within its expansive territorial claim in the South China Sea marked by a U-shaped “nine-dash line,” a boundary the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague found to have no legal basis in 2016. The above episode saw the Jakarta government lodging a formal protest against China as Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels had entered into its exclusive economic zone in the North Natuna Sea, part of the contested South China Sea.The area is also home to Southeast Asia’s largest unexploited gas resource — the multi-trillion cubic feet East Natuna (Natuna D-Alpha) gas discovery. Indonesia historically has dismissed Beijing’s invitation to sit down and discuss the issue, claiming there is no dispute over sovereignty of these waters. Jakarta also announced plans to turn the North Natuna Sea into a special economic zone (SEZ) and to build new military facilities on the main island of Natuna Besar.

Indonesia’s response to the current incursion was low-key even while it deployed a warship, maritime patrol plane and drone to monitor the vessel, Indonesian Navy Chief Laksamana Muhammad Ali told Reuters. “The Chinese vessel has not conducted any suspicious activities,” he said “However, we need to monitor it as it has been in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone for some time.” Neither Indonesia nor Vietnam wants to have an unnecessary confrontation with China at a time when the region is confronted with more pressing issues and they need Beijing’s cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade and infrastructure. Both Indonesia and Vietnam find in RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership)  a in which China is the main engine, beneficial model of economic integration and prosperity of the region, whereas the alternative model offered by the West, IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Partnership) is still quite vague and uncertain and falls short of the expectations of most Southeast Asian countries.

Vietnam’s concerns

However, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia have all accused China of disrupting their oil and gas exploration activities with frequent incursions by Chinese coast guard and maritime militia ships, leading to confrontations. This time the Vietnamese government has not made any statement so far on the recent episode, but Vietnamese analysts have expressed their concern by saying the deployment of the CCG 5901, dubbed the “monster” ship and armed with heavy machine guns, may be China’s response to the Vietnam-Indonesia maritime limitation agreement. Le Hong Hiep, Senior Fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said the Chinese coast guard ship’s operating area is “very close to the supposed boundary between Vietnam and Indonesia,” and it is an indication of China’s protest. Viet Hoang, another Vietnamese analyst fears this may signal a “prolonged stand-off in the area. China will not let it [the Vietnam-Indonesia agreement] go easily,”  In 2021, Chinese survey and coast guard ships loitered uninvited for almost a month in the North Natuna area, where Indonesia’s oil and gas exploration was underway. Vietnam has concerns about another area in SCC, the Vanguard Bank, where Chinese coast guard ships are known to be present at a very regular frequency around the area from where they monitor and from time to time harass Vietnam’s oil exploration activities nearby. China at the time said its vessels were engaged in “routine” activities. This  time, a spokesperson at the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta told Benar News the Chinese ship was “ in sea areas that China has jurisdiction in accordance with domestic law and international law,” indicating Beijing’s intention to assert its sovereignty over the area.

That only shows that even while there is no confrontation as yet, the dispute in the Natuna Sea has reared its head again, and can turn into a major flashpoint disturbing the peace and stability in the region.

(Baladas Ghoshal, is a former Professor and Chair in Southeast Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University & Secretary General, Society for Indian Ocean Studies. Views expressed are personal and exclusive to India Narrative)

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Chinese outposts in SCS pose danger to region’s landscape

CREDIT -- Representational Image (ANI)

China’s militarisation of 20 outposts in the Paracel Islands and seven in the Spratly Islands in the disputed SCS over the past ten years has been a source of great concern…reports Asian Lite News

The geomorphologic stability of the South China Sea is in danger due to the Chinese militarisation of man-made islands in the region, according to a media report.

According to The Geneva Daily, China’s militarisation of 20 outposts in the Paracel Islands and seven in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea (SCS) over the past ten years has been a source of great concern for both the countries in the area and for everyone who supports the value of freedom of navigation. Closer examinations show that these military outposts may not actually be as strong as they appear to be. The geomorphologic stability of these man-made islands is a significant drawback. Since they were constructed quickly, no adequate structural feasibility or environmental effect analyses were done before they were completed.

The Geneva Daily claimed that as a result of the SCS’s extremely corrosive water and weather, the service life of the concrete structures there is anticipated to be fewer than 25 years. Despite their size and amenities, the outposts are underpopulated due to the uninhabitable factor.

While the lack of freshwater resources, particularly drinkable water, is undoubtedly a hindrance, studies have also shown that the islands present a serious threat to the physical and mental health of their long-term residents.

The Spratly Islands’ military officials had a high monthly morbidity rate, or incidences of health issues, according to a 2019 report that looked into and analysed the health needs of the officers and soldiers there, according to The Geneva Daily. These issues ranged from joint pain, skin diseases, and dental diseases to respiratory infections, gastrointestinal ailments, and head and neck issues.

Additionally, psychological issues like anxiety, depression, etc. are frequent, probably as a result of the bases’ isolation. China is doing several studies on physical and mental agility in SCS, indicating that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is concerned about it.

In addition, the PLA is aware of additional operational vulnerabilities. These islands, which are far from the mainland, might be easily targeted by adversarial cruise missiles.

Additionally, in the event of interdiction, it might be difficult to provide resupplies by air or sea.

Therefore, in the event of a confrontation, the military value of these bases would quickly decline. Due to such circumstances, it appears that these hastily constructed military outposts in the SCS are nothing more than reported “white elephants”.

Though these military outposts in SCS are, in practice, serving the purpose of promoting Chinese hegemony in the region, can they stand the test of time and prove their operational utility, when actual conflict breaks out? Only time will tell. (ANI)

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Tension mounts in South China Sea

US destroyer sails near disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, China says the ship was “driven away” …reports Asian Lite News

A US destroyer sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on Wednesday, drawing an angry reaction from Beijing, which said its military had “driven away” the ship after it illegally entering territorial waters.

The United States regularly carries out what it calls Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea challenging what it says are restrictions on innocent passage imposed by China and other claimants.

The US Navy said the USS Benfold “asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, consistent with international law.”

“Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity for South China Sea littoral nations.”

China says it does not impede freedom of navigation or overflight, accusing the United States of deliberately provoking tensions.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre Command said the US ship’s actions seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security by illegally entering China’s territorial waters around the Paracels, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

“The PLA’s Southern Theatre Command organized sea and air forces to follow, monitor, warn and drive away” the ship, it added.

“The facts once again show that the United States is nothing short of a ‘security risk maker in the South China Sea’ and a ‘destroyer of regional peace and stability.’“

China seized control of the Paracel Islands from the then-South Vietnamese government in 1974.

Monday marked the sixth anniversary of a ruling by an international tribunal that invalidated China’s sweeping claims to the South China Sea, a conduit for about $3 trillion worth of ship-borne trade each year.

China has never accepted the ruling.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei all have competing and often overlapping claims.

China has built artificial islands on some of its South China Sea holdings, including airports, raising regional concerns about Beijing’s intentions.

US backs Philippines

The US has warned it will defend the Philippines against any attack on its ships or aircraft in the South China Sea.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the statement on the sixth anniversary of a 2016 decision by an international arbitration tribunal that largely ruled in favor of the Philippines over the disputed maritime border. China did not participate in the arbitration.

“We re-affirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces … would invoke US mutual defense commitments,” Blinken said in a statement on Tuesday. The mutual defense commitments stem from a 1951 treaty between the allies.

“We call again on the People’s Republic of China to abide by its obligations under international law and cease its provocative behavior,” he added.

The Philippines’ newly appointed foreign secretary, Enrique Manalo, said on Tuesday that the 2016 court findings “are conclusive as they are indisputable.”

“We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; nay, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories,” Manalo added, without mentioning China by name.

The new administration has indicated a renewed focus on the maritime dispute — and the 2016 court ruling — after a period of warmer ties with China under Rodrigo Duterte, the former president.

Activists in the Philippines also staged a protest outside the Chinese consulate in Makati to mark the anniversary of the arbitration tribunal.

It comes a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned leaders at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, not to be used as “chess pieces” by major powers.

China and the Philippines have been engaged in a decades-long dispute over swaths of the South China Sea, which include several tiny islands and reefs. Each country claims the sea as its historic fishing waters.

Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the sea.

The waterway is a key global shipping route and sees roughly $5 trillion (€5 trillion) worth of goods transported each year.

The South China Sea is also believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits. 

China vows on code of conduct

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday pledged to speed up consultations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the long-awaited Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. While it is unlikely to signal much progress on the perennially promised agreement, it does offer an insight into how Beijing is seeking to counter the recent U.S. diplomatic offensive in the region.

Wang made the comments during a meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah in Putrajaya, the final stop of a five-nation tour of Southeast Asia that has also taken him to Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

According to a report by Malaysian state media agency Bernama, Wang pledged that China would speed up consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) and “advocate true multilateralism and advanced open regionalism.”

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Will ASEAN line up with Indonesia against China?

The most recent subtle initiative Indonesia has taken is to invite officials in charge of maritime security from five other countries in ASEAN to meet to discuss how to respond to China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea….writes Baladas Ghoshal

China has formally opened another front in its bellicosity in the South China Sea, and practically forcing Jakarta to accept a dispute in the Natunas, where there is none, as the area concerned is within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Indonesia as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Beijing claims that its “nine-dash” line, an artificial boundary invented by the CCP (Communist Party of China) that covers most of the South China Sea, giving it ownership of this entire maritime area extending to the EEZ of Indonesia in the Natuna Islands. The EEZ is an area extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline of a country. While other countries have a right of innocent passage in such territory, a country has special rights regarding exploration and use of maritime resources in its EEZ, to the exclusion of other powers. Jakarta has always stood up to China bullying her in the EEZ without declaring it loudly.

China has repeatedly told Indonesia to halt an oil and natural gas development project in the South China Sea, claiming infringement on its territorial waters. But in early December last year, it officially communicated to the Indonesian government to stop appraisal drilling at Harbour Energy’s (LON:HBR) Tuna Block offshore Indonesia in maritime territory that both nations view as their own during a months-long standoff in the South China Sea, reported Reuters. The unprecedented demand raised tensions over natural resources between China and Indonesia in a volatile area of global strategic and economic importance. China not only objected to the drilling operations, but had also sent coast guard vessels into the area to mount pressure on Indonesia. Jakarta has not openly disclosed about China’s protests, as that would amount to an admission of a dispute in the area. Even while it does not acknowledge the existence of a dispute, Indonesia in May 2020 sent the United Nations a letter rejecting Beijing’s historical claims in the sea indicated by its nine-dash like maps.. China, in turn, sent a counter reply to the UN, maintaining its claims in the South China Sea while seeking a solution through negotiations, which Jakarta flatly rejected.

While not inclined to make the spat with China public, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has pursued Jakarta’s traditional diplomatic approach of being equidistant from both the United States and China. Like most other ASEAN countries, Indonesia doesn’t want to take sides between the two rival powers despite all the Chinese bullying. And he adopted a clever strategy of roping in Britain and Russia to deal with the Chinese pressure. Jakarta sought the support of a consortium of Britain’s Harbour Energy and Russian state oil company Zarubezhneft to lay a pipeline across the North Natuna Sea to connect with Vietnam’s offshore network. The two companies have already announced that they have found a modest gross gas resource of 600 billion cubic feet after drilling of two appraisal wells in the Tuna block, about 10 km from Indonesia’s EEZ. Despite Beijing’s objections, the drilling continued for six months and was completed last November with Indonesia’s Bakamla (Badan Keamaanan Laut Repulik Indonesia- Indonesian Maritime Security Agency)- claiming success in their ventures, which some analysts called it “a grand �victory’ over the Chinese.”

Beijing’s bellicosity in the South China

China equally doesn’t let Vietnam drill oil and gas in its own EEZ, which forced Hanoi to seek Tokyo’s support. Similarly, China doesn’t let the Philippines drill oil in its own waters either, which ultimately forced Manila to start drilling in open defiance to China. Not only that, Beijing imposes annual summer fishing bans in the South China Sea in an attempt to deprive other legitimate countries from fishing in their own EEZ. Both Malaysia and the Philippines too, face an aggressive Beijing in their South China Sea possessions. China already controls the Scarborough Shoal – a disputed feature in the South China Sea, claimed by both Beijing and Manila. Presently, Chinese maritime militias are also eyeing Whitsun Reef, a geographical feature in Filipino waters, which is also being claimed by China. Malaysia, on the other hand, is itself a victim of Chinese bullying. Chinese coastguard ships harass Malaysian oil and gas vessels operating in their own waters. China claims Malaysian territory also and forbids it to drill there.

Signs of Unity among the Claimant States

Brunei, a tiny Sultanate, where China has invested extensively, was naturally passive for a long time in its response towards Beijing denying the country to drill in its own EEZ. But last year, Brunei was appointed as the ASEAN chair and was no longer passive and it quietly showed the ability to mobilise claimant states of ASEAN as well as Indonesia, to express concern about China’s aggressive behaviour over the South China Sea disputes. This happened despite China’s attempts to woo Brunei through vaccine diplomacy sending a batch of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines in a donation to which its Second Minister of foreign affairs Haji Erywan thanked the former. In January, a Chinese state-owned company Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group had also signed a deal to redevelop and manage a fisheries port in Brunei. But the tiny Kingdom decided to cooperate with other South China Sea disputants who wanted to tackle Beijing’s assertiveness in the hotly contested region. While China is trying to pull Brunei to its side, the latter, it seems, has made up its mind to stick with fellow South China Sea disputants within the regional bloc.

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Singapore, which is neither a claimant state on the South China Sea, nor has any disputes with any ASEAN members, is also increasingly becoming active on finding a way to manage the conflict. Recent agreements for cooperation in oil exploration and maritime security sectors suggest that some ASEAN members are ready to forgo their own petty differences and take on the main challenge, China. Plans for a maritime accord between Malaysia and Vietnam, for instance, indicate how the ASEAN neighbours are ready to come closer to each other in face of growing Chinese revisionism. However, minor the shift is, it is the beginning of a semblance of unity among some ASEAN members in the face of China’s belligerence and their own existential crisis.

Indonesia dares China

The most recent subtle initiative Indonesia has taken is to invite officials in charge of maritime security from five other countries in ASEAN to meet early next year to discuss how to respond to China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea. Head of Bakamla, Vice Adm. Aan Kurnia, was quoted in the Indonesian media as telling reporters that he had invited his counterparts from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam to a meeting in February 2022 to “share experiences and foster brotherhood” among the countries facing similar challenges posed by China. Maritime agencies from the six countries took part in an ASEAN Coast Guard Forum last October, signalling willingness to cooperate. The Jakarta Post quoted Aan as saying that it is important “to present a coordinated approach” in matters related to the South China Sea, and “how to respond in the field when we face the same �disturbance’.” The vice admiral did not mention China by name.

A meeting similar to the ASEAN Coast Guard forum would be a “great opportunity for ASEAN coast guards and maritime law enforcement agencies to talk and cooperate with each other,” Satya Pratama, a senior Indonesian government official and a former Bakamla captain was quoted to have said. “It is also a good idea for Indonesia [through Bakamla] to explain Indonesia’s intention so that others can understand and follow suit,” he said.

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“Coast guards in Southeast Asia have a bad history of cooperation – they see each other as their primary challenges, even worse than the navies, which have learned to cooperate amid competition,” to quote Thomas Daniel, a senior fellow at Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS).. This is reflected in ASEAN’s attempt to negotiate a Code of Conduct (COC) to regulate maritime activities there, with some nations like the current ASEAN chair Cambodia reluctant to criticize Beijing. This also finds expression in the comment by the Filipino foreign secretary Teodore Locsin Jr. who spoke of those difficulties earlier last month when he addressed a meeting between foreign ministers from ASEAN and Group of Seven (G7) developed countries. He said that as ASEAN countries and China struggle to agree on the South China Sea issues, “recent incidents and the heightened tension � remain a serious concern.” “These worrying developments underscore the urgency and importance of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea � But negotiations for the COC, even on our watch, went nowhere,” Locsin said. Antonio Carpio, a former justice of the Philippine Supreme Court, had his own suggestion that five ASEAN coastal states – the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, plus Indonesia – should form a coalition “to oppose China’s hegemony and bullying”

Challenges to Unity remain

Forging unity among the five ASEAN states is not going to be an easy task, as there are longstanding trust issue between them, as well as fear of retaliation by China. In the meantime, however, the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency signed a memorandum of understanding last month on cooperation in strengthening maritime security and safety between the two forces. But overlapping maritime claims have been an irritant in Vietnam-Indonesia bilateral relations for decades. The two countries frequently clash over the issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. In 2019, for example, Indonesia seized and destroyed 38 Vietnamese vessels for illegal fishing. A similar situation is seen between Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as between Indonesia and Malaysia. Yet the very attempt by Indonesia to create some understanding between the coast guards of the five countries signals a resolve on their part to display their unity vis-�-vis the Chinese bully. Whether the attempt to forge unity succeeds or not, it surely heralds a shift in the ASEAN way of doing things from consensus principle to pragmatic approach to deal with China challenge.

Indonesia bolstering its own defences

Meanwhile, on its own,Indonesia is preparing herself for any eventuality and looks to bolster its defences in and around Natuna, suspecting that China is exploring opportunities to seize effective control of the islands. The Indonesian military is lengthening an air base runway so that additional planes can be deployed, together with the construction of a submarine base as well. Local fishing vessels act as eyes and ears, take part in an early warning system on the lookout for approaching Chinese ships. With the USA, Jakarta is building a joint training facility for coast guard personnel near Natuna. The two nations held their biggest joint military exercise to date this August, spanning three locations in Indonesia. The drills simulated island defences.

Indonesia could be the next buyer of BrahMos after the Philippines

To build its defence capacities and capabilities Indonesia also has growing defence cooperation with Japan, Australia and India. New Delhi has already finalized a deal with the Filipinos for supply of Brah-Mos supersonic missile systems, jointly produced by India and Russia, amid China’s aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea region. BrahMos will upload substantial confirmed capacity to the Philippines’ coastal defences, and it compares favourably with the anti-ship missiles in carrier with different navies. It is some distance quicker than the U.S. Army’s Tomahawk or the Chinese language PLA Army’s YJ-18.

India is exploring the possibility of selling the BrahMos cruise missile to Indonesia, and a team from the Indo-Russian joint venture that makes the weapon system visited a state-run shipyard in Surabaya last year to assess the fitting of the missile on Indonesian warships, Besides the BrahMos, India has offered to supply coastal defence radars and marine grade steel to Indonesia and to service the Russian-made Su-30 combat jets flown by the Indonesian air force as part of efforts to deepen bilateral defence and military cooperation.

With a commanding maritime strategic location and ample attributes of developing its national power, Indonesia could well become the spearhead within the ASEAN to checkmate China’s expansionist drive in the South China Sea.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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SCS: Rapid deployment of Chinese vessels changed peacetime balance

This is known as “grey-zone tactics” when unconventional forces and methods are used to pursue strategic interests while trying to avoid the possibility of a conflict…reports Asian Lite News.

The numbers and rapid deployment of Chinese maritime vessels have “radically changed the peacetime balance of forces in the South China Sea”.

According to a new report by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hundreds of Chinese maritime militia vessels are operating in contested areas of the South China Sea poses a significant challenge to “maritime order rooted in international law.”

Citing Radio Free Asia, India-Pacific Defense Forum reported that for years the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been funding the expansion of the maritime vessels to assert its claims in the South China Sea.

In its report published in November 2021, “Pulling Back the Curtain on China’s Maritime Militia,” CSIS provided a comprehensive profile of a force that it said has been operating alongside Chinese law enforcement and military to achieve Chinese political objectives in disputed waters.

This is known as “grey-zone tactics” when unconventional forces and methods are used to pursue strategic interests while trying to avoid the possibility of a conflict.

The report said that the creation in recent years of Chinese outposts with large port facilities led to a sharp increase in the number of maritime militia vessels sailing to the disputed Spratly Islands.

“The big picture is that there have been about 300 maritime militia vessels deployed in large groups around the Spratly Islands since August 2018, relying on China’s artificial islands for logistics support but no longer cloistering themselves within those harbours,” the report alleged.

The report said that the vessels are funded by the Chinese government through subsidies “that incentivize local actors to construct vessels in accordance with military specifications and to operate them.”

The authors concluded that “the majority of Chinese fishing vessels in disputed areas of the South China Sea do not operate as independent commercial actors but instead as paid agents of the Chinese government obligated to help fulfil its political and national security objectives.”

Additionally, the report provided a list of 112 Chinese militia vessels allegedly active in the South China Sea, and 52 more ships “likely to be militia.”

Radio Free Asia has previously used Chinese corporate records, bidding documents and Chinese state media to determine that numerous “fishermen” are Chinese militiamen responsible for guarding CCP outposts.

The report also said since completing the construction of its artificial island outposts in the Spratly Islands in 2016, the CCP has shifted its focus toward asserting control over peacetime activities across the South China Sea, and the maritime militia is a key component of this shift.

Since then, militia boats have been deployed regularly and in great numbers to disputed waters in the Spratlys. A recent large-scale deployment was in March 2021, when about 200 suspected militia boats gathered near the Whitsun Reef in Union Banks, leading to a diplomatic rift between China and the Philippines. (ANI)

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Russia, Asean to hold first ever joint drills in SCS

Moscow will be sending its large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleev to take part in the naval drill, reports Asian Lite News

Russia will hold the first-ever joint naval exercises with the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the South China Sea, starting next Wednesday.

Alexander Ivanov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to ASEAN, has revealed that the exercises will be held in the region of North Sumatra from December 1-3 and Moscow will be sending its large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleev, which is part of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy, to take part in them.

“The decision to hold joint naval exercises was made at the Fourth Russia-ASEAN Summit, which was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 28, 2021, by videoconference. The meeting was timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of relations, which is celebrated this year between our country and the association, “the diplomat told RIA Novosti, the state-owned domestic news agency of Russia.

US Navy warships sailing through the South China Sea (Photo twitter@USNavy)

The head of the diplomatic mission said that several decisions were taken in the summit to develop the strategic partnership between Russia and ASEAN.

“The exercises are aimed at practicing interaction between the Russian Navy and the Navy of the ASEAN member countries to ensure the safety of maritime commercial activities and navigation and will be divided into two phases – virtual and maritime,” said Ivanov.

He informed that Prabovo Subiyanto, the Defence Minister of Indonesia, is planning to inaugurate the exercise from the Russian destroyer.

As reported by IndiaNarrative.com, Moscow is enhancing defence partnerships with like-minded partners in the region, including India. Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolay Patrushev was in Colombo on Monday to define the Kremlin’s renewed focus on South Asia.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)