Thread: South China Sea Developments and Thoughts

Shut up! China tells US in growing sea dispute | Inquirer Global Nation

Shut up! China tells US in growing sea dispute
Philippine Daily Inquirer
3:50 am | Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

BEIJING—“Shut up!”

This was China’s retort to the United States after the US Department of State issued a statement last Friday expressing concern over increased tensions in the South China (West Philippine) Sea and criticizing Beijing for establishing a new city and military garrison on an island in the contested waters.

US: China garrison raises tension in disputed sea
US: China garrison raises tension in disputed sea

Originally published: August 3, 2012 10:38 AM
Updated: August 3, 2012 1:28 PM
By The Associated Press MATTHEW PENNINGTON (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON - (AP) -- The United States on Friday criticized China's new military garrison in the contested South China Sea as risking an escalation in tensions.

The State Department statement underscored U.S. concerns about the situation in the resource-rich sea, a potential flashpoint. It voiced strong support for diplomatic efforts by Southeast Asian nations to negotiate with China, the region's rising military power which claims virtually all of the sea for itself and would prefer Washington stay out of the matter.

The Senate on Thursday also urged restraint among China and five of its neighbors and said the U.S. was committed to assisting Southeast Asian nations remaining "strong and independent."

Washington's response comes 10 days after China formally established Sansha city on a remote island 220 miles from its southernmost province. Sansha is intended to administer hundreds of thousands of square miles of water where China wants to strengthen its control over disputed and potentially oil-rich islands. The Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, has described China's move as unacceptable. Vietnam called it a violation of international law.


China’s state-controlled media lashed out at the United States on Monday, accusing Washington of “trouble making” over criticism of Beijing’s claims to a wide swath of the disputed sea.

My thoughts go in the odd direction of wondering how fruitful would the payoff be were China to enforce its' claim. Lets say by force with everyone ignoring it more or less by action. Gains don't really seem that large since if there are oil/gas deposits far from infrastructure in the middle of the sea next to isles their present value in development wouldn't be worth it. Geo-politically it seems like a great idea to create a buffer, except if its a permeable one where nobody really cares for it kinda creates a situation where real borders may be skirted when they may.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southea.../NH08Ae01.html

China bares claws in maritime dispute
By Ian Storey

For more than two decades Beijing has pursued a consistent policy in the South China Sea composed of two main elements: gradually strengthening the country's territorial and jurisdictional claims while at the same time endeavoring to assure Southeast Asian countries of its peaceful intentions. Recent moves by China to bolster its maritime claims have brought the first element into sharp relief, while reassurances of benign intent have, however, been in short supply.

Earlier, in late June, China's Defense Ministry announced it had begun "combat ready" patrols in the Spratly Islands to "protect national sovereignty and [China's] security development interests". Embarrassingly for the Chinese navy, however, on July 13, one of its frigates ran aground on Half Moon Shoal, 70 nautical miles west of the Philippine island of Palawan and within the Philippines 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The frigate was re-floated within 24 hours, suggesting that other Chinese naval vessels were nearby when the incident occurred. These developments provide further evidence of the growing militarization of the dispute.

On the issue of ownership of Scarborough Shoal, scene of a tense standoff between Chinese and Philippine fishery-protection vessels in May and June, China's position remains uncompromising. At the annual ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Phnom Penh in July, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi restated China's sovereignty claims to the shoal, rejected the notion that it was disputed and accused Manila of "making trouble".

According to the Philippine Foreign Ministry, Chinese trawlers - protected by Chinese paramilitary vessels - continue to fish in waters close to Scarborough Shoal in contravention of a bilateral accord whereby both sides agreed to withdraw their vessels. [1]

I think this pushes Russia and Japan to peace talks since the latter will find it more plausable and beneficial to re-orient itself to align with Vietnam/Phillipines etc... but to some degree can't due to the dispute up north. My guess is they will get two islands the little ones to the right and Russia will maintain the two big ones to keep the territorial waters enclosed in Okhotsk for nuclear deterrence. Probably a percentage of oil and gas blocks to make it more palatable in various areas for token investments.

The other point is that since ASEAN has been sabotaged due to Cambodia blocking the resolution. It forces things to be bi-lateral between China and every other country ONLY until those countries simply negotiate ex-China their territorial disputes and then present a united front which can happen and increases its' likelihood. The stupidity of the situation ofcourse is that trade becomes the next battleground of retaliation since political means were exhausted to a degree and with military influences rising it only stands to reason economic levers will be yanked by various sides where they have leverage.

http://www.atimes.com//atimes/Japan/NH07Dh01.html

China, Japan stretch peace pacts
By Kosuke Takahashi

TOKYO - Asia's two giants, China and Japan, are playing a dangerous game, each indicating they are prepared to use force in defense of islands they both claim as their own.