SCS South China Sea tensions rattle China's neighbors

China's growing naval power has encouraged it to be more assertive

Chinese leaders like to talk about their country's "peaceful rise" - and Europe's financial traumas are giving Beijing plenty of scope to assume the role of a benign new force on the world stage.

President Hu Jintao has presented himself as a "friend in need" during encounters with European supplicants while stopping short, for now, of committing China to a specific contribution.

But China has been showing a very different face to countries closer to home in an increasingly tense confrontation over rival claims to the resource-rich waters of the South China Sea.

It is a region where the peaceful nature of China's rise is starting to be questioned as it pushes a long-standing maritime claim that stretches deep into South East Asia.

China have threaten the 2 small neighbors that if the Philippines and Vietnam will not agree with what china's wants, then they will use force. "If these countries do not want to change their ways with China, they will need to prepare for the sound of cannons" – [published under  Global Times]

"China is becoming much more confident in the region and there are signs it is becoming giddy with success. It has become much more influential much more quickly than it expected," says Dr Kerry Brown of the Asia Programme at Chatham House in London.

Vietnam and the Philippines in recent months have seen the snarl of a resurgent regional power that is fast losing patience with the gripes of smaller neighbors over maritime borders.

"If these countries do not want to change their ways with China, they will need to prepare for the sound of cannons. It may be the only way for the dispute in the sea to be resolved," said the state run newspaper, the Global Times, in a recent editorial.

The Philippines stands remain strong as they said anytime; we are willing to defend our territory in any form of invasion.

Philippines as the highly affected country of china's warning because almost all part of the disputed in the Spratlys is within it 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone become immune of China's threat. They are used to as that what china did often.

If China has successfully invaded the mischief reef and adjacent reef of Mainland Palawan, a province of the Philippines then this time, it not be happen again to any other islands and reefs within 200 Nautical Miles of the County.

China successfully invaded the mischief reef in 1995 when china build a fishermen shelter in the water of the Philippines but when asked; they replied that they are building a fishermen shelter but later the converted it into a military garrison inside the Philippines' territory.

Hard power

Chinese officials have been more restrained in their comments, but foreign ministry spokesmen have issued a series of warnings about what they see as encroachments into Chinese waters.

Beijing says it does want a peaceful solution. But Vietnam and the Philippines say Chinese ships have stepped up harassment of vessels involved in oil exploration and fishing.

China's stance on the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) is making neighbors like Vietnam worried

"The growth of Chinese military spending is beginning to translate into hard power," says John Hemmings, an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute.

"This is the first major sign that a more confident Chinese grand strategy is emerging. It is in the South China Sea that there is a real risk of discord between the US and China."

The disputes are about oil and gas reserves, lucrative fisheries and sea lanes that are crucial to the giant industrial economies of East Asia. But they also point to a strategic contest with the United States, which has been the dominant military power in the western Pacific since 1945.

"China is driven by a nationalistic agenda - it won't find it easy to make compromises over what are seen as crucial resources, such as energy in the South China Sea"- [Dr Kerry Brown.]

"China has a containment mindset," says Kerry Brown. "It thought that the United States was ceding influence but it sees the US is still active all around its borders from Afghanistan to Japan."

In the latest incident, Beijing responded sharply to an announcement by the American company, Exxon Mobil, of a new oil find off the coast of central Vietnam.

It appears to be well within Vietnam's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. But China issued a now familiar warning that it has indisputable sovereignty to large parts of the sea.

"We hope foreign companies do not get involved in disputed waters for oil and gas exploration and development," said a foreign ministry spokesman. China's insecurity with US & Indian presence in the area shows it weakness and wanting to monopolize and bully the 2 small country; Philippines and Vietnam.

Vietnam vulnerable

China's maritime claim is ill-defined but it resembles a giant U shape extending for more than 1,000km (621 miles) off its southern coast and reaching into what Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei see as their own waters.

It recently warned Indian firms to stay away after they signed exploration agreements with Vietnam. India has nettled its giant neighbor by developing a "strategic partnership" with Vietnam - in China's view an intrusion into its own backyard.

Vietnam appears most vulnerable. Its leaders have been stung into an unaccustomed flurry of foreign visits as they seek help from the region and beyond.

"Vietnam feels out on a limb," says John Hemmings. "It understands that a naval conflict with China could be over very quickly. The Vietnamese are much more exposed than they first thought."

The West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) dispute raises intense passions in Vietnam.

Some believe it will be very hard for China to back down.

"China is driven by a nationalistic agenda, It won't find it easy to make compromises over what are seen as crucial resources, such as energy in the South China Sea," says Kerry Brown.

Whatever its intention, China has succeeded in frightening traditional US allies such as Japan and South Korea firmly back into the American fold, along with a host of new suitors.

US officials have tried to underline their commitment to the region, at a time when some allies are questioning Washington's staying power.

US naval might

It will be years before China's growing military power can challenge the overwhelming naval might of the United States, backed as it is by a network of military bases across Asia.

But China's development of new land based missiles designed to target aircraft carriers is a sign of its fast-growing capabilities.

"I want to make very clear that the United States is going to remain a presence in the Pacific for a long time," said the defense secretary, Leon Panetta, on an Asian visit late last month "If anything, we're going to strengthen our presence in the Pacific."

President Barack Obama is expected to underline this commitment when he hosts Asian leaders at the APEC conference in Hawaii this month.

China may have found in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) dispute an arena to test US resolve and attempt to nudge it out of the region.

If Washington fails to live up to its rhetoric, China's smaller neighbors will have little choice but to accept the new realities of what the US itself is calling the "Pacific Century"

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China wary as India looks East – South China Sea

In China, smaller publications in landlocked provinces are a better guide to the actual thinking of the immense cadre of the Chinese Communist Party than the bigger media outlets, especially those in English. The latter usually give a more restrained and assessment of situations, which is why it was a surprise to South Block (home of the Prime Minister's Office and the External Affairs Ministry) to note the harsh language of even leading English-language publications in Beijing ( such as "Global Times") about India's outreach to Myanmar and Vietnam. The ire was mostly against the oil prospecting contracts signed by state-owned Indian companies with their Vietnamese counterparts.

The Chinese media saw this as "interference in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea)", all of which is claimed by China and parts are claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam & Other ASEAN neighbors. The sea has immense deposits of hydrocarbon and other minerals essential to a fast-developing and large economy such as India; hence it is not likely that Petroleum Minister Jaipal Reddy will abandon the joint venture with Vietnam. The policy of Delhi is that the disputes between different countries in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) is a matter for them to settle, but that in the meantime, India will undertake commercial and other transactions with each of the governments whose territories about the sea. Beijing wants all countries to deal only with itself in any such activity; an in effect wants a monopoly over the resources of the Sea.

Apart from the vituperative articles against Vietnam, the Philippines and India written in English-language and Mandarin publications published from China, numerous China-based internet sites have gone much further in their verbal attack on the three Asian neighbors of China. Some have even alluded to the "racial inferiority" of people from India, Vietnam and the Philippines when compared to Han Chinese, and called for them to be slaughtered by military might "in the manner of roadkill" ie animals killed by vehicles while crossing a road. The overwhelming majority of the Chinese people are highly cultured, steeped as they are in a civilization which goes back 5000 years, but clearly there are some who in their thinking resemble followers of Adolf Hitler. Although such arrogant and aggressive voices are almost certainly not representative of the view of the Chinese Communist Party, yet the frequency with which they have appeared in the Chinese media have led to calls to strengthen Indian defenses on the border with China, a border which has been tranquil except for four brief instances since the 1962 war.

Since 2009, the Indian Air Force has moved a squadron of Sukhoi-35s to the China border, while the army has placed nuclear-capable missiles within easy reach of PLA fortifications and concentrations. On both sides of the border, there is hectic increase in activity relating to the creation or the strengthening of infrastructure, although as yet conditions on the Chinese side are far superior. Even in relation to equipment, PLA forces are much better off than their Indian counterparts. They have lighter bulletproof vests, better rifles and night-fighting capabilities, all of which has been documented in a recent issue of "India Today". Where India's military scores lies in the fact that it is battle-hardened. Constant sorties against hostile elements within the borders of the country has improved the fighting capacity of the Indian soldier, and made him or her better able to prevail, even against a better-equipped enemy. In this sense, even NATO soldiers are better prepared for war than troops from countries that have been at peace for long periods, such as China, which last fought a war in 1979 (against Vietnam). In the case of Pakistan as well, its soldiers are battle-hardened as well, because of action seen in numerous conflicts, some within the country.

However, this columnist is among those who believe that the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party has the wisdom to avoid war. There is a huge difference between the China since the time Deng took full control of the party in 1981 and the past, when Beijing was involved in the Korean, Indian and Vietnamese conflicts, besides skirmishes across the Taiwan Straits and with (the then) USSR. There is no doubt that Deng Xiaoping was a great statesperson, who is responsible for modern China.

During his time, civilian spending was emphasized and military budgets reduced. Deng made it clear that he favored a policy of peace, and although China was a huge country, took a very conciliatory line on external disputes. He was also searching for a solution to the Sino-Indian boundary dispute when ill-health and age forced him to take a much more reduced role in governance by the start of the 1990s. While his successor Jiang Zemin occasionally adopted a tough line, General Secretary Hu Jintao has reverted to the wise policies of Deng Xiaoping, stressing the importance of harmony in relations between states. However, since China is much richer today than it was during Deng's time, Hu has presided over an immense quantitative improvement in the capabilities and provisioning of the PLA.

The rapid economic growth since China took firmly to the Path of Peace is evidence that conflict may not be the best way to promote the national interest. Those who glibly talk of going to war against Vietnam and India, for instance, ought to examine the condition of China during the 1950s or the 1960s and see it in the 21st century, the second-biggest economy in the world, with $3 trillion worth of cash reserves, almost higher than the rest of the globe combined. Indeed, Sino-Indian trade has zoomed over the past decade, now crossing $60 billion and headed to $100 billion in two years time. In fact, the prospects are for trade between India and China to cross $300 billion in ten years, providing income and employment to millions of people on both sides of the border. This prosperity would be at risk, were there to be the cataclysmic event of a fresh Sino-Indian war.

Both the leaders of India as well as China are aware of the centrality of peace and friendship to the economic health of both countries. Which is why the hotheads who write vituperative essays against the other country are ignored by the top leadership in Beijing or Delhi? Indeed, both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Premier Wen Jiabao are to meet in the beautiful island of Bali on November 19, when they attend the East Asia Summit. Both will also be meeting (albeit separately) with President Obama of the US. Such meetings will help ensure that temperatures remain cool and that differences over the South China Sea get resolved peacefully, and in a way that ensures access to resources and economic development for all sides.

M D Nalapat—The writer of this article is Vice-Chair, Manipal Advanced Research Group, UNESCO Peace Chair & Professor of Geopolitics, Manipal University, Haryana State, India.

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China’s puppet Cambodia one sided to China for Spratlys

China's influence to ASEAN neighbors remains strong that make the ASEAN countries divided. Cambodia a member of the ASEAN countries shows an approval of china for in return to have a huge investment from them.

Cambodia's economy is still lagging far behind with other ASEAN countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam but the support of Cambodia for the ASEAN decision in connection with the Spratlys dispute is still important.

Cambodia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong said that the territorial dispute in the South China Sea should be solved between China and the concerned countries by complying with the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and recent adopted guidelines.

His remarks were made during meeting with visiting Liu Zhenmin, assistant to Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, at the ministry.

"Both sides agreed that the South China Sea issues must be solved out between China and the states involved in the dispute only," Koy Kuong, spokesman for Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters after the meeting.

"All concerned parties in the South China Sea have to comply with the (2002) DOC and adopted recent guidelines," Hor Namhong was quoted by Koy Kuong as saying to Liu Zhenmin.

DOC is called toothless by the DFA Secretary Del Rosario as he said even China the signatory of the DOC is violating it resulting to a heighten tension  in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea)

DOC and UNCLOS Law will work together as both parties are member of the United Nations and inner conflict which could not be solve by the region must be push to the United Nations ITLOS.

Hor Namhong continued to say that all relevant parties in the dispute have to build mutual trust in order to solve the dispute in the spirits of mutual benefit, peace and friendship.

The Philippines have slacken off  its mutual trust with china after china invaded the Mischief reef near Palawan by building a "said" fishermen shelter then later converted into military garrison. Mischief reef is just adjacent to the Mainland Palawan and within 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of Palawan, Philippines.

China and ASEAN in July adopted an agreement on the guidelines of implementing the DOC.

The guidelines include some principles that offer directions for implementing the DOC and map out procedural rules for cooperation in the future.

The oil- and gas-rich South China Sea is partially claimed by several Southeast Asian states, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Liu Zhenmin said the visit in Cambodia was to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation in all fields with Cambodia and said China still continued its support to Cambodia in all circumstances.

Cambodia's commitment in supporting China reaped a promise of support and more investment. Cambodia's vulnerable stands for the ASEAN might lead into losing its support from its fellows when china's expansionism attitude diverts' it point to Cambodia to be the next annex state of China.

Both sides also exchanged views on the East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia later this month in order to enable the Summit to run smoothly and successfully as this year was the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations.

Liu arrived Phnom Penh on Saturday (November 5, 2011) and will leave here on Sunday.

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US & Philippines Marines Begin Drills Near Spratlys

About 3,000 U.S. and Filipino marines’ soldiers started two weeks of annual military drills in the Philippines on Monday that will include a hostile beach assault exercise near the disputed Spratly Islands.

U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Nick Eisenbeiser said the Oct. 17-28 maneuvers would focus on honing their joint capability to ensure regional security and were not aimed at China or any country as an imaginary target.

"They shouldn't get worried," Eisenbeiser, when asked if the exercises were aimed at China, who’s growing naval power has set off concerns in the region. "We're assisting the Chinese in ensuring that their region is peaceful."

The exercises would ensure that U.S. and Philippines forces could jointly respond to "anything that arises," he said.

The United States irked Beijing last year by asserting that Washington had a national security interest in the peaceful resolution of the disputes over the Spratly Islands.

The potentially oil-rich islands are located in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea), between Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia, and straddle some of the world's busiest sea lanes.

China seeks to resolve the disputes through bilateral talks with five other claimants, including the Philippines. Beijing has rejected any U.S. role in the resolution of the disputes over the islands.

Philippine military spokeswoman 1st Lt. Cherryl Tindog said an Oct. 27 drill will involve a mock raid by about 100 U.S. and Filipino marines from an American warship to capture a hostile beachhead west of Palawan province, which faces the South China Sea.

Other events include a live-fire exercise in Crow Valley in Tarlac province, north of Manila, and medical missions and school constructions in several Philippine towns.

One Filipino-occupied island was proposed as a possible site for joint training but was ruled out to avoid antagonizing China and other claimants. The island lies close to a Spratly reef occupied by Chinese forces and an island separately occupied by Vietnamese forces. The information came from two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

Philippines marine Brig. Gen. Eugenio Clemen said the exercises with U.S. forces would be confined to the country's territory so "nobody could question that."

The Philippines and Vietnam, another Spratlys claimant, have separately accused Chinese vessels of intruding into what they say is their part of the contested areas and of disrupting oil explorations in their territorial waters this year.

Both countries have since discussed those allegations with China and renewed calls for the peaceful resolution of the disputes, easing monthslong tensions.

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Taiwan will deploy missile in Spratlys downplayed by the Philippines - Sultanate State of Sulu worried

Itu Aba Island (Taiwan: Taiping Island (Chinese: 太平島; pinyin: Tàipíng Dǎo; Vietnamese: Đảo Ba Bình; Filipino: Ligaw/Ligao), is the largest of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and the only island with a freshwater supply. The island is elliptical in shape being 1.4 km in length and 0.4 km in width. It is part of the Tizard Bank (Zheng He Reefs), one of seven reefs in the Spratly Islands near the centre of the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea)

Taiwan's defense minister has backed a plan to deploy advanced missiles in the island Itu Aba (Taiwan: Taiping, Filipino: Ligao-Ligao, Vietnamese: Đảo Ba Bình) in Spratlys over concerns that rival claimants to disputed islands are building up their arms, a legislator said Thursday.

Kao Hua-chu endorsed a proposal passed by the country's defense committee Wednesday (October 12, 2011) demanding coastguard units in Itu Aba (Taiping) and the Pratas islands -- claimed by China - be armed with Chaparral or Tien Chien I missiles.

"Minister Kao made it clear that he supports the proposal," he was quoted as saying in a statement released by Lin Yu-fang, the legislator from the ruling Kuomintang who pushed for the deployment.

Philippines defense department spokesman Zosimo Jesus Paredes said the country enjoyed good relations with Taiwan and believed its plan to supply missiles to coastguard units in the areas it claims was not a threat to the Philippines.

"We cannot dictate on Taiwan on what or what not to do," However, he said Manila was prepared to "defend to the hilt" islets it has already occupied in the Spraltys.

But when asked whether Manila considered a move towards aggression, he said: "Not really… we should not be over reactive."

However, the lobbying of power the Sultan of the Sultanate State of Sulu and North Borneo; Sultan Kiram is worry of this as he believed that the whole Spratlys is belong to his territory and under his sovereignty and belong to his people majority the Muslim people in Southern Philippines and Sultanate State of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah).

Sultan Kiram revived his claim and challenged the Philippines government Saturday (October 15, 2011) to support them to take-over the North Borneo (Sabah) from Malaysia which is links to the islands of Palawan and the Spratlys Archipelago.

Sultan Kiram reminded the Philippines that the North Borneo (Sabah) is belong to the Sultanate State of Sulu and Borneo that links Palawan islands and Spratlys Archipelago which rightful owner is the Filipino people after turning-over his rights to the Philippines government in 1967.

He reminded also the majority Christian Filipinos that the North Borneo which is called now as Sabah by Malaysia was illegally captured by Britain and give it to Malaysia without his approval.

Taking-over back North Borneo (Sabah) will give more chance to the Philippines and the Sultanate State of Sulu to control the islands in the Spratlys – Kalayaan Island Group and the southern part of Palawan islands which is also claimed by Kuala Lumpur.

The deployment of advance missile by Taiwan triggered concern to the Sultan of the Sultanate state of Sulu as it is considered as belligerent action of Taiwan might triggers conflict and unwanted war  in his territory in the spratlys.

Apparently mindful of rising regional tensions, Kao said the Taiwanese coastguards may need advanced weaponry rather than the Chaparral which Taiwan first acquired in the 1980s.

"Perhaps Tien Chien I or more advanced air defense missile systems should be given priority since the Chaparral is pretty old," Kao said.

The plan came following a report in July which found that Taiwan's coastguards in the contested waters were vulnerable amid mounting tensions.

Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, China, Malaysia, and the Philippines claim all or part of the Spratlys, which could lie on top of large oil reserves.

The Taiwanese coastguard currently has a 130-strong garrison on Itu Iba island (Taiping), the biggest island in the Spratlys archipelago.

Lin said the proposed ground-to-air missile deployment would be legitimate, citing the ministry's recent report on the military buildups by Vietnam and other neighboring countries in the area.

Vietnam has deployed thousands of marines in the zone, backed Russia-made Su-27SK and Su-30MK2 fighter jets; Lin cited the report as saying.

"In stark contrast, the Taiwanese coastguards are only equipped with 20-mm air defense guns," he said in a statement.

The defense ministry added that in case of military conflicts, Taiwanese coastguards could hardly defend themselves against the Philippine forces equipped with naval gunboats, Lin added

The Philippines said Sunday it was prepared to defend its claims in the South China Sea, but downplayed a plan by Taiwan to deploy missiles in the area

Paredes stressed the government still believed in pursuing a peaceful solution, but stressed Taiwan's move might be misunderstood by some claimants as provocative.

He said Taiwan's move could be seen as "unsettling" by other claimants to the area, stressing that it should have officially informed them of its plan so as not to escalate tensions.

"I think moves like these should be coordinated (with other claimants) so that we will not be taken aback," he said.

On the other hand, the neighboring countries surrounding Taiwan and Hainan China is on the hand to support the Philippines of its Spratlys claim. Australia and Japan pronounced their support to the Philippines which later the New Zealand followed.

USA as the most powerful ally of the Philippines turnover its Hamilton Class cutter warship to the Philippines to boost its naval patrol in the Spartlys and recently but not yet confirmed by our team, the South Korea will offer also a navy patrol boat to the Philippines to be use in patrolling in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea).

To follow more consolidate and contributed issues about the Spratlys join the Hikot's Spratlys Page.

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Vietnam side by side Philippines - China disputed sea Row

Vietnam signed with the Philippines

The Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to protect the delicate marine ecosystem in the West Philippine Sea from threats of overexploitation, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The DFA said the agreement was made to address illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing in accordance with the national laws of both countries.

Senior officials of both countries also endorsed the enhancement of cooperation on maritime and ocean matters. This includes the elevation of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns into a vice ministerial level, continued support for the Joint Oceanographic and Marine Scientific Research in the South China Sea, and implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement on Oil Spill Preparedness and the MOA on Search and Rescue at Sea.

The Philippines is also worry of any possible damage that would greatly affect the Philippines Marine Ecosystem as the Spratlys sea bed is link and inter connected with the Philippines and the area is just very close to the country than the other claimants.

The Philippines is also aware of any unwanted oil spills in the sea will closely affect the Palawan seas as the area is just few kilometers away and the Spratlys  is within Philippines' proximity.

The Philippines and Vietnam are claimants to the potentially oil-rich waters and land features of West Philippine Sea.

The DFA said the Philippines and Vietnam agreed to speed up implementation of the MOA on Defense Cooperation and the MOA on Academic Cooperation as 11 areas of cooperation were reviewed.

"This is more than a wish list. It is a commitment to steer Philippines-Vietnam relations towards a more meaningful and deeper cooperation," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said.

Del Rosario acknowledged the 11 areas of cooperation reviewed by senior officials of both countries at the 6th Philippines-Vietnam Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation held in Hanoi on Oct. 6 and 7 2011.

The MOA on Defense Cooperation and the MOA on Academic Cooperation were signed last year.

This year, the Philippines and Vietnam are celebrating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Since the last Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in 2008, the two countries worked together on a number of areas such as political cooperation, defense and security, trade and investments, maritime and ocean concerns, agriculture, energy, tourism, education and culture.

Del Rosario and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the official exchanges that continue to give impetus to the bilateral relations, notably the positive outcomes of the visit to Vietnam by President Aquino in October 2010 and the forthcoming visit of President Truong Tang to the Philippines later this month.

An action plan for 2011-2016 is expected to be launched during President Tang's visit to drive the cooperation to a comprehensive and solid partnership.

China and Vietnam sign agreement to cool sea dispute

China and Vietnam signed an agreement seeking to contain a dispute over the South China Sea that has stoked tensions between the two Communist-ruled neighbors divided by a history of distrust, China's official news agency said on Wednesday.

Diplomats signed the six-point agreement on Tuesday (October 11, 2011), while the General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, held conciliatory talks with Hu Jintao, who is China's Communist Party chief and president.

Vietnam and China, the Philippines - as well as, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan - stake conflicting claims of sovereignty over parts of the South China Sea, a potentially oil and gas rich body of water spanned by key shipping lanes.

Under the deal that builds on Beijing's efforts to cool tensions over rival territorial claims in the South China Sea, the two sides agreed to open a hotline to deal with potential maritime flare-ups and hold border negotiation talks twice a year.

"The two countries should remain committed to friendly consultations in order to properly handle maritime issues and make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation," said the agreement, according to China's Xinhua news agency.

"Both sides should solve maritime disputes through negotiations and friendly consultations."

The bridge-building effort could dispel some of the rancour that has built up in the region, setting Beijing against Southeast Asian nations that have turned to the United States to counter growing Chinese military and political influence.

Last month, China's top official newspaper warned that a joint energy project between India and Vietnam in the sea infringed China's territorial claims.

In May and June, Vietnam accused Chinese vessels of harassing Vietnamese ships within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone. China denied its ships had done anything wrong.

Businessmen and diplomats say China has pressured foreign firms in deals with Vietnam not to develop oil blocks in the sea.

China helped Vietnamese Communist forces to victory in their decades-long fight against U.S. backed forces, but the two Asian nations have a history of mutual distrust reflecting Vietnam's anxieties about its much bigger neighbor. In 1979, they fought a short but bitter border war.

On the day that the agreement was signed, China's President Hu told Vietnam's party chief Trong their two countries should try to get along.

Inspite of the Philippines leading for the Unity for the ASEAN to solve the Spratlys disputes; China still insist for 1 on 1 resolution and refused the challenge of the Philippines to bring the issue to the United Nations ITLOS. 

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2 laws - UNLCOS 200 and "Archipelagic States" to End Spratlys Disputes

The following Countries competing to owned the vast oil and gas resource Spratlys: The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, China, Taiwan (China), Indonesia, Malaysia.

Written by: Dan We ( Twitter: @Dan_We_)

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW...

The most powerful country – the USA is under the LAW and they governed their states and country UNDER THE LAW

CHINA is NOT ABOVE THE LAW... China govern their people under their communist law

The fueling disputes in the West Philippines Sea (WPS) or also called as South China Sea (SCS) might be the flash point which leads to the never ever wanted 3rd World War. (WWIII)

No one ever wants to have their people die from war and conflicts. The good leader must learn how to respect and be respected. A good leader must know how to lower his pride to avoid tensions. A good leader must learn that there is a doom beyond their unlimited pride and ambition to rule the world by their arms.

China has been so confident to replace the US power but their move is not in the right direction. China could bully small neighbors economically but not by arms because small ants are willing to bite and eat the dragon’s flesh if their colony is destroyed and overtaken. Small ants could be worthless but could weaken the dragons power while another giants will come to the rescue and to end the dragons ambition.

China must first plant a good seeds of trust; seeds of unity, seeds of love and seeds of power and wait that those planted seeds would grow and bear fruits for what they have planted for them to overtake other power. It’s early for china to say they are powerful if the whole countries around them are against their power. Unlike US, China never planted any seeds and wants to reap the fruit of the other peasant.

The bottom-line is china would live alone if they will make the unwanted stupid mistake. Any wrong move of china could ends its power both arm and economy. Any wrong move of china will trigger the world to fight against them lead by the US Power, United Nations and the ASEAN nations.

China must have to think that among top 10 Super powers of the World; they got only 1 friend to fight with the other 8.  2 super powers versus 8 super powers is the doom’s day of China and his 1 ally. Who will take over china’s power if they are in the doom’s day? Korea? Vietnam? Russia? India? Mongolia? USA? or Japan?

China! Look before you leap and think before you talk. You must learn how to grow in a peaceful way. You must learn how to get along with other country’s culture than just yours. And you must follow the 2 laws that would end the disputes of the seas.

2- Laws of the United Nations to end the Spratlys disputes.

The first provision of law applicable to the disputed Spratlys is the law formulated by the United Nations in Jamaica last December 10, 1982. The provision for the Archipelagic States.

(1.)           THE ARCHIPELAGIC STATES

The Philippines and four other states (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Bahamas) got the approval in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) held in Jamaica last December 10, 1982. They were qualified as archipelagic states.

In various conferences of the United Nations on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippines which is composed of 7,107 islands PLUS... is RECOGNIZED AS ARCHIPELAGIC STATES given freedom forming its archipelago that  composed of groups of islands forming a state as a single unit, with the islands and the waters within the baselines as internal waters. By this concept (archipelagic doctrine), an archipelago shall be regarded as a single unit, so that the waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, irrespective of their “breadth and dimensions”, form part of the internal waters of the state, subject to its exclusive sovereignty

The approval of the United Nations for the 5 countries as Archipelagic States must be respected by the world for the 5 countries:

1.      The Philippines

2.      Indonesia

3.      Papua New Guinea

4.      Fiji

5.      Bahamas

The  above mentioned countries could enjoy undisputable sovereignty of the waters and islands around them from the said laws. Waters around their country between and connecting the islands of the archipelago, irrespective of their breadth and dimension form part of the internal waters of the states and is belong to its sovereignty. This provision of the UNCLOS is very clear that this law could end the disputes of the Spratlys. The United Nations could not formulate again another provision that would opposed the above “Archipelagic State”.

For the Philippines – The Spratlys is considered as the waters around the Philippines between and connecting the islands of the archipelago, irrespective of their breadth and dimension form part of the internal waters of the states which simply means Spratlys is part of the Philippines sovereignty and the Philippines don’t have any disputable issues between china and other countries who are not classified as “Archipelagic States”.

(2.)          The United Nations Conventions of the law of Sea (UNCLOS) 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone

The 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone is another provision of the law by the UNCLOS that could resolve the Spratlys disputes.

Regardless of what kind of law of china have for its country is not acceptable in the international law would deem that their law is invalid and must be superseded by the United Nations Law that for the particular disputes that would affect many countries around them.

For the following Countries competing to owned the vast oil and gas resource Spratlys:

1.      The Philippines

2.      Brunei

3.      Vietnam

4.      China

5.      Taiwan (China)

6.      Indonesia

7.      Malaysia

The 7 countries mentioned above competing claims have their common grounds which is the UNCLOS 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone. Each country might have to study first if their claim is valid or not.

For the Philippines; 2 provision of laws that would protect them to own the Spratlys exclusively with undisputable sovereignty by the application of the “Archipelagic States” that say the waters around the Philippines between and connecting the islands of the archipelago, irrespective of their breadth and dimension form part of the internal waters of the states which simply means Spratlys is part of the Philippines sovereignty and the Philippines don’t have any disputable issues between china and other countries who are not classified as “Archipelagic States”.

Secondly the Philippines still subject to enjoy the second provision of laws of the United Nations Conventions Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone. Since most part of the Spratlys is within 200 Nautical Miles Economic Zone of the Country then Majority stakes for the Spratlys sovereignty is lawful to be granted to the Philippines. “Proximity” the Spratlys is just within Philippines backyard.

The application of the 2 provisions of laws of the United Nations Convention of the Laws of Sea (UNCLOS) the  “Archipelagic States” and the “200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone” means the “Whole Spratlys” is under the Philippines Sovereignty and the Philippines supposed to be must enjoy their undisputed territory in both their main land and the Spratlys.

The Paracels is another disputed islands between Vietnam and China which both of them could benefit the 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone must send the disputes to the United Nations and they will signed an agreement to solve the disputes peacefully. The United Nations also must mediate and implement the law to end the disputes.

WHAT MUST CHINA DO? (AN SO ORDER!)

1.       China must respect Vietnam’s territory and 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone from Vietnam Shore (The Paracel Conflict between China and Vietnam) and vice versa, Vietnam must respect also the China’s 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone.

2.       China must stop disputing with the Philippines as the Philippines is recognized by the United Nations as Archipelagic States which means water and islands  connecting the Philippines regardless of its breadth is belong to the Philippines sovereignty.

3.       China must settle the disputes with Vietnam in the United Nations and respect the UNCLOS 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone.

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Japan - Philippines Tighten Defense Ties for Sea disputes over China

Bolstering defense Japan - Philippines

Japan and the Philippines agreed on during the visit of the Philippines' president to Japan September 27, 2011 to strengthen maritime security ties, while also underscoring the importance of preserving peace and stability in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) amid rising tensions with China.

China has pronounced many times that they owned everything the in West Philippines Sea that worries other tiger economies in Asia such as Japan & South Korea which major of their trades are passing the world's most busiest sea in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea – Spratlys archipelago.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and the Philippines President Benigno Aquino III met, on a four-day visit to Japan. Japanese Prime Minister told reporters that the two sides committed to bolstering "cooperation between coastguards and defense-related authorities."

A joint statement said bilateral ties have evolved from friendly relations to a "strategic partnership," and called for more collaboration on "regional and global issues of mutual concern and interest." The two countries also agreed to conduct frequent discussions on defense at more senior levels and increase the number of Japan Coast Guard missions to help train their Philippines counterparts.

Although the agreement does not directly mention China, it is a major symbolic step toward a multilateral consensus in Asia on dealing with increasing territorial friction with China.

China maintain its claim to the whole West Philippines Sea & South China Sea  with its 9 dotted map inspite of criticism of the ASEAN neighbor with 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone claim in the sea.

The Philippines and China both lay claim to the Spratly Islands; an archipelago in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea that geologists think may lie atop significant oil and gas deposits and rumored to be the 4^th largest oil and gas deposit in the world. Philippines' officials have accused Chinese vessels of hindering oil and gas exploration in a portion of the waters known as Recto Bank (Reed Bank) which is just few kilometers off Palawan Province – Philippines says this is not part of the disputed areas. Vietnam, which also claims part of the Spratly chain, has likewise complained of China's increasingly assertive claims in the region.

China's Fishing Vessel tactics

China has been noticed by the neighbors that they are using fishing vessel tactics which equipped with high powered weapon to enter other waters. Japan learned from China's tactic after China invaded the Mischief Reef few kilometers off Palawan province of the Philippines using the fishermen vessel to erect a fishermen shelter then later converted it into a Military Garrison even inside the Philippines territory.

In 2011 alone, Japan intercepted Chinese Fishing vessel entering their waters. Moreover, Indonesia's coastguard also arrested Chinese entering their seas using a fishing vessel.

The recent issue that escalate tension between Vietnam and China happened also this year when Chinese fishing vessel cut the cable of the Petro Vietnam, a Vietnam Government Owned Oil exploration which china alibi as it is just a Chinese Fishing vessel and mistakenly drag the cable but later admitted that Vietnam is illegally operating in the area as they said its owned and they do not violated any law and they are not invading.

The Philippines didn't escape from China's harassment. China harassed Filipino Fishermen in the Philippines Waters saying to leave the area because it belongs to china, then another incident happened when China fired the Filipino Fishermen in the Palawan Sea and put markers in the Island and waters in Palawan shore.

Japan too, has seen its relations with China strained by a territorial dispute, this one over islands in the East China Sea. A war of words broke out between Beijing and Tokyo last autumn following the arrest of a Chinese fishing crew by the Japanese coast guard, and the year since has brought a series of incursions by Chinese ships into the disputed waters. Mr. Noda earlier this month voiced concern over China's military build-up and increased maritime activity near Japan.

The agreement between Japan and the Philippines stresses the two countries' shared interests, bringing the similar but separate maritime squabbles with China under a larger cooperative umbrella.

"The peaceful settlement of disputes serves the interests of the two countries and the whole region," said the joint statement, signed by both leaders. Japan and the Philippines "share the recognition that these same interests should also be advanced and protected in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea."

Responding to the Japan-Philippines meeting, China's foreign ministry on Tuesday (September 27, 2011) reiterated its claim to the disputed waters in the South China Sea.

"China has indisputable sovereignty over the island and surrounding waters of the South China Sea," said ministry spokesman Hong Lei in Beijing.

Regardless of many criticisms, China never leaves the phrases; "we owned everything" & "China has indisputable sovereignty over the island and surrounding waters". Philippines Challenged China to bring the disputes to the United Nations to end it but China refused and said we are only open to bilateral settlement not to the United Nations. 

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Royal Dutch Shell Plc toplist the Philippines as Investment priority

Royal Dutch Shell- Shell Philippines Exploration BV is interested to invest another $1 billion to increase the production of the Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power project off Palawan and announced earlier that it would pursue its Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project in the Philippines. Shell Philippines vice president for communication Roberto S. Kanapi said there are opportunities for investment and expansion, unlike in the past when the Philippines was placed on low priority.

OIL AND GAS: The fifth largest company in the World - Royal Dutch Shell Plc has placed the Philippines in its investment map as it sees growth opportunities in the country.

The Royal Dutch Shell plc commonly known as Shell is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world (and the second-largest energy company) according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six oil and gas "Super Majors". It is vertically integrated and is active in every area of the oil and gas industry, including exploration and production, refining, distribution and marketing, petrochemicals, power generation and trading. It also has major renewable energy activities, including in biofuels, hydrogen, solar and wind power.

Shell has operations in over 90 countries including the Philippines and produces around 3.1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day and has 44,000 service stations worldwide

On a press conference in the Philippines, Shell V-President for communication Roberto S. Kanapi told reporters that there were opportunities for investment and expansion in the Philippines, unlike in the past when the Philippines were placed on its low priority.

“Increasing demands, opening of several areas for oil and gas exploration and strengthen competition makes the industry exciting as the Philippines untapped resources opens its gate for early birds. Shell did not show any details yet but putting the Philippines for their high priority of investments might say there are lots of things to happen soon... There are plans for Shell in the Philippines as saw that the Philippines is an attractive market and a growing market at that. And I think the change in governance also helped a lot,” Kanapi explained.

“As for the cases we are facing, we will go to courts with that and that is part of doing business in the Philippines, but we are prepared for that. We are looking more into the opportunities than the threats,” he added.

The Shell Companies in the Philippines is now in the process of completing a study that will determine the next steps for its refinery in Tabangao, Batangas—as to whether it will be expanded or upgraded to cater to the increasing local demand.

Kanapi said that they expected to complete the study next year in 2012. The decision to list Shell on the local bourse would also largely hinge on the results of the study, he added.

Royal Dutch Shell, through its upstream unit Shell Philippines Exploration BV, is likewise showing interest  to invest another $1 billion to increase the production and extend the life of the Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power project off Palawan.

SPEX, along with other consortium members Chevron and PNOC Exploration Corporation, plans to invest about $250 million for the second phase of the Malampaya project, which will entail the drilling and development of two additional wells. This is expected to be completed by February 2014. Another $750 million will be invested for the third phase, which will involve the installation of a new platform where additional equipment and facilities will be housed by December 2015.

“The projects, entailing new investments, are seen to further benefit the Philippines in energy self-sufficiency and government revenues and will continue to be a major source of power for Luzon’s energy requirements in the years to come,” SPEX said.

Meanwhile, Royal Dutch Plc has also expressed interest in participating in the liquefied natural gas program of the government.

Edgar Chua, country chairman for Shell Companies in the Philippines, had said that the company was interested in becoming a supplier of LNG as well as in putting up the necessary infrastructure, including the “regasification” facility and pipelines which required huge investments.

Mr. Chua did not indicate if Shell would be interested in bidding for the proposed 100 kilometer Batangas-Manila natural gas pipeline that will require as much as $1.3 Billion Dollars in investment of which $500 million will go to the construction of the pipeline while another $700 million to $800 million will be needed for the “regasification” facility and the receiving LNG terminal.

Chua only noted that Shell would likely look for other potential local partners for its planned foray into the Philippine LNG industry.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc announced earlier that it would pursue its Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) Project in the Philippines.

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₱5 Billion Armament Budget to Secure West Philippines Oil and Gas Field Approved by President Aquino

President Benigno Aquino III has approved the release of ₱4.9 Billion from the Malampaya fund to strengthen the defenses of natural gas exploration in northern Palawan, National Treasurer Roberto Tan said Wednesday (September 14, 2011).

The fund to be released this month, will be disbursed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the purchased of New smaller patrol vessel, 4 radar Station, Tanks, and modern assault rifles and ammunitions. The AFP was tasked to acquire and deploy a support fleet of ships smaller than the Hamilton class BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

As early as last March, the Philippine military sent an aircraft to the disputed Recto Bank ( Reed Bank) near Palawan following reports that Chinese patrol boats were trying to harass a Filipino oil exploration team there.

Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, chief of the AFP Western Mindanao Command, said the Chinese were claiming the exploration team from the Department of Energy was in Chinese territory where in fact the Recto Bank is just in the backyard of the Philippines, within 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone, while china is within thousands of Kilometers.

BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the Philippine Navy's largest and newly acquired ship, is a symbol of the Philippines' "seriousness" in fortifying the protectors of the country's maritime resources.

The Gregorio del Pilar, however, is less than half the size of China's first aircraft carrier that is expected to go on sea trials by the end of September. The Philippines' largest ship is 367 feet long, compared to China's Shi Lang that measures 1,000 feet.

₱100 Billion Malampaya "Commingled" Fund Missing?

The National Treasurer also disclosed Wednesday at the joint congressional oversight committee hearing on the comprehensive tax reform package that the Malampaya fund, with a remaining balance of ₱99.45 Billion, exists as a "commingled" special account in the government's general fund.

He said the Malampaya collections from 2002 to August 2011 totaled ₱121.97 Billion, of which ₱21.645 Billion was disbursed partly to pay for the Hamilton class ship which the Philippines bought from the United States of America.

During the hearing, Senator Ralph Recto made an issue out of the "commingled" status of the Malampaya fund and said that the fund was missing. Recto argued that the fund cannot be used for any purpose other than those for which it was created.

In a July 5 statement, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad explained the Malampaya fund was "…not actual cash but an accounting of revenue inflows and expenditure items charged against the Fund since revenues were remitted to the government from the Malampaya Natural Gas Project since it started in 2002."

The Malampaya special account is known at the Department of Budget and Management as Fund 151 and is managed by the Bureau of Treasury and the Energy Department.

Abad also said back in July that the Aquino administration had charged ₱2.87 Billion to the Malampaya account for "necessary energy-related" expenditures:

·        ₱2 Billion for fuel requirements of the National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG), to avert a power shortage in off-grid areas

·        ₱450 million for the Pantawid Pasada program as direct support to jeepney and tricycle drivers affected by the recent spate of oil price hikes and

·        ₱423 million for the purchase of the USS Hamilton cutter marine vessel to strengthen the security perimeter of the Malampaya Natural Gas Project.

Abad claimed that during the Arroyo administration only ₱250 million out of the ₱19.64 billion drawn from the fund was spent on an energy-related project that provided electricity to 211 villages in 2006

"The rest of the 98.73 percent or ₱19.39 billion was released for non-energy related projects," Abad noted and broke it down as follows:

·        In 2006, ₱1 billion for the Armed Forces Modernization Fund (What AFP modernization happened in 2006?)

·        In 2008, ₱4 billion for the Department of Agriculture

·        In 2009, a total of ₱14.39 billion to various agencies, including ₱7.07 billion for the Department of Public Works and Highways, ₱2.14 billion for the Philippine National Police, ₱1.82 billion for the Agriculture Department, ₱1.4 billion for the National Housing Authority, and ₱900 million for the Department of Agrarian Reform.

National Treasurer Tan said the ₱4.9 billion for the security build-up in northern Palawan will likely be raised through borrowings and then credited to Fund 151.

Budget Secretary Abad in a statement September 7 described how government will disburse the money for Malampaya defenses.

"The amount is divided between the capability requirements of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force. Of this amount, ₱2.65 billion will fund base support and logistic system, coast watch requirements; and the acquisition of a high-endurance cutter sea vessel and three helicopters of the Philippine Navy."

"Meanwhile, the Air Force will be using ₱2.30 billion to purchase three helicopters and develop a base-hangar," Abad said.

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