Australia, Indonesia to Hold Joint South China Sea Patrols

On Tuesday, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that Australia is contemplating on joint naval patrols with Indonesia in the disputed South China Sea.

Indonesia’s invitation for joint patrols at a bilateral meeting in Bali last week was in line with Australia’s policies of exerting its right of freedom of navigation, Bishop said.

Bishop told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio that patrolling the contested waters is in accordance with international law. It also shows the country’s support for peace and stability in the region.

Australia is a steadfast ally of the United States. It has earlier elicited criticism from China for conducting surveillance flights over disputed islands in the South China Sea. The country also supports U.S. freedom of navigation exercises there.

The South China Sea, where close to $5 trillion of sea-borne trade transits annually, is almost wholly claimed by China. Last month, China advised Australia to act and speak cautiously on the South China Sea.

The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims on parts of the sea. The area is considered to have heavy deposits of oil and gas.

Indonesia and Australia already carry out joint sea patrols in the Timor Sea as part of the countries’ collaboration on battling illegal fishing and people smuggling.

Bishop said that Australia and Indonesia would advise other nations in the region of any scheduled exercise.

A part of Australia’s commitment

She said that the sea patrols are a regular part of what the Australian navy does. This is part of their commitment in the region. Such operations are in line with Australia’s right of freedom of navigation including in the South China Sea.

In July, following a case brought by the Philippines, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague said China’s assertions to the waterway were invalid. Beijing, which has erected several artificial islands with landing strips in the sea, has rejected the ruling.

The post Australia, Indonesia to Hold Joint South China Sea Patrols appeared first on Newsline.

Status Quo at Contested Scarborough Shoal has not changed — China

The situation at the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea “has not changed and will not change”, China said on Monday. This after the Philippines said Chinese ships that barred the area for four years had stopped bullying its fishermen.

On Sunday, Philippine security officials said China had reduced its naval presence at the shoal. The change occurred after President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Beijing. Duterte’s state visit was intended at mending ties and wooing investment.

The conditions behind China’s seeming softening of its position are unclear, though the disputed territory is important for the expansive balance of power in the South China Sea.

Hua Chunying, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, was questioned about Philippine fishermen entering the area unhindered. She said China at all times had “normal administration” over the Scarborough Shoal.

“The relevant situation has not changed and will not change,” she told a regular briefing.

Hua said Duterte’s trip to Beijing demonstrated a general improvement in relations.

Since appropriating the Scarborough Shoal in 2012, China had prevented fishermen from fishing in the area.

Philippine fishermen said that Chinese boats had left them alone as they returned from the area during the weekend with loads of fish.

It infuriated the Chinese when the previous Philippine government filed a case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2013. This was after China started blocking its fishermen from the prime fishing spot.

The tribunal ruled in July in favor of the Philippines, which China declines to accept. The court declared that no one country had sovereign rights over the shoal. Further, as a customary fishing ground, Philippine, Chinese and Vietnamese were entitled to access it.

Duterte thaws the ice

After Duterte took office four months ago, a frigid Philippine-China relationship improved considerably. The Philippine president began praising China as he denounced long-standing ally the United States in a reversal of his predecessor’s foreign policy.

Hermogenes Esperon, Duterte’s national security adviser, confirmed there had been no arrangement between the two countries about the Scarborough Shoal.

The dispute had not been settled and the Philippines would reaffirm its rights when bilateral talks resume, he said. Though he acknowledged that “the climate has changed”.

“They have coastguard ships there, there are no more navy ships and our fishermen are no longer accosted, they are not driven away,” Esperon said.

“In short, they are more friendly now.”

 

The post Status Quo at Contested Scarborough Shoal has not changed — China appeared first on Newsline.

Philippine President Duterte Guarantees Japan; No Military Alliance with China

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in Tokyo for a three-day talk about economic and other shared interest with Japan, and also to assure Japan that his recent visit to Beijing last week was about building economic ties.

Outspoken President Duterte’s visit to Japan comes with harsh statements against its long-time ally the United States, threatening he might abrogate defense treaties.

Last week the President announced his “separation” from the United States. Nevertheless, after a few days, he explained that he was not “severing” ties. Further, he insisted he was merely pursuing independent foreign policy.

His aggressively confusing statements poses a worry for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is strengthening  ties with Washington while building security relations with Manila and other Southeast Asian countries to counter China’s military activities.

The President said in a Japanese Business Forum, “You know I went to China for a visit. And I would like to assure you that all there was, was economics. We did not talk about arms. We avoided talking about alliances…”

“We did not talk about arms. We did not talk about the stationing of troops.”
Telling Japan is a “long-standing friend and ally.”

President Duterte said he does not want to fight with his neighbors. However, he released a statement saying he is not a “dog on a leash” and added to cancel Philippines’ defense pacts with the United States.

“I have declared that I will pursue an independent foreign policy. I want, maybe in the next two years, my country free of the presence of foreign military troops. I want them out,” he added. “And if I have to revise or abrogate agreements, executive agreements, this shall be the last maneuver, war games between the United States and the Philippines military.”

For the past 2 months, the President has threatened to abrogate defense agreements with the United States.

President Duterte’s relationship with Beijing poses a threat for both Tokyo and Washington.

Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino angered China by lodging an arbitration case in The Hague. It was a formal challenge to the legitimacy of China’s maritime claim in the South China Sea. Earlier this year, a ruling came out in favor of Manila. It was immediately rejected by China, with warnings to Tokyo and Washington to stay out of the feud.

Japan an ‘old reliable friend’

The President is also expected to have bilateral talks with PM Shinzo Abe, and sought to assure that his friendship was firm despite his row with Washington.

“We would like to make the guarantee that we will also be a partner in the player of maritime safety, maritime security in the China Sea and that we would like to avoid at all costs violence because … we have to resolve it peacefully and in accordance with international law,” said President Duterte.

“Japan is an old and reliable friend of the Philippines. This is a special friendship we hope to keep and continue.”

The post Philippine President Duterte Guarantees Japan; No Military Alliance with China appeared first on Newsline.

China Criticizes New Zealand Defense Minister On South China Sea Position

At a forum in Beijing on Tuesday, China admonished New Zealand’s defense minister over his stand on tensions in the South China Sea. A top Chinese Official voiced her displeasure by saying countries not involved should not interfere.

$5 trillion worth of commercial traffic passes through the South China Sea each year. China claims this body of water almost entirely. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan also have claims to parts of the sea.

In July, an international tribunal in the Hague declared that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights. It also stated they had no historic title over the waters in the area. Expectedly, Beijing dismissed the court’s authority.

Gerry Brownlee, New Zealand Defense Minister, spoke at the start of the Xiangshan forum. He said that his country opposes actions that destabilize peace and erode trust. In addition, he said they would like to see all sides actively take steps to ease those tensions.

“As a small maritime trading nation, international law and, in particular, the United Nations convention on the law of the sea is important for New Zealand. We support arbitral process and believe that countries have the right to seek that international resolution,” he said.

Chairwoman of China’s foreign affairs committee for parliament, Fu Ying, who also chairs the session, immediately made her comments after Brownlee’s remarks.

Fu said that they hope that countries who are not involved in the disputes respect the countries who are having the disputes to work among themselves. Further, she said that outside involvement or interferences can only confound the differences and sometimes add to the tension.

Several points of contention

China and New Zealand’s argument over the territorial dispute isn’t the first time.

New Zealand insisted on Chinese restraint in February when Beijing installed an advanced missile system on one of the islands. Beijing countered that New Zealand’s proposal was unconstructive.

On Tuesday, Brownlee took aim on the issue of China’s construction of artificial islands in the territory. This action has unsettled nerves around the region.

China claims a great deal of the building and reclamation effort it has been doing in the area is to benefit the international community.

The post China Criticizes New Zealand Defense Minister On South China Sea Position appeared first on Newsline.

No Joint Patrols in South China Sea, Philippines Tells US

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Friday that he informed the United States military that plans for joint patrols and naval maneuvers in the contested South China Sea have been suspended.

The defense chief also said once the Philippines secures surveillance drones in the near future, US troops involved in operating the intelligence-gathering devices against Muslim insurgents would be requested to leave the southern part of the country.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte also wants to end all military exercises that are conducted each year. He plans to scale back from what he believes as over dependence on the US.

Duterte’s relationship with the United States, the country’s longtime ally, has been shaky ever since he took office in June. He has been expressing in speeches his displeasure over the Obama administration’s comments on his bloody war against drugs. Now, he will be putting the relationship to test further by acting on his pronouncement to cut back cooperation with the US military in the Philippines.

The complicated period afflicting the relationship between the two countries cannot be denied. Nevertheless, Lorenzana believes that those ties would bounce back in due course.

Agreements with other allies unaffected

Duterte’s disagreements with Washington will not affect relations with other US allies. Japan, for example, has signed a deal to lease five small surveillance planes. Japan has also pledged to deliver patrol ships for the Philippine coast guard.

Lorenzana said the planes may arrive as early as next month and would boost the country’s territorial defense.

Duterte has reached out to Russia and China while holding a critical position on US security policies. Lorenzana said Duterte has ordered him to go to Moscow and Beijing. He plans to discuss what the Philippines can secure in terms of defense equipment.

 

The post No Joint Patrols in South China Sea, Philippines Tells US appeared first on Newsline.

Philippines’ Duterte: Russia, China Supportive When He Complained Against US

In a new tirade against Washington, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday he received support from China and Russia when he complained to them about the United States.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev had agreed with him during a meeting on the sidelines of a leader’s summit in Laos last month when he criticized the United States, Duterte said.

Duterte disclosed during a speech, “I am revealing it to you now. I told him this is the situation: They are giving me a hard time. They are disrespecting me. They are shameless.”

“He said: ‘That is really how the Americans are.’ He said: ‘We will help you.’”

US President Barack Obama’s voicing over his opposition to Duterte’s deadly war on drugs has been a cause for annoyance for the Filipino president.

Duterte had called Obama a “son of a bitch” when Obama raised concerns about Duterte’s bloody campaign on drugs. This has caused the White House to cancel a meeting between the two leaders in Laos.

Duterte also mentioned his complaints about the United States to China, he said on Sunday. According to Duterte, a Chinese official said that the Philippines would not gain from siding with the United States.

As part of Duterte’s quest for an independent foreign policy, he has mentioned frequently that he intends to forge new partnerships with Russia and China, specifically for trade and commerce.

Duterte will visit Beijing on October 19 to 21 accompanied by a Philippine business delegation.

Re-evaluation of security arrangement with the US

In another jab at the US, Duterte said that he would review a significant security agreement with the United States, as it may not be binding since it does not bear the signature of the president of the Philippines. The US ambassador and then Philippine defense secretary signed the agreement.

The landmark security deal, known as Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, was signed before Obama visited the Philippines in 2014. It grants US troops access to Philippine military bases. It also gives them authority to put up storage facilities for maritime security and disaster response operations.

Although Duterte did not overtly say that the deal would be cancelled, it would be a huge setback for US attempts to enhance its authority in Asia and offset that of a rapidly emerging China if it does happens.

The post Philippines’ Duterte: Russia, China Supportive When He Complained Against US appeared first on Newsline.

Singapore Cries Foul Over China Newspaper’s Fabricated South China Sea Story

Singapore’s Ambassador blamed one of China’s primary state run newspapers of inventing reports regarding Singapore’s stand on South China Sea territorial dispute. However, the newspaper publication shrugged off the accusations and stood firm on its story.

The Global Times reported on September 21, that Singapore raised the South China Sea issue during the summit of Non-Aligned Movement in Venezuela. Singapore included an International Tribunal’s ruling in the Philippine’s favor in a case it filed to counter China’s claims

The tabloid, run by China’s Communist Party, reported that opposition from “many” countries blocked Singapore’s effort.

The Times referred to an anonymous “person in the know”.

Stanley Loh, Singapore’s Ambassador to Beijing, sent a direct letter to The Global Times editor in chief Hu Xijin. Loh said the articles written were “false and unfounded”. He added “Contrary to the claim fabricated by the Global Times, the Singapore delegation did not raise the South China Sea or the tribunal ruling at the NAM Summit,”

Singapore declared their frustration with the publication for falsely reporting details. Loh said, “We are disappointed that an established newspaper published this irresponsible report replete with fabrications and unfounded allegations with no regard for the facts.”

The paper nevertheless, stood by their source. Hu, the editor in chief, responded to the accusation in the paper’s official micro blog. He determinedly vouched for the story and insisted that their source was “serious and reliable”. Therefore, he said he cannot accept the allegations of the Singaporean Ambassador.

U.S. jets aimed at China

Hu also stated that although Singapore did not have any claim to any of the disputed territories of the South China Sea, it sided with the Philippines and Vietnam. It even allowed U.S. combat aircraft to operate from its soil. He further said that it was no secret that the warplanes’ target was China.

A spokesman from China’s Foreign Ministry said they noted the reports. Both countries must also mutually appreciate and respect each other’s basic interests.

 

The post Singapore Cries Foul Over China Newspaper’s Fabricated South China Sea Story appeared first on Newsline.