A US warship sailed near a reef claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea on Thursday, a US official said, the first such operation by US President Donald Trump&#39;s administration in the disputed waterway.

The USS Dewey sailed &quot;less than 12 nautical miles&quot; from Mischief Reef -- part of the Spratly Islands -- early Thursday morning local time, the official said on condition of anonymity.

The guided-missile destroyer&#39;s &quot;freedom of navigation operation&quot; is likely to provoke anger from Beijing as the Trump administration attempts to draw support from China on reining in North Korea.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, despite partial counter-claims from Taiwan and several southeast Asian nations including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

It has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.

The US has challenged annexations of these islets and advocated for a diplomatic settlement to the disputes.

A Pentagon spokesman, Major Jamie Davis, said US forces operate in the South China Sea on a daily basis and will fly and sail &quot;wherever international law&quot; allows.

&quot;We have a comprehensive Freedom of Navigation Operations program that seeks to challenge excessive maritime claims in order to preserve the rights, freedoms, and uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under international law,&quot; Davis said in a statement to AFP.

The exercises are &quot;not about any one country, nor are they about making political statements,&quot; he added.

According to the Pentagon, the US in 2016 conducted operations &quot;challenging excessive maritime claims of 22 coastal states, including allies and partners.&quot;

Pence warning 
The US has long argued that Beijing&#39;s actions in the South China Sea threaten freedom of navigation and overflight through the strategically vital waters.

China denies these claims, countering that the US is eager to stoke tensions in the region.

Australia and other countries have supported the US exercises, but have so far been unwilling to participate.

During a visit to Japan in April, US Vice President Mike Pence said the United States would defend the right to freedom of navigation through the waterway.

Speaking in January in New Delhi, US Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris said Washington &quot;will not allow the shared domains to be closed down unilaterally -- no matter how many bases are built on artificial features in the South China Sea.&quot;

Last week, Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on a framework for creating a new code of conduct for ships and aircraft operating in the region.

The meeting was attended by ASEAN nations with claims in the region -- the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Under former President Benigno Aquino, the Philippines had adopted a tough stance on China&#39;s claims, which was tacitly backed by the US.

But the country&#39;s anger at the world&#39;s second largest economy has become a warm embrace following the election last year of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has declined to push China on territorial issues in the hopes of being rewarded with investment and aid.

On Tuesday, Duterte said that Chinese leaders had threatened to go to war over competing claims in the region during a meeting in Beijing. China&#39;s foreign ministry later said it would work with Manila to &quot;peacefully&quot; resolve disputes.&nbsp;

(AFP)

The USS Dewey sailed 'less than 12 nautical miles' from Mischief Reef -- part of the Spratly Islands -- early Thursday morning, an official said

A US warship sailed near a reef claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea on Thursday, a US official said, the first such operation by US President Donald Trump's administration in the disputed waterway. The USS Dewey sailed "less than 12 nautical miles" from Mischief Reef -- part of the Spratly Islands -- early Thursday morning local time, the official said on condition of anonymity. The guided-missile destroyer's "freedom of navigation operation" is likely to provoke anger from Beijing as the Trump administration attempts to draw support from China on reining in North Korea. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, despite partial counter-claims from Taiwan and several southeast Asian nations including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam. It has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. The US has challenged annexations of these islets and advocated for a diplomatic settlement to the disputes. A Pentagon spokesman, Major Jamie Davis, said US forces operate in the South China Sea on a daily basis and will fly and sail "wherever international law" allows. "We have a comprehensive Freedom of Navigation Operations program that seeks to challenge excessive maritime claims in order to preserve the rights, freedoms, and uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under international law," Davis said in a statement to AFP. The exercises are "not about any one country, nor are they about making political statements," he added. According to the Pentagon, the US in 2016 conducted operations "challenging excessive maritime claims of 22 coastal states, including allies and partners." Pence warning The US has long argued that Beijing's actions in the South China Sea threaten freedom of navigation and overflight through the strategically vital waters. China denies these claims, countering that the US is eager to stoke tensions in the region. Australia and other countries have supported the US exercises, but have so far been unwilling to participate. During a visit to Japan in April, US Vice President Mike Pence said the United States would defend the right to freedom of navigation through the waterway. Speaking in January in New Delhi, US Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris said Washington "will not allow the shared domains to be closed down unilaterally -- no matter how many bases are built on artificial features in the South China Sea." Last week, Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on a framework for creating a new code of conduct for ships and aircraft operating in the region. The meeting was attended by ASEAN nations with claims in the region -- the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. Under former President Benigno Aquino, the Philippines had adopted a tough stance on China's claims, which was tacitly backed by the US. But the country's anger at the world's second largest economy has become a warm embrace following the election last year of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has declined to push China on territorial issues in the hopes of being rewarded with investment and aid. On Tuesday, Duterte said that Chinese leaders had threatened to go to war over competing claims in the region during a meeting in Beijing. China's foreign ministry later said it would work with Manila to "peacefully" resolve disputes. (AFP)

US warship sails near South China Sea reef claimed by Beijing

China and countries belonging to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed on a new set of rules&nbsp;that will reduce friction involving the South China Sea.

China and member states of ASEAN approved the framework for South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) in order for the nations concerned to resolve territorial and maritime disputes.

The approval comes 15 years after China and ASEAN had decided to forge a set of guidelines.

China&#39;s foreign ministry released a party statement saying that all the nations had agreed to &quot;uphold using the framework of regional rules to manage and control disputes, to deepen practical maritime cooperation, to promote consultation on the code and jointly maintain the peace and stability of the South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&quot;.

But the ministry did not give any details of the newly-minted code of conduct.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhemin, in comments carried on state television, said the framework was comprehensive and took into account the concerns of all sides.

But he called on others to stay out, apparently a coded message to the United States.

&quot;We hope that our consultations on the code are not subject to any outside interference,&quot; Liu said.

The COC was given the green signal during the&nbsp;14th Senior Officials&#39; Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The meeting took place in Guiyang, in Guizhou province.

The permanent secretary of Singapore&#39;s foreign ministry, Chee Wee Kiong, said what he called a &quot;draft&quot; framework would be submitted to a meeting between the foreign ministers of&nbsp;China&nbsp;and the ASEAN states in August in the Philippines.

&quot;We hope to continue the positive momentum of consultation and make steady progress towards a substantive CoC based on consensus as directed by our leaders,&quot; Chee said, in remarks also shown on Chinese state television, referring to the code of conduct.

China&nbsp;claims almost the entire South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea, through which about $5 trillion in goods pass every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

Negotiators from&nbsp;China&nbsp;and ASEAN met in Indonesia and Cambodia in the last few months to try to reach a final draft, which could be approved ahead of the August meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers in the Philippines.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

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China said the framework was forged by taking into account concerns of ll sides, and indirectly asked the US to not interfere in the matter

China and countries belonging to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed on a new set of rules that will reduce friction involving the South China Sea. China and member states of ASEAN approved the framework for South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) in order for the nations concerned to resolve territorial and maritime disputes. The approval comes 15 years after China and ASEAN had decided to forge a set of guidelines. China's foreign ministry released a party statement saying that all the nations had agreed to "uphold using the framework of regional rules to manage and control disputes, to deepen practical maritime cooperation, to promote consultation on the code and jointly maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea". But the ministry did not give any details of the newly-minted code of conduct. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhemin, in comments carried on state television, said the framework was comprehensive and took into account the concerns of all sides. But he called on others to stay out, apparently a coded message to the United States. "We hope that our consultations on the code are not subject to any outside interference," Liu said. The COC was given the green signal during the 14th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The meeting took place in Guiyang, in Guizhou province. The permanent secretary of Singapore's foreign ministry, Chee Wee Kiong, said what he called a "draft" framework would be submitted to a meeting between the foreign ministers of China and the ASEAN states in August in the Philippines. "We hope to continue the positive momentum of consultation and make steady progress towards a substantive CoC based on consensus as directed by our leaders," Chee said, in remarks also shown on Chinese state television, referring to the code of conduct. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in goods pass every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. Negotiators from China and ASEAN met in Indonesia and Cambodia in the last few months to try to reach a final draft, which could be approved ahead of the August meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers in the Philippines. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

China, ASEAN agree to set of rules aimed to ease South China Sea tension

Southeast Asian leaders took a softer stance on disputes in the South China Sea during a summit that ended on Saturday, avoiding tacit references to China&#39;s building and arming of its manmade islands, according to the chairman&#39;s statement.

A final statement of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was not made available until Sunday, dropped the references to &quot;land reclamation and militarization&quot; included in the text issued at last year&#39;s meeting in Laos and an earlier, unpublished version seen by Reuters on Saturday.

The outcome follows what two ASEAN diplomats said were efforts by Chinese foreign ministry and embassy officials in Manila to pressure ASEAN chair the Philippines to keep Beijing&#39;s contentious activities in the strategic waterway off ASEAN&#39;s official agenda.

It also indicates four ASEAN members who the diplomats said had wanted a firmer position had agreed to the more conciliatory tone in the statement.

China is not a member of ASEAN and was not attending the summit but is extremely sensitive about the content of its statements and considers it a barometer of the bloc&#39;s dissent over its artificial islands in disputed waters.

China&#39;s embassy in Manila could not be reached and its foreign ministry did not respond to request for comment on Saturday.

The ASEAN statement also noted &quot;the improving cooperation between ASEAN and China&quot;, and did not include references to &quot;tensions&quot; or &quot;escalation of activities&quot; seen in earlier drafts and in last year&#39;s text. It noted some leaders&#39; concerns about &quot;recent developments&quot;.

Beijing has reacted angrily to members expressing their concern about its rapid reclamation of reefs in the Spratly archipelago and its installation of missile systems on them.

According to some experts, China is now capable of deploying combat aircraft on several of its manmade features.

Pointless to pressure

The softened statement comes as the current ASEAN chairman, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, seeks to bury the hatchet with China after years of wrangling over its maritime assertiveness, including its four-year blockade of the Scarborough Shoal.

Beijing has quietly eased that, in response to Duterte&#39;s request to allow Filipinos to fish there again.

Duterte set the tone for the meeting on Thursday when he told reporters it would be pointless discussing China&#39;s maritime activities, because no one dared to pressure Beijing anyway.

An ASEAN diplomat on Sunday said the statement was a genuine representation of the atmosphere of the Manila meetings.

&quot;We respected the Philippines&#39; views and cooperated with the Philippines as this year&#39;s chair,&quot; the diplomat said.

&quot;It clearly reflected how the issue was discussed.&quot;

Duterte&#39;s foreign policy approach represents a stunning reversal of that of the previous administration, which had close ties with the United States and was seen by China as a nuisance.

The Philippines government in 2013 challenged Beijing by lodging a case with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2013.

Two weeks into Duterte&#39;s presidency last year, the Hague court ruled in favour of the Philippines, angering China. But Duterte has made it clear he would not press Beijing to comply anytime soon, and is more interested in doing business than sparring.

The chairman&#39;s statement issued on Sunday made no mention to the arbitration case.

However, it did include in a section separate to the South China Sea chapter the need to show &quot;full respect for legal and diplomatic processes&quot; in resolving disputes.

Underlining Beijing&#39;s sensitivity about the arbitration case, the two diplomatic sources who spoke to Reuters on Saturday said Chinese embassy officials had lobbied behind the scenes for that sentence to be dropped, and saw it as a veiled reference to the ruling.

(Reuters)

China is not a member of ASEAN and was not attending the summit but is extremely sensitive about the content of its statements

Southeast Asian leaders took a softer stance on disputes in the South China Sea during a summit that ended on Saturday, avoiding tacit references to China's building and arming of its manmade islands, according to the chairman's statement. A final statement of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was not made available until Sunday, dropped the references to "land reclamation and militarization" included in the text issued at last year's meeting in Laos and an earlier, unpublished version seen by Reuters on Saturday. The outcome follows what two ASEAN diplomats said were efforts by Chinese foreign ministry and embassy officials in Manila to pressure ASEAN chair the Philippines to keep Beijing's contentious activities in the strategic waterway off ASEAN's official agenda. It also indicates four ASEAN members who the diplomats said had wanted a firmer position had agreed to the more conciliatory tone in the statement. China is not a member of ASEAN and was not attending the summit but is extremely sensitive about the content of its statements and considers it a barometer of the bloc's dissent over its artificial islands in disputed waters. China's embassy in Manila could not be reached and its foreign ministry did not respond to request for comment on Saturday. The ASEAN statement also noted "the improving cooperation between ASEAN and China", and did not include references to "tensions" or "escalation of activities" seen in earlier drafts and in last year's text. It noted some leaders' concerns about "recent developments". Beijing has reacted angrily to members expressing their concern about its rapid reclamation of reefs in the Spratly archipelago and its installation of missile systems on them. According to some experts, China is now capable of deploying combat aircraft on several of its manmade features. Pointless to pressure The softened statement comes as the current ASEAN chairman, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, seeks to bury the hatchet with China after years of wrangling over its maritime assertiveness, including its four-year blockade of the Scarborough Shoal. Beijing has quietly eased that, in response to Duterte's request to allow Filipinos to fish there again. Duterte set the tone for the meeting on Thursday when he told reporters it would be pointless discussing China's maritime activities, because no one dared to pressure Beijing anyway. An ASEAN diplomat on Sunday said the statement was a genuine representation of the atmosphere of the Manila meetings. "We respected the Philippines' views and cooperated with the Philippines as this year's chair," the diplomat said. "It clearly reflected how the issue was discussed." Duterte's foreign policy approach represents a stunning reversal of that of the previous administration, which had close ties with the United States and was seen by China as a nuisance. The Philippines government in 2013 challenged Beijing by lodging a case with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2013. Two weeks into Duterte's presidency last year, the Hague court ruled in favour of the Philippines, angering China. But Duterte has made it clear he would not press Beijing to comply anytime soon, and is more interested in doing business than sparring. The chairman's statement issued on Sunday made no mention to the arbitration case. However, it did include in a section separate to the South China Sea chapter the need to show "full respect for legal and diplomatic processes" in resolving disputes. Underlining Beijing's sensitivity about the arbitration case, the two diplomatic sources who spoke to Reuters on Saturday said Chinese embassy officials had lobbied behind the scenes for that sentence to be dropped, and saw it as a veiled reference to the ruling. (Reuters)

ASEAN drops reference to China's 'land reclamation and militarization' in South China Sea

China has started fresh construction work in the disputed South China Sea, new satellite images show, a sign that Beijing is continuing to strengthen its military reach across the vital trade waterway.

Regional military attaches and experts believe the work shows China&#39;s determination to build up its network of reefs and islets, even if it is seeking to avoid a fresh confrontation with the new administration of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

An image of North Island in the Paracels group taken on March 6 shows recent work including land clearing and possible preparation for a harbour to support what experts believe may be eventual military installations. Initial work was damaged in a typhoon last year.

The pictures, provided by private satellite firm Planet Labs, follow reports in January showing work undertaken on nearby Tree Island and other features in the Paracels, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

Diplomats briefed on latest Western intelligence assessments say Beijing is pursuing efforts to dominate its maritime &#39;backyard&#39;, even if it tweaks the timing of moves to avoid being overtly provocative.

&quot;The Paracels are going to be vital to any future Chinese attempt to dominate the South China Sea,&quot; said Carl Thayer, a South China Sea expert at Australia&#39;s Defence Force Academy.

&quot;We can see they are committed to militarisation, whatever the official rhetoric tells us, even if they are going to do it bit by bit.&quot;

Uncertainties over Trump

The more widely disputed Spratlys archipelago to the south are higher profile but the Paracels are key to China&rsquo;s presence in the South China Sea,

China has in recent years temporarily based surface-to-air missile launchers and crack jet fighters at long established bases on Woody Island on the Paracels, helping protect its nuclear submarine facilities on Hainan Island.

North Island is part of an arc of reefs that are expected to form a protective screen for Woody, which includes civilian facilities and a listening post.

Zhang Baohui, a mainland security expert at Hong Kong&#39;s Lingnan University, said he believed China was pursuing long-held goals of strengthening its facilities in the Paracels&nbsp;and had calculated the Trump administration would not over-react given other pressing priorities.

&quot;There&rsquo;s also uncertainty with this young Trump administration, but this is very important work to the Chinese&hellip;the Paracels are vital to defending Hainan, which is in turn important to China&rsquo;s nuclear deterrent,&quot; he said.

&quot;The calculation here is that it is really only Vietnam that will be rattled by this.&quot;

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

China&#39;s Defence Ministry said it was &quot;not familiar&quot; with any work at North Island.

&quot;What needs to be stressed is that the Xisha Islands are China&rsquo;s inherent territory,&quot; it said, using the Chinese name for the Paracels. China fully occupied the Paracels in 1974 after forcing the navy of the then South Vietnam off its holdings.

News of fresh Chinese activity comes as Rex Tillerson prepares for his first visit to the region as U.S. Secretary of State later this week. Tillerson sparked alarm in Beijing when he said in January China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the South China Sea.

A US&nbsp;official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, was unable to confirm new construction work on North Island but said it would not be surprising.

&quot;It would be in line with what they have been doing, why else would they clearing land on the islands but for militarisation,&quot; the official said. &quot;There is no other reason to have a presence there.&quot;

Diplomatic sources in Beijing say China is not looking for a confrontation with the United States over the South China Sea, pointing to China&rsquo;s low-key reaction to last month&rsquo;s patrol of a US&nbsp;aircraft carrier strike group in the waters there.

China has recently sought to portray itself as being conciliatory over the disputed waterway, saying it and South-east Asian nations are committed to a peaceful resolution.

Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said a draft code of conduct for behaviour in the South China Sea had now been completed and that tensions had &quot;distinctly dropped&quot;.

(Reuters)

Regional military attaches and experts believe the work shows China's determination to build up its network of reefs and islets

China has started fresh construction work in the disputed South China Sea, new satellite images show, a sign that Beijing is continuing to strengthen its military reach across the vital trade waterway. Regional military attaches and experts believe the work shows China's determination to build up its network of reefs and islets, even if it is seeking to avoid a fresh confrontation with the new administration of US President Donald Trump. An image of North Island in the Paracels group taken on March 6 shows recent work including land clearing and possible preparation for a harbour to support what experts believe may be eventual military installations. Initial work was damaged in a typhoon last year. The pictures, provided by private satellite firm Planet Labs, follow reports in January showing work undertaken on nearby Tree Island and other features in the Paracels, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. Diplomats briefed on latest Western intelligence assessments say Beijing is pursuing efforts to dominate its maritime 'backyard', even if it tweaks the timing of moves to avoid being overtly provocative. "The Paracels are going to be vital to any future Chinese attempt to dominate the South China Sea," said Carl Thayer, a South China Sea expert at Australia's Defence Force Academy. "We can see they are committed to militarisation, whatever the official rhetoric tells us, even if they are going to do it bit by bit." Uncertainties over Trump The more widely disputed Spratlys archipelago to the south are higher profile but the Paracels are key to China’s presence in the South China Sea, China has in recent years temporarily based surface-to-air missile launchers and crack jet fighters at long established bases on Woody Island on the Paracels, helping protect its nuclear submarine facilities on Hainan Island. North Island is part of an arc of reefs that are expected to form a protective screen for Woody, which includes civilian facilities and a listening post. Zhang Baohui, a mainland security expert at Hong Kong's Lingnan University, said he believed China was pursuing long-held goals of strengthening its facilities in the Paracels and had calculated the Trump administration would not over-react given other pressing priorities. "There’s also uncertainty with this young Trump administration, but this is very important work to the Chinese…the Paracels are vital to defending Hainan, which is in turn important to China’s nuclear deterrent," he said. "The calculation here is that it is really only Vietnam that will be rattled by this." The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China's Defence Ministry said it was "not familiar" with any work at North Island. "What needs to be stressed is that the Xisha Islands are China’s inherent territory," it said, using the Chinese name for the Paracels. China fully occupied the Paracels in 1974 after forcing the navy of the then South Vietnam off its holdings. News of fresh Chinese activity comes as Rex Tillerson prepares for his first visit to the region as U.S. Secretary of State later this week. Tillerson sparked alarm in Beijing when he said in January China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the South China Sea. A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, was unable to confirm new construction work on North Island but said it would not be surprising. "It would be in line with what they have been doing, why else would they clearing land on the islands but for militarisation," the official said. "There is no other reason to have a presence there." Diplomatic sources in Beijing say China is not looking for a confrontation with the United States over the South China Sea, pointing to China’s low-key reaction to last month’s patrol of a US aircraft carrier strike group in the waters there. China has recently sought to portray itself as being conciliatory over the disputed waterway, saying it and South-east Asian nations are committed to a peaceful resolution. Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said a draft code of conduct for behaviour in the South China Sea had now been completed and that tensions had "distinctly dropped". (Reuters)

China begins fresh construction work on disputed South China Sea island

The USS Carl Vinson led a carrier strike group on Friday in waters some 400 nautical miles east of China&#39;s Hainan Island and northeast of the Paracels, the island chain occupied by Beijing since it seized control from Vietnam in the 1970s.

China claims most of the South China Sea through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

China&#39;s growing military presence in the waters has fuelled concern in the West, with the United States criticising its militarisation of maritime outposts and holding regular air and naval patrols to ensure freedom of navigation.

Tension between the United States and China over trade and territory under US President Donald Trump has been stepped up of late, with fear in the region that the South China Sea, vital to global trade, could become a battleground between the two rival powers.

Some 30 fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft took to the sky on Friday and crew in colour-coded uniform raced to service them, check their instruments and fit weapons. An overpowering smell of aircraft fuel lingered in the air.

At any given time, between eight and 25 aircraft are in the air, day and night, with 15-20 on standby.

USS Carl Vinson has been on patrol since February 19 in the South China Sea, amid some confusion about US staying power in the region under a Trump administration with policies skewed heavily towards a domestic agenda.

Comments so far by Washington have caused alarm, most notably those by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who suggested during his Senate hearing that China be blocked from accessing the islands it has built and fortified with surface-to-air missiles.

Rear Admiral James Kilby, the strike group commander, said the patrol was not a show of power, but a demonstration of US commitment to the Asia-Pacific.

&quot;We wanted to reassure our friends and allies and our belief in the freedom of navigation and security operations that we always conducted,&quot; he reporters flown out to the carrier on Friday.

&quot;We have operated in the past, and we will continue to operate in the future. We continued to demonstrate that the international waters are waters where everyone can sail.&quot;

Testing The Waters

Under former President Barack Obama&#39;s pivot to Asia, Washington sought to challenge China&#39;s growing assertiveness through FONOPS, or Freedom of Navigation Operations, which routinely riled Beijing, particularly those close to its seven artificial islands.

Some critics say the FONOPS have been both provocative and fruitless, having failed to deter China from building up what it considers legitimate defences.

A top Chinese official last year warned that FONOPS could &quot;end in disaster&quot;.

Friday&#39;s exercise was far from the disputed areas of the waterway, rich fishing grounds which contain largely unexplored oil and gas deposits. Kilby there were &quot;contacts&quot; with merchant, fishing and military vessels in the past two weeks, though no &quot;incidents&quot;. He did not elaborate.

China has been guarded in its response to the latest US mission, which started one day after Beijing finished its own aircraft carrier exercises.

It said it respected freedom of navigation and hoped the United States could &quot;contribute positive energy towards this good situation&quot;.

The crew aboard Carl Vinson will spend five months in Asia.

During Friday&#39;s drills, one fighter missed its landing, or &quot;recovery&quot;, and was made to repeat the exercise, circling the vast ship before making a perfect landing.

Captain Douglas Verissimo, the skipper of Vinson, said the exercises included rigorous checks. Aircraft were simulating combat and bombing runs, performing over and over until flaws were ironed out.

&quot;Every time they land, there&#39;s someone grading them,&quot; he said.

(Reuters)

Under Trump, there are fears that the South China Sea, vital to global trade, could become a battleground between China and the US

The USS Carl Vinson led a carrier strike group on Friday in waters some 400 nautical miles east of China's Hainan Island and northeast of the Paracels, the island chain occupied by Beijing since it seized control from Vietnam in the 1970s. China claims most of the South China Sea through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. China's growing military presence in the waters has fuelled concern in the West, with the United States criticising its militarisation of maritime outposts and holding regular air and naval patrols to ensure freedom of navigation. Tension between the United States and China over trade and territory under US President Donald Trump has been stepped up of late, with fear in the region that the South China Sea, vital to global trade, could become a battleground between the two rival powers. Some 30 fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft took to the sky on Friday and crew in colour-coded uniform raced to service them, check their instruments and fit weapons. An overpowering smell of aircraft fuel lingered in the air. At any given time, between eight and 25 aircraft are in the air, day and night, with 15-20 on standby. USS Carl Vinson has been on patrol since February 19 in the South China Sea, amid some confusion about US staying power in the region under a Trump administration with policies skewed heavily towards a domestic agenda. Comments so far by Washington have caused alarm, most notably those by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who suggested during his Senate hearing that China be blocked from accessing the islands it has built and fortified with surface-to-air missiles. Rear Admiral James Kilby, the strike group commander, said the patrol was not a show of power, but a demonstration of US commitment to the Asia-Pacific. "We wanted to reassure our friends and allies and our belief in the freedom of navigation and security operations that we always conducted," he reporters flown out to the carrier on Friday. "We have operated in the past, and we will continue to operate in the future. We continued to demonstrate that the international waters are waters where everyone can sail." Testing The Waters Under former President Barack Obama's pivot to Asia, Washington sought to challenge China's growing assertiveness through FONOPS, or Freedom of Navigation Operations, which routinely riled Beijing, particularly those close to its seven artificial islands. Some critics say the FONOPS have been both provocative and fruitless, having failed to deter China from building up what it considers legitimate defences. A top Chinese official last year warned that FONOPS could "end in disaster". Friday's exercise was far from the disputed areas of the waterway, rich fishing grounds which contain largely unexplored oil and gas deposits. Kilby there were "contacts" with merchant, fishing and military vessels in the past two weeks, though no "incidents". He did not elaborate. China has been guarded in its response to the latest US mission, which started one day after Beijing finished its own aircraft carrier exercises. It said it respected freedom of navigation and hoped the United States could "contribute positive energy towards this good situation". The crew aboard Carl Vinson will spend five months in Asia. During Friday's drills, one fighter missed its landing, or "recovery", and was made to repeat the exercise, circling the vast ship before making a perfect landing. Captain Douglas Verissimo, the skipper of Vinson, said the exercises included rigorous checks. Aircraft were simulating combat and bombing runs, performing over and over until flaws were ironed out. "Every time they land, there's someone grading them," he said. (Reuters)

US fighter jets, helicopters fly over South China Sea

The PLA Navy is likely to secure significant new funding in China&#39;s upcoming defence budget as Beijing seeks to check US dominance of the high seas and step up its own projection of power around the globe.

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China&#39;s navy has been taking an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and new Chinese warships popping up in far-flung places.

Now, with President Donald Trump promising a US &nbsp;shipbuilding spree and unnerving Beijing with his unpredictable approach on hot button issues including Taiwan and the South and East China Seas, China is pushing to narrow the gap with the US &nbsp;Navy.

&quot;It&#39;s opportunity in crisis,&quot; said a Beijing-based Asian diplomat, of China&#39;s recent naval moves. &quot;China fears Trump will turn on them eventually as he&#39;s so unpredictable and it&#39;s getting ready.&quot;

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<h5>&#39;It&#39;s opportunity in crisis,&#39; said a Beijing-based Asian diplomat, of China&#39;s recent naval moves. &#39;China fears Trump will turn on them eventually as he&#39;s so unpredictable and it&#39;s getting ready&#39;</h5>
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Beijing does not give a breakdown for how much it spends on the navy, and the overall official defence spending figures it gives - 954.35 billion yuan ($139 billion) for 2016 - likely understates its investment, according to diplomats.

China unveils the defence budget for this year at next month&#39;s annual meeting of parliament, a closely watched figure around the region and in Washington, for clues to China&#39;s intentions.

China surprised last year with its lowest increase in six years, 7.6 per cent, the first single-digit rise since 2010, following a nearly unbroken two-decade run of double-digit jumps.

&quot;Certainly, the PLA Navy has really been the beneficiary of a lot of this new spending in the past 15 years,&quot; said Richard Bitzinger, Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Military Transformations Programme at the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

&quot;We don&#39;t how much they spend on the navy, but simply extrapolating from the quantity and the quality of things that are coming out of their shipyards, it&#39;s pretty amazing.&quot;

Rapid development

The Chinese navy, once generally limited to coastal operations, has developed rapidly under President Xi Jinping&#39;s ambitious military modernisation.

It commissioned 18 ships in 2016, including missile destroyers, corvettes and guided missile frigates, according to state media.

Barely a week goes by without an announcement of some new piece of equipment, including an electronic reconnaissance ship put into service in January.

Still, the PLA Navy significantly lags the United States, which operates 10 aircraft carriers to China&#39;s one, the Soviet-era Liaoning.

Xu Guangyu, a retired major general in the People&#39;s Liberation Army now senior adviser to the government-run China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, said China was keenly aware of the US &nbsp;ability to project power at sea.

&quot;It&#39;s like a marathon and we&#39;re falling behind. We need to step on the gas,&quot; Xu said.

Trump has vowed to increase the US Navy to 350 ships from the current 290 as part of one of the &quot;greatest military buildups in American history&quot;, a move aides say is needed to counter China&#39;s rise as a military power.

&quot;We&rsquo;ve known this is a 15-20 year project and every year they get closer to being a blue-water navy with global aspirations,&quot; said a US &nbsp;administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

&quot;What you have seen this last year and what I think you will see with the new budget is that they are moving ahead with the short-term goal of being the premier naval force in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, with the mid-term goal, of extending all the way to the Indian Ocean.&quot;

In January, China appointed new navy chief, Shen Jinlong, to lead that push.

Shen has enjoyed a meteoric rise and is close to Xi, diplomatic and leadership sources say.

&quot;The navy has gotten very lucky with Shen,&quot; said a Chinese official close to the military, speaking on condition of anonymity. &quot;Now they know for certain their support goes all the way to the top.&quot;

Recent PLA Navy missions have included visits to Gulf states, where the United States has traditionally protected sea lanes, and to the South China Sea, Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, in what the state-run website StrongChina called Shen&#39;s &quot;first show of force against the United States, Japan and Taiwan&quot;.

Last month, a Chinese submarine docked at a port in Malaysia&#39;s Sabah state, which lies on the South China Sea, only the second confirmed visit of a Chinese submarine to a foreign port, according to state media.

The submarine had come from supporting anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, where China has been learning valuable lessons about overseas naval operations since 2008.

Chinese warships have also been calling at ports in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, unnerving regional rival India.

&quot;It&#39;s power projection,&quot; said a Beijing-based Western diplomat, of China&#39;s navy.

(Reuters)

The PLA Navy is likely to secure significant new funding in China's upcoming defence budget

The PLA Navy is likely to secure significant new funding in China's upcoming defence budget as Beijing seeks to check US dominance of the high seas and step up its own projection of power around the globe. China's navy has been taking an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and new Chinese warships popping up in far-flung places. Now, with President Donald Trump promising a US shipbuilding spree and unnerving Beijing with his unpredictable approach on hot button issues including Taiwan and the South and East China Seas, China is pushing to narrow the gap with the US Navy. "It's opportunity in crisis," said a Beijing-based Asian diplomat, of China's recent naval moves. "China fears Trump will turn on them eventually as he's so unpredictable and it's getting ready." 'It's opportunity in crisis,' said a Beijing-based Asian diplomat, of China's recent naval moves. 'China fears Trump will turn on them eventually as he's so unpredictable and it's getting ready' × Beijing does not give a breakdown for how much it spends on the navy, and the overall official defence spending figures it gives - 954.35 billion yuan ($139 billion) for 2016 - likely understates its investment, according to diplomats. China unveils the defence budget for this year at next month's annual meeting of parliament, a closely watched figure around the region and in Washington, for clues to China's intentions. China surprised last year with its lowest increase in six years, 7.6 per cent, the first single-digit rise since 2010, following a nearly unbroken two-decade run of double-digit jumps. "Certainly, the PLA Navy has really been the beneficiary of a lot of this new spending in the past 15 years," said Richard Bitzinger, Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Military Transformations Programme at the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. "We don't how much they spend on the navy, but simply extrapolating from the quantity and the quality of things that are coming out of their shipyards, it's pretty amazing." Rapid development The Chinese navy, once generally limited to coastal operations, has developed rapidly under President Xi Jinping's ambitious military modernisation. It commissioned 18 ships in 2016, including missile destroyers, corvettes and guided missile frigates, according to state media. Barely a week goes by without an announcement of some new piece of equipment, including an electronic reconnaissance ship put into service in January. Still, the PLA Navy significantly lags the United States, which operates 10 aircraft carriers to China's one, the Soviet-era Liaoning. Xu Guangyu, a retired major general in the People's Liberation Army now senior adviser to the government-run China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, said China was keenly aware of the US ability to project power at sea. "It's like a marathon and we're falling behind. We need to step on the gas," Xu said. Trump has vowed to increase the US Navy to 350 ships from the current 290 as part of one of the "greatest military buildups in American history", a move aides say is needed to counter China's rise as a military power. "We’ve known this is a 15-20 year project and every year they get closer to being a blue-water navy with global aspirations," said a US administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "What you have seen this last year and what I think you will see with the new budget is that they are moving ahead with the short-term goal of being the premier naval force in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, with the mid-term goal, of extending all the way to the Indian Ocean." In January, China appointed new navy chief, Shen Jinlong, to lead that push. Shen has enjoyed a meteoric rise and is close to Xi, diplomatic and leadership sources say. "The navy has gotten very lucky with Shen," said a Chinese official close to the military, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Now they know for certain their support goes all the way to the top." Recent PLA Navy missions have included visits to Gulf states, where the United States has traditionally protected sea lanes, and to the South China Sea, Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, in what the state-run website StrongChina called Shen's "first show of force against the United States, Japan and Taiwan". Last month, a Chinese submarine docked at a port in Malaysia's Sabah state, which lies on the South China Sea, only the second confirmed visit of a Chinese submarine to a foreign port, according to state media. The submarine had come from supporting anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, where China has been learning valuable lessons about overseas naval operations since 2008. Chinese warships have also been calling at ports in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, unnerving regional rival India. "It's power projection," said a Beijing-based Western diplomat, of China's navy. (Reuters)

Worried by Trump, China plays catch-up with US Navy

China&nbsp;has nearly finished building almost two dozen structures on artificial islands in the South China Sea that appear designed to house long-range surface-to-air missiles, two US&nbsp;officials have said.

The development is likely to raise questions about whether and how the United States will respond, given its vows to take a tough line on China in the South China Sea.

China claims almost all the waters, which carry a third of the world&#39;s maritime traffic. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims&nbsp;over the islands. Trump&#39;s administration has called China&#39;s island building in the South China Sea &quot;illegal&quot;.

Building the concrete structures with retractable roofs on Subi, Mischief and Fiery Cross reefs, part of the Spratly Islands chain where China already has built military-length airstrips, could be considered a military escalation, the US&nbsp;officials said in recent days, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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The United States has called for a halt to China&#39;s artificial island building, and has tried to signal its determination to challenge Beijing over the disputed sea by sending military ships and planes near the islands. Here&#39;s more to this story. (WION)
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&quot;It is not like the Chinese to build anything in the South China Sea just to build it, and these structures resemble others that house SAM batteries, so the logical conclusion is that&#39;s what they are for,&quot; said a US&nbsp;intelligence official, referring to surface-to-air missiles.

Another official said the structures appeared to be 20 meters (66 feet) long and 10 meters (33 feet) high.&nbsp;A Pentagon spokesman said the United States remained committed to &quot;non-militarization in the South China Sea&quot; and urged all claimants to take actions consistent with international law.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Wednesday he was aware of the report, though did not say if China was planning on placing missiles on the reefs.

&quot;China carrying out normal construction activities on its own territory, including deploying necessary and appropriate territorial defence facilities, is a normal right under international law for sovereign nations,&quot; he told reporters.

Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, had said in a December report that China apparently had installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the islands it has built in the South China Sea.

The officials said the new structures were likely to house surface-to-air missiles that would expand China&#39;s air defence umbrella over the islands. They did not give a timeline on when they believed China would deploy missiles on the islands.

&quot;It certainly raises the tension,&quot; Poling said. &quot;The Chinese have gotten good at these steady increases in their capabilities.&quot;

On Tuesday, the Philippines said South-east Asian countries saw China&#39;s installation of weapons in the South China Sea as &quot;very unsettling&quot; and have urged dialogue to stop an escalation of &quot;recent developments.&quot;

Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay did not say what provoked the concern but said the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations, or ASEAN, hoped China and the United States would ensure peace and stability.

(Reuters)

The development is likely to raise questions about how the US will respond given its tough line on China in the South China Sea

China has nearly finished building almost two dozen structures on artificial islands in the South China Sea that appear designed to house long-range surface-to-air missiles, two US officials have said. The development is likely to raise questions about whether and how the United States will respond, given its vows to take a tough line on China in the South China Sea. China claims almost all the waters, which carry a third of the world's maritime traffic. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims over the islands. Trump's administration has called China's island building in the South China Sea "illegal". Building the concrete structures with retractable roofs on Subi, Mischief and Fiery Cross reefs, part of the Spratly Islands chain where China already has built military-length airstrips, could be considered a military escalation, the US officials said in recent days, speaking on condition of anonymity. The United States has called for a halt to China's artificial island building, and has tried to signal its determination to challenge Beijing over the disputed sea by sending military ships and planes near the islands. Here's more to this story. (WION) × "It is not like the Chinese to build anything in the South China Sea just to build it, and these structures resemble others that house SAM batteries, so the logical conclusion is that's what they are for," said a US intelligence official, referring to surface-to-air missiles. Another official said the structures appeared to be 20 meters (66 feet) long and 10 meters (33 feet) high. A Pentagon spokesman said the United States remained committed to "non-militarization in the South China Sea" and urged all claimants to take actions consistent with international law. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Wednesday he was aware of the report, though did not say if China was planning on placing missiles on the reefs. "China carrying out normal construction activities on its own territory, including deploying necessary and appropriate territorial defence facilities, is a normal right under international law for sovereign nations," he told reporters. Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, had said in a December report that China apparently had installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the islands it has built in the South China Sea. The officials said the new structures were likely to house surface-to-air missiles that would expand China's air defence umbrella over the islands. They did not give a timeline on when they believed China would deploy missiles on the islands. "It certainly raises the tension," Poling said. "The Chinese have gotten good at these steady increases in their capabilities." On Tuesday, the Philippines said South-east Asian countries saw China's installation of weapons in the South China Sea as "very unsettling" and have urged dialogue to stop an escalation of "recent developments." Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay did not say what provoked the concern but said the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations, or ASEAN, hoped China and the United States would ensure peace and stability. (Reuters)

China has built structures to house missiles in the South China Sea: US intelligence

China said it opposed action by other countries under the pretext of freedom of navigation that undermined its sovereignty&nbsp;after a US aircraft carrier strike group began patrols in the contested South China Sea.

The US navy said the strike group, including the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson, began &quot;routine operations&quot; in the South China Sea on Saturday amid growing tension with China over control of the disputed waterway.

&quot;China always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight all countries enjoy under international law,&quot; Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing.

&quot;But we are consistently opposed to relevant countries threatening and damaging the sovereignty and security of littoral countries under the flag of freedom of navigation and overflight,&quot; Geng said in China&#39;s first official comment on the latest US patrol since it began.

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The United States has called for a halt to China&#39;s artificial island building, and has tried to signal its determination to challenge Beijing over the disputed sea by sending military ships and planes near the islands. Here&#39;s more to this story. (WION)
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&nbsp;

&quot;We hope relevant countries can do more to safeguard regional peace and stability,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The US carrier strike group has not referred to its recent operations in the South China Sea as &quot;freedom of navigation&quot; patrols.

US ships last year conducted several such patrols to counter any efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.

Friction between the United States and China over trade and territory under US President Donald Trump has increased concern that the South China Sea could become a flashpoint.

China wrapped up its own naval exercises in the South China Sea on Friday. War games involving its own aircraft carrier have unnerved neighbours with which it has long-running territorial disputes.

Beijing last week warned Washington against challenging its sovereignty in the South China Sea. It claims almost all of the resource-rich waters, through which about $5 trillion worth of trade passes each year.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim parts of the South China Sea that command strategic sea lanes and have rich fishing grounds, along with oil and gas deposits.

The United States has criticised China&#39;s construction of man-made islands and build-up of military facilities in the sea and expressed concern they could be used to restrict free movement.

Foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday expressed concern over what they see as militarisation in the South China Sea, Philippines Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said after meeting with his ASEAN counterparts.

(Reuters)

China had warned the US last week against challenging its sovereignty in the South China Sea

China said it opposed action by other countries under the pretext of freedom of navigation that undermined its sovereignty after a US aircraft carrier strike group began patrols in the contested South China Sea. The US navy said the strike group, including the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson, began "routine operations" in the South China Sea on Saturday amid growing tension with China over control of the disputed waterway. "China always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight all countries enjoy under international law," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing. "But we are consistently opposed to relevant countries threatening and damaging the sovereignty and security of littoral countries under the flag of freedom of navigation and overflight," Geng said in China's first official comment on the latest US patrol since it began. The United States has called for a halt to China's artificial island building, and has tried to signal its determination to challenge Beijing over the disputed sea by sending military ships and planes near the islands. Here's more to this story. (WION) × "We hope relevant countries can do more to safeguard regional peace and stability," he said. The US carrier strike group has not referred to its recent operations in the South China Sea as "freedom of navigation" patrols. US ships last year conducted several such patrols to counter any efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters. Friction between the United States and China over trade and territory under US President Donald Trump has increased concern that the South China Sea could become a flashpoint. China wrapped up its own naval exercises in the South China Sea on Friday. War games involving its own aircraft carrier have unnerved neighbours with which it has long-running territorial disputes. Beijing last week warned Washington against challenging its sovereignty in the South China Sea. It claims almost all of the resource-rich waters, through which about $5 trillion worth of trade passes each year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim parts of the South China Sea that command strategic sea lanes and have rich fishing grounds, along with oil and gas deposits. The United States has criticised China's construction of man-made islands and build-up of military facilities in the sea and expressed concern they could be used to restrict free movement. Foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday expressed concern over what they see as militarisation in the South China Sea, Philippines Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said after meeting with his ASEAN counterparts. (Reuters)

US 'naval operation' in South China Sea angers China

China said on Tuesday it had &quot;irrefutable&quot; sovereignty over disputed islands in the South China Sea after the White House vowed to defend &quot;international territories&quot; in the strategic waterway.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer in his comments on Monday signalled a sharp departure from years of cautious US handling of China&#39;s assertive pursuit of territorial claims in Asia.

&quot;The US is going to make sure that we protect our interests there,&quot; Spicer said when asked if Trump agreed with comments by his secretary of state nominee, Rex Tillerson. On January 11, Tillerson said China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea.

&quot;It&#39;s a question of if those islands are in fact in international waters and not part of China proper, then yeah, we&#39;re going to make sure that we defend international territories from being taken over by one country,&quot; Spicer said.&nbsp;

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing on Tuesday &quot;the United States is not a party to the South China Sea dispute&quot;.&nbsp;

China claims most of the South China Sea, while Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei claims parts of the sea that commands strategic sea lanes and has rich fishing grounds along with oil and gas deposits.&nbsp;China&#39;s sovereignty over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea was &quot;irrefutable&quot; Hua said.&nbsp;

But China was also dedicated to protecting freedom of navigation and wants talks with nations directly involved to find a peaceful solution.&nbsp;

&quot;We urge the United States to respect the facts, speak and act cautiously to avoid harming the peace and stability of the South China Sea,&quot; Hua said.

&quot;Our actions in the South China Sea are reasonable and fair. No matter what changes happen in other countries, what they say or what they want to do, China&#39;s resolve to protect its sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea will not change,&quot; she added.

Tillerson&#39;s remarks at his Senate confirmation hearing prompted Chinese state media to say at the time that the United States would need to &quot;wage war&quot; to bar China`s access to the islands, where it has built military-length air strips and installed weapons systems.

Tillerson was asked at the hearing whether he supported a more aggressive posture toward China and said: &quot;We&#39;re going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed.&quot;&nbsp;

The former Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and chief executive did not elaborate on what might be done to deny China access to the islands.&nbsp;

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White House spokesman Sean Spicer in his comments signalled a sharp departure from years of cautious US handling of China&#39;s assertive pursuit of territorial claims in Asia (WION)
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But analysts said his comments, like those of Spicer, suggested the possibility of US military action, or even a naval blockade. Such action would risk an armed confrontation with China, an increasingly formidable nuclear-armed military power. It is also the world&#39;s second-largest economy and the target of Trump accusations it is stealing American jobs.

Spicer declined to elaborate when asked how the United States could enforce such a move against China, except to say: &quot;I think, as we develop further, we&#39;ll have more information on it.&quot;

Military experts said that while the US Navy has extensive capabilities in Asia to stage blockading operations with ships, submarines and planes, any such move against China&#39;s growing naval fleets would risk a dangerous escalation.&nbsp;Aides have said that Trump plans a major naval build-up in East Asia to counter China&#39;s rise.

China&#39;s foreign ministry said earlier this month it could not guess what Tillerson meant by his remarks, which came after Trump questioned Washington&#39;s longstanding and highly sensitive &quot;One-China&quot; policy over Taiwan.

Washington-based South China Sea expert Mira Rapp-Hooper at the Center for a New American Security called the threats to bar China&#39;s access in the South China Sea &quot;incredible&quot; and said it had no basis in international law.

&quot;A blockade - which is what would be required to actually bar access - is an act of war,&quot; she added.&nbsp;

&quot;The Trump administration has begun to draw red lines in Asia that they will almost certainly not be able to uphold, but they may nonetheless be very destabilising to the relationship with China, invite crises, and convince the rest of the world that the United States is an unreliable partner.&quot;

(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

China reacted after Rex Tillerson said the US would need to 'wage war' to bar China's access to the islands

China said on Tuesday it had "irrefutable" sovereignty over disputed islands in the South China Sea after the White House vowed to defend "international territories" in the strategic waterway. White House spokesman Sean Spicer in his comments on Monday signalled a sharp departure from years of cautious US handling of China's assertive pursuit of territorial claims in Asia. "The US is going to make sure that we protect our interests there," Spicer said when asked if Trump agreed with comments by his secretary of state nominee, Rex Tillerson. On January 11, Tillerson said China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea. "It's a question of if those islands are in fact in international waters and not part of China proper, then yeah, we're going to make sure that we defend international territories from being taken over by one country," Spicer said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing on Tuesday "the United States is not a party to the South China Sea dispute". China claims most of the South China Sea, while Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei claims parts of the sea that commands strategic sea lanes and has rich fishing grounds along with oil and gas deposits. China's sovereignty over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea was "irrefutable" Hua said. But China was also dedicated to protecting freedom of navigation and wants talks with nations directly involved to find a peaceful solution. "We urge the United States to respect the facts, speak and act cautiously to avoid harming the peace and stability of the South China Sea," Hua said. "Our actions in the South China Sea are reasonable and fair. No matter what changes happen in other countries, what they say or what they want to do, China's resolve to protect its sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea will not change," she added. Tillerson's remarks at his Senate confirmation hearing prompted Chinese state media to say at the time that the United States would need to "wage war" to bar China`s access to the islands, where it has built military-length air strips and installed weapons systems. Tillerson was asked at the hearing whether he supported a more aggressive posture toward China and said: "We're going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed." The former Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and chief executive did not elaborate on what might be done to deny China access to the islands. White House spokesman Sean Spicer in his comments signalled a sharp departure from years of cautious US handling of China's assertive pursuit of territorial claims in Asia (WION) × But analysts said his comments, like those of Spicer, suggested the possibility of US military action, or even a naval blockade. Such action would risk an armed confrontation with China, an increasingly formidable nuclear-armed military power. It is also the world's second-largest economy and the target of Trump accusations it is stealing American jobs. Spicer declined to elaborate when asked how the United States could enforce such a move against China, except to say: "I think, as we develop further, we'll have more information on it." Military experts said that while the US Navy has extensive capabilities in Asia to stage blockading operations with ships, submarines and planes, any such move against China's growing naval fleets would risk a dangerous escalation. Aides have said that Trump plans a major naval build-up in East Asia to counter China's rise. China's foreign ministry said earlier this month it could not guess what Tillerson meant by his remarks, which came after Trump questioned Washington's longstanding and highly sensitive "One-China" policy over Taiwan. Washington-based South China Sea expert Mira Rapp-Hooper at the Center for a New American Security called the threats to bar China's access in the South China Sea "incredible" and said it had no basis in international law. "A blockade - which is what would be required to actually bar access - is an act of war," she added. "The Trump administration has begun to draw red lines in Asia that they will almost certainly not be able to uphold, but they may nonetheless be very destabilising to the relationship with China, invite crises, and convince the rest of the world that the United States is an unreliable partner." (Reuters)

US should avoid harming peace and stability of South China Sea, warns China

Blocking Chinese access to islands in the South China Sea would require the US&nbsp;to &quot;wage war&quot;, an influential Chinese state-run tabloid said on Friday, after US&nbsp;Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson suggested the strategy on Wednesday.

Tillerson told his confirmation hearing before the US&nbsp;Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he wanted to send a signal to China that their access to islands in the disputed South China Sea &quot;is not going to be allowed&quot;. He did not elaborate.

The United States would have to &quot;wage a large-scale war&quot; in the South China sea to prevent Chinese access to the islands, the Global Times said in an English-language editorial.

The paper, which is known for writing strongly-worded, hawkish and nationalist editorials, is published by the ruling Communist Party&#39;s flagship paper. It does not reflect Chinese policy.

&quot;Tillerson had better bone up on nuclear power strategies if he wants to force a big nuclear power to withdraw from its own territories,&quot; the paper added.

The editorial also said that Tillerson, an Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and former chief executive, was the most likely of US president-elect Donald Trump&#39;s cabinet picks to be vetoed by congress.

&quot;It is suspected that he merely wanted to curry favour from senators and increase his chances of being confirmed by intentionally showing a tough stance toward China,&quot; it said. The paper did not elaborate on either point.

A similar article was also carried in the paper&#39;s Chinese-language website that receives thousands of hits every day.

There are also legal questions of any US&nbsp;attempt to block China&#39;s access, the editorial said, asking if this might mean that Vietnam and Philippines also should be denied entry.

China claims most of the energy-rich South China Sea through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

The United States has previously called on China to respect the findings of the arbitration court in The Hague earlier this year which ruled in favour of the Philippines, rejecting China&#39;s territorial claims in the strategic waterway.

Democratic President Barack Obama&rsquo;s administration conducted periodic air and naval patrols to assert the right of free navigation in the South China Sea. These have angered Beijing, but seeking to blockade China&#39;s man-made islands would be a major step further and a step that Washington has never raised as an option.

(Reuters)

US secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson suggested China should be barred from South China Sea islands

Blocking Chinese access to islands in the South China Sea would require the US to "wage war", an influential Chinese state-run tabloid said on Friday, after US Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson suggested the strategy on Wednesday. Tillerson told his confirmation hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he wanted to send a signal to China that their access to islands in the disputed South China Sea "is not going to be allowed". He did not elaborate. The United States would have to "wage a large-scale war" in the South China sea to prevent Chinese access to the islands, the Global Times said in an English-language editorial. The paper, which is known for writing strongly-worded, hawkish and nationalist editorials, is published by the ruling Communist Party's flagship paper. It does not reflect Chinese policy. "Tillerson had better bone up on nuclear power strategies if he wants to force a big nuclear power to withdraw from its own territories," the paper added. The editorial also said that Tillerson, an Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and former chief executive, was the most likely of US president-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks to be vetoed by congress. "It is suspected that he merely wanted to curry favour from senators and increase his chances of being confirmed by intentionally showing a tough stance toward China," it said. The paper did not elaborate on either point. A similar article was also carried in the paper's Chinese-language website that receives thousands of hits every day. There are also legal questions of any US attempt to block China's access, the editorial said, asking if this might mean that Vietnam and Philippines also should be denied entry. China claims most of the energy-rich South China Sea through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. The United States has previously called on China to respect the findings of the arbitration court in The Hague earlier this year which ruled in favour of the Philippines, rejecting China's territorial claims in the strategic waterway. Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration conducted periodic air and naval patrols to assert the right of free navigation in the South China Sea. These have angered Beijing, but seeking to blockade China's man-made islands would be a major step further and a step that Washington has never raised as an option. (Reuters)

Chinese state-run tabloid says US needs to 'wage war' to block off South China Sea islands

China said on Thursday that it has the right to carry out &quot;normal activities&quot; in its sovereign territory, after US President-elect Donald Trump&#39;s nominee for secretary of state said China should be barred from the South China Sea islands.

Rex Tillerson told his confirmation hearing on Wednesday (Janaury 11) before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that China&#39;s building of islands and putting military assets on those islands was &quot;akin to Russia&#39;s taking Crimea&quot; from Ukraine.

Asked whether he supported a more aggressive posture toward China, he said: &quot;We&#39;re going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed.&quot;

When asked repeatedly about Tillerson&#39;s comments on blocking access to islands, China&#39;s foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he couldn&#39;t make any guesses as to what Tillerson was referring to and would not answer hypothetical questions.

China&#39;s right to carry out &#39;normal activities&#39; in its sovereign territory in the South China Sea is &#39;indisputable&#39;, Lu spoke at a daily briefing on Thursday.

&quot;We hope the countries outside the region can respect this consensus that in line with the common interests of regional countries and the world,&quot; Lu added.

The former Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and chief executive did not elaborate on what might be done to deny China access to the islands it has built up from South China Sea reefs, equipped with military-length airstrips and fortified with weapons.

Trump&#39;s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for specifics on how China might be blocked from the artificial islands.

China claims most of the energy-rich waters through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

(Reuters)

Rex Tillerson said China's building of islands on those islands was "akin to Russia's taking Crimea" from Ukraine

China said on Thursday that it has the right to carry out "normal activities" in its sovereign territory, after US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state said China should be barred from the South China Sea islands. Rex Tillerson told his confirmation hearing on Wednesday (Janaury 11) before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that China's building of islands and putting military assets on those islands was "akin to Russia's taking Crimea" from Ukraine. Asked whether he supported a more aggressive posture toward China, he said: "We're going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed." When asked repeatedly about Tillerson's comments on blocking access to islands, China's foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he couldn't make any guesses as to what Tillerson was referring to and would not answer hypothetical questions. China's right to carry out 'normal activities' in its sovereign territory in the South China Sea is 'indisputable', Lu spoke at a daily briefing on Thursday. "We hope the countries outside the region can respect this consensus that in line with the common interests of regional countries and the world," Lu added. The former Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and chief executive did not elaborate on what might be done to deny China access to the islands it has built up from South China Sea reefs, equipped with military-length airstrips and fortified with weapons. Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to a request for specifics on how China might be blocked from the artificial islands. China claims most of the energy-rich waters through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. (Reuters)

China defiant after Trump's secretary of state pick says it should be barred from South China Sea

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has put the onus of stopping the rapid construction of man-made islands and increasing militarisation in the South China Sea on the US. &nbsp;

According to news agency Reuters, Duterte suggested that the failure by US to stop China from continuing building islands in the South China Sea showed there was no serious concern about the issue. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In July this year, the Permanent Cout of Arbitration in The Hague had ruled in favour of Philippines in an arbitration case against China over territorial rights in the South China Sea contained within an area that China calls the &quot;Nine-Dash Line&quot;.

China refused to acknowledge the verdict.

During Duterte&#39;s presidency, Philippines has gravitated towards China. He has expressed his willingness to mend ties with Beijing to benefit from improved economic relations between the two countries.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Permanent Court of Arbitration had ruled in favour of Philippines in the arbitration case against China

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has put the onus of stopping the rapid construction of man-made islands and increasing militarisation in the South China Sea on the US. According to news agency Reuters, Duterte suggested that the failure by US to stop China from continuing building islands in the South China Sea showed there was no serious concern about the issue. In July this year, the Permanent Cout of Arbitration in The Hague had ruled in favour of Philippines in an arbitration case against China over territorial rights in the South China Sea contained within an area that China calls the "Nine-Dash Line". China refused to acknowledge the verdict. During Duterte's presidency, Philippines has gravitated towards China. He has expressed his willingness to mend ties with Beijing to benefit from improved economic relations between the two countries. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Philippine President Duterte sweeps China's militarisation, man-made island issue under rug

The Malabar naval exercise involving the Indian, US and Japanese navies is designed to &quot;target&quot; China&#39;s submarines in the East and South China Seas and to back America&#39;s Asia-Pacific rebalance strategy, a Chinese media report claimed today.

&quot;Such a large-scale military exercise was obviously designed to target China&#39;s submarine activities in the East and South China Seas in recent years, promote the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific and cement the US presence in the region,&quot; an article in state-run Global Times said.

&quot;Washington brought New Delhi and Tokyo into the exercise to relieve its pressure due to overstretched military presence around the globe and tighten its grip on the Asia-Pacific region,&quot; the article said.

Highlighting comments by Vice Admiral Joseph P Aucoin, commander of the US Seventh Fleet stating that India, Japan and the US are set to focus their next round of Malabar exercise on anti-submarine warfare, it said the drills aimed at jeopardising peace in the East China Sea region &quot;so as to distract China&#39;s attention from the South China Sea and disturb the political landscape in the Asia-Pacific&quot;.

The Malabar exercise started in 1992 with the navies of US and India in the Indian Ocean. Since Japan joined in 2007, it has alternated between the West Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

In June, the three countries held their largest-ever joint exercise which involved 11 vessels and 8,000 personnel. The article said Japan wants to become a permanent member of the exercise to enhance its military cooperation with the US and find a solution to its dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea.

&quot;India hoped to enhance the anti-submarine capability of its navy that has tracked at least six Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean region,&quot; it said quoting reports, adding &quot;India also wants to disrupt China&#39;s military deployment in the East China Sea through these exercises&quot;.

Japan, which has participated in the exercise five times, also attached great importance to the Malabar 2016. It used the exercise to enhance the anti-submarine capability of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force and spy on China&#39;s military deployment in the waters, it said.

&quot;However, the anti-submarine warfare of the US, Japan and India won&#39;t make them succeed in countering China as China has significantly improved its technologies in ballistic missile submarines and attack submarines. And with the development of multi-dimensional operations, merely elevating anti-submarine capability won&#39;t enable these countries to contain China,&quot; the article said.

&quot;The Malabar exercise has always been led by the US, with Japan and India being just partners with varied purposes. This will cripple the actual effects of the exercise. In fact, this kind of exercise is unlikely to impair China&#39;s presence in the East China Sea, except for flaring up tensions in the waters and producing frictions,&quot; it said.

(PTI)

'Washington brought New Delhi and Tokyo into the exercise to relieve its pressure due to overstretched military presence around the globe'

The Malabar naval exercise involving the Indian, US and Japanese navies is designed to "target" China's submarines in the East and South China Seas and to back America's Asia-Pacific rebalance strategy, a Chinese media report claimed today. "Such a large-scale military exercise was obviously designed to target China's submarine activities in the East and South China Seas in recent years, promote the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific and cement the US presence in the region," an article in state-run Global Times said. "Washington brought New Delhi and Tokyo into the exercise to relieve its pressure due to overstretched military presence around the globe and tighten its grip on the Asia-Pacific region," the article said. Highlighting comments by Vice Admiral Joseph P Aucoin, commander of the US Seventh Fleet stating that India, Japan and the US are set to focus their next round of Malabar exercise on anti-submarine warfare, it said the drills aimed at jeopardising peace in the East China Sea region "so as to distract China's attention from the South China Sea and disturb the political landscape in the Asia-Pacific". The Malabar exercise started in 1992 with the navies of US and India in the Indian Ocean. Since Japan joined in 2007, it has alternated between the West Pacific and the Indian Ocean. In June, the three countries held their largest-ever joint exercise which involved 11 vessels and 8,000 personnel. The article said Japan wants to become a permanent member of the exercise to enhance its military cooperation with the US and find a solution to its dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea. "India hoped to enhance the anti-submarine capability of its navy that has tracked at least six Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean region," it said quoting reports, adding "India also wants to disrupt China's military deployment in the East China Sea through these exercises". Japan, which has participated in the exercise five times, also attached great importance to the Malabar 2016. It used the exercise to enhance the anti-submarine capability of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force and spy on China's military deployment in the waters, it said. "However, the anti-submarine warfare of the US, Japan and India won't make them succeed in countering China as China has significantly improved its technologies in ballistic missile submarines and attack submarines. And with the development of multi-dimensional operations, merely elevating anti-submarine capability won't enable these countries to contain China," the article said. "The Malabar exercise has always been led by the US, with Japan and India being just partners with varied purposes. This will cripple the actual effects of the exercise. In fact, this kind of exercise is unlikely to impair China's presence in the East China Sea, except for flaring up tensions in the waters and producing frictions," it said. (PTI)

Indian, US and Japanese naval exercise designed to 'target' Chinese submarines: Chinese media

Taiwan said today it was closely monitoring the movements of China&#39;s sole aircraft carrier and five other warships, which earlier passed south of the island on an exercise held amid worsening cross-strait relations.

The Liaoning and five escorts sailed 20 nautical miles outside Taiwan&#39;s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines yesterday, the defence ministry said.

The ships continued sailing south-west after passing 90 nautical miles to the south of Taiwan&#39;s southernmost point Eluanbi Monday morning. They later travelled to the south-east of the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea, the ministry added.

&quot;The military has been on guard and fully monitoring the Liaoning. We urge the public to rest assured,&quot; it said.

Taiwanese media said an unspecified number of F-16 fighter jets and warships were deployed in Taiwan&#39;s ADIZ to closely watch the Chinese warships. The ministry declined to comment.

Japan&#39;s defence ministry said earlier that eight Chinese vessels, including the carrier and three destroyers, were spotted by one of its ships in the central part of the East China Sea on Saturday afternoon.

Chinese media has reported that the aircraft carrier was headed for the Pacific on exercise for the first time.

The navy drills are seen as a show of strength by Beijing at a time of rising tensions with Taiwan and the United States following a protocol-breaking telephone conversation between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US President-elect Donald Trump.

It was the latest in a series of recent exercises staged by China, after its military aircraft passed near Taiwan on December 10 for the second time in a month.

Taiwan&#39;s defence minister Feng Shih-kuan has called the timing of China&#39;s air exercises a coincidence, but warned the island still faces a military threat.

China views self-ruling Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting unification, by force if necessary, even though the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.&nbsp;

(AFP)

China's Liaoning and five escorts sailed only 20 nautical miles away from Taiwan's territory, its defence ministry said

Taiwan said today it was closely monitoring the movements of China's sole aircraft carrier and five other warships, which earlier passed south of the island on an exercise held amid worsening cross-strait relations. The Liaoning and five escorts sailed 20 nautical miles outside Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines yesterday, the defence ministry said. The ships continued sailing south-west after passing 90 nautical miles to the south of Taiwan's southernmost point Eluanbi Monday morning. They later travelled to the south-east of the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea, the ministry added. "The military has been on guard and fully monitoring the Liaoning. We urge the public to rest assured," it said. Taiwanese media said an unspecified number of F-16 fighter jets and warships were deployed in Taiwan's ADIZ to closely watch the Chinese warships. The ministry declined to comment. Japan's defence ministry said earlier that eight Chinese vessels, including the carrier and three destroyers, were spotted by one of its ships in the central part of the East China Sea on Saturday afternoon. Chinese media has reported that the aircraft carrier was headed for the Pacific on exercise for the first time. The navy drills are seen as a show of strength by Beijing at a time of rising tensions with Taiwan and the United States following a protocol-breaking telephone conversation between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US President-elect Donald Trump. It was the latest in a series of recent exercises staged by China, after its military aircraft passed near Taiwan on December 10 for the second time in a month. Taiwan's defence minister Feng Shih-kuan has called the timing of China's air exercises a coincidence, but warned the island still faces a military threat. China views self-ruling Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting unification, by force if necessary, even though the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war. (AFP)

Taiwan says Chinese aircraft carrier passed south of island

China will return an underwater US&nbsp;drone seized by a naval vessel this week in the South China Sea, both countries said on Saturday, but Beijing complained the United States had been &quot;hyping up&quot; the incident.

The drone, known as an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), was taken on Thursday, the first seizure of its kind in recent memory. The Pentagon went public with its complaint after the action and said on Saturday it had secured a deal to get the drone back.

&quot;Through direct engagement with Chinese authorities, we have secured an understanding that the Chinese will return the UUV to the United States,&quot; Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement.

The incident drew criticism from US&nbsp;President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to take a more aggressive approach in dealing with Beijing.

The drone, which the Pentagon said was operating lawfully and was clearly marked as US&nbsp;property, was collecting data about the salinity, temperature and clarity of the water about 50 nautical miles north-west of Subic Bay, off the Philippines.

It was seized on Thursday just as the USNS Bowditch was about to retrieve it, US&nbsp;officials said.

The Defence Ministry said a Chinese naval vessel discovered a piece of &quot;unidentified equipment&quot;, and checked it to prevent any navigational safety issues before discovering it was a US&nbsp;drone.

&quot;China decided to return it to the US&nbsp;side in an appropriate manner, and China and the US&nbsp;have all along been in communication about it,&quot; the ministry said on its website.

&quot;During this process, the US&nbsp;side&#39;s unilateral and open hyping up is inappropriate&nbsp;and is not beneficial to the smooth resolution of this issue. We express regret at this,&quot; it added.

Trump, a Republican who takes office on January 20, waded into the dispute on Twitter on Saturday.

&quot;China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters - rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act,&quot; Trump said in a tweet early on Saturday from his seaside resort club Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, where he plans to spend the holidays.

Heightened concerns

The drone incident has raised fresh concerns about China&#39;s increased military presence and aggressive posture in the disputed South China Sea, including its militarisation of maritime outposts.

New satellite imagery shows China has installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, a US&nbsp;research group said this week.

Without directly saying whether the drone was operating in waters Beijing considers its own, China&#39;s Defence Ministry said US&nbsp;ships and aircraft have for a long period been carrying out surveillance and surveys in &quot;the presence&quot; of Chinese waters.

&quot;China is resolutely opposed to this, and demands the US&nbsp;stops this kind of activity,&quot; it said.

China will remain on alert for these sorts of activities and take necessary steps to deal with them, the ministry said without elaborating.

The Global Times, published by the ruling Communist Party&#39;s official People&#39;s Daily, earlier cited an unidentified Chinese source as saying they believed the issue would be resolved smoothly.

Trump has previously complained about the South China Sea build-up. He has threatened to declare China a currency manipulator and force changes in US-Chinese trade policy, which he says has led to the greatest theft of American jobs in history.

Trump has also raised questions about whether Washington would stick to its nearly four-decades-old policy of recognising that Taiwan is part of &quot;one China.&quot;

He irked Beijing by taking a congratulatory phone call from President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan after his November 8 election victory. China lodged a diplomatic protest.

The 10-minute telephone call was the first of its kind since US president Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, acknowledging Taiwan as part of &quot;one China.&quot;

President Barack Obama said on Friday it was fine for Trump to review Washington&#39;s policy toward Taiwan, but he cautioned that a shift could lead to significant consequences in the US&nbsp;relationship with Beijing.

(Reuters)

The Pentagon went public with its complaint after the seizure and said on Saturday it had secured a deal to get the drone back

China will return an underwater US drone seized by a naval vessel this week in the South China Sea, both countries said on Saturday, but Beijing complained the United States had been "hyping up" the incident. The drone, known as an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), was taken on Thursday, the first seizure of its kind in recent memory. The Pentagon went public with its complaint after the action and said on Saturday it had secured a deal to get the drone back. "Through direct engagement with Chinese authorities, we have secured an understanding that the Chinese will return the UUV to the United States," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement. The incident drew criticism from US President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to take a more aggressive approach in dealing with Beijing. The drone, which the Pentagon said was operating lawfully and was clearly marked as US property, was collecting data about the salinity, temperature and clarity of the water about 50 nautical miles north-west of Subic Bay, off the Philippines. It was seized on Thursday just as the USNS Bowditch was about to retrieve it, US officials said. The Defence Ministry said a Chinese naval vessel discovered a piece of "unidentified equipment", and checked it to prevent any navigational safety issues before discovering it was a US drone. "China decided to return it to the US side in an appropriate manner, and China and the US have all along been in communication about it," the ministry said on its website. "During this process, the US side's unilateral and open hyping up is inappropriate and is not beneficial to the smooth resolution of this issue. We express regret at this," it added. Trump, a Republican who takes office on January 20, waded into the dispute on Twitter on Saturday. "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters - rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act," Trump said in a tweet early on Saturday from his seaside resort club Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, where he plans to spend the holidays. Heightened concerns The drone incident has raised fresh concerns about China's increased military presence and aggressive posture in the disputed South China Sea, including its militarisation of maritime outposts. New satellite imagery shows China has installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, a US research group said this week. Without directly saying whether the drone was operating in waters Beijing considers its own, China's Defence Ministry said US ships and aircraft have for a long period been carrying out surveillance and surveys in "the presence" of Chinese waters. "China is resolutely opposed to this, and demands the US stops this kind of activity," it said. China will remain on alert for these sorts of activities and take necessary steps to deal with them, the ministry said without elaborating. The Global Times, published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, earlier cited an unidentified Chinese source as saying they believed the issue would be resolved smoothly. Trump has previously complained about the South China Sea build-up. He has threatened to declare China a currency manipulator and force changes in US-Chinese trade policy, which he says has led to the greatest theft of American jobs in history. Trump has also raised questions about whether Washington would stick to its nearly four-decades-old policy of recognising that Taiwan is part of "one China." He irked Beijing by taking a congratulatory phone call from President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan after his November 8 election victory. China lodged a diplomatic protest. The 10-minute telephone call was the first of its kind since US president Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, acknowledging Taiwan as part of "one China." President Barack Obama said on Friday it was fine for Trump to review Washington's policy toward Taiwan, but he cautioned that a shift could lead to significant consequences in the US relationship with Beijing. (Reuters)

China to return seized US drone, says Washington 'hyping up' incident

&nbsp;

China seized an underwater drone deployed by USNS Bowditch, an oceanographic survey ship in the South China Sea, US officials on Friday said.&nbsp;

The drone was captured on December 15 before USNS Bowditch could retrive the unmanned vessel about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay off the Philippines.

&quot;The UUV was lawfully conducting a military survey in the waters of the South China Sea,&quot; an official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

&quot;It&#39;s a sovereign immune vessel, clearly marked in English not to be removed from the water - that it was US&nbsp;property,&quot; the official said.

The Pentagon confirmed that the drone had been taken.&nbsp;

Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said &quot;It is ours, and it is clearly marked as ours and we would like it back. And we would like this not to happen again.&quot;

The drone was part of an unclassified programme to collect oceanographic data including salinity, temperature and clarity of the water, the US&nbsp;official added.

The drone uses commercially available technology and costs around $150,000.

Mira Rapp-Hooper, a senior fellow in the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, said&nbsp; 
&quot;This move, if accurately reported, is highly escalatory, and it is hard to see how Beijing will justify it legally.&quot;

This move could increase tensions between the two countries, amid&nbsp;China&#39;s growing aggression and presence in the South China Sea.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

The drone was part of an unclassified program to collect oceanographic data including salinity, temperature and clarity of the water

China seized an underwater drone deployed by USNS Bowditch, an oceanographic survey ship in the South China Sea, US officials on Friday said. The drone was captured on December 15 before USNS Bowditch could retrive the unmanned vessel about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay off the Philippines. "The UUV was lawfully conducting a military survey in the waters of the South China Sea," an official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "It's a sovereign immune vessel, clearly marked in English not to be removed from the water - that it was US property," the official said. The Pentagon confirmed that the drone had been taken. Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said "It is ours, and it is clearly marked as ours and we would like it back. And we would like this not to happen again." The drone was part of an unclassified programme to collect oceanographic data including salinity, temperature and clarity of the water, the US official added. The drone uses commercially available technology and costs around $150,000. Mira Rapp-Hooper, a senior fellow in the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, said "This move, if accurately reported, is highly escalatory, and it is hard to see how Beijing will justify it legally." This move could increase tensions between the two countries, amid China's growing aggression and presence in the South China Sea. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

China seizes US naval underwater drone in South China Sea

China appears to have installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, a US&nbsp;think tank reported on Wednesday, citing new satellite imagery.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said its findings come despite statements by the Chinese leadership that Beijing has no intention to militarise the islands in the strategic trade route, where territory is claimed by several countries.

AMTI said it had been tracking construction of hexagonal structures on Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs in the Spratly Islands since June and July. China has already built military length airstrips on these islands.

&quot;It now seems that these structures are an evolution of point-defense fortifications already constructed at China&rsquo;s smaller facilities on Gaven, Hughes, Johnson, and Cuarteron reefs,&quot; it said citing images taken in November and made available to Reuters.

&quot;This model has gone through another evolution at (the) much-larger bases on Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief reefs.&quot;

Satellite images of Hughes and Gaven reefs showed what appeared to be anti-aircraft guns and what were likely to be close-in weapons systems (CIWS) to protect against cruise missile strikes, it said.

Images from Fiery Cross Reef showed towers that likely contained targeting radar, it said.

AMTI said covers had been installed on the towers at Fiery Cross, but the size of platforms on these and the covers suggested they concealed defense systems similar to those at the smaller reefs.

&quot;These gun and probable CIWS emplacements show that Beijing is serious about defense of its artificial islands in case of an armed contingency in the South China Sea,&quot; it said.

&quot;Among other things, they would be the last line of defense against cruise missiles launched by the United States or others against these soon-to-be-operational air bases.&quot;

AMTI director Greg Poling said AMTI had spent months trying to figure out what the purposes of the structures was.

&quot;This is the first time that we&#39;re confident in saying they are anti-aircraft and CIWS emplacements. We did not know that they had systems this big and this advanced there,&quot; he told Reuters.

&quot;This is militarization. The Chinese can argue that it&#39;s only for defensive purposes, but if you are building giant anti-aircraft gun and CIWS emplacements, it means that you are prepping for a future conflict.

&quot;They keep saying they are not militarizing, but they could deploy fighter jets and surface-to-air missiles tomorrow if they wanted to,&quot; he said. &quot;Now they have all the infrastructure in place for these interlocking rings of defense and power projection.&quot;The report said the installations would likely back up a defensive umbrella provided by a future deployment of mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) platforms like the HQ-9 system deployed to Woody Island in the Paracel Islands, farther to the north in the South China Sea.

It forecast that such a deployment could happen &quot;at any time,&quot; noting a recent Fox News report that components for SAM systems have been spotted at the southeastern Chinese port of Jieyang, possibly destined for the South China Sea.

China has said military construction on the islands will be limited to necessary defensive requirements.

The United States has criticized what it called China&#39;s militarization of its maritime outposts and stressed the need for freedom of navigation by conducting periodic air and naval patrols near them that have angered Beijing.

U.S. President-elect Donald&nbsp;Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has also criticized Chinese behavior in the South China Sea while signaling he may adopt a tougher approach to China&#39;s assertive behavior in the region than President Barack Obama.

Beijing had said it had no intention to militarise the artificial islands built by it in territory claimed by several countries

China appears to have installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, a US think tank reported on Wednesday, citing new satellite imagery. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said its findings come despite statements by the Chinese leadership that Beijing has no intention to militarise the islands in the strategic trade route, where territory is claimed by several countries. AMTI said it had been tracking construction of hexagonal structures on Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs in the Spratly Islands since June and July. China has already built military length airstrips on these islands. "It now seems that these structures are an evolution of point-defense fortifications already constructed at China’s smaller facilities on Gaven, Hughes, Johnson, and Cuarteron reefs," it said citing images taken in November and made available to Reuters. "This model has gone through another evolution at (the) much-larger bases on Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief reefs." Satellite images of Hughes and Gaven reefs showed what appeared to be anti-aircraft guns and what were likely to be close-in weapons systems (CIWS) to protect against cruise missile strikes, it said. Images from Fiery Cross Reef showed towers that likely contained targeting radar, it said. AMTI said covers had been installed on the towers at Fiery Cross, but the size of platforms on these and the covers suggested they concealed defense systems similar to those at the smaller reefs. "These gun and probable CIWS emplacements show that Beijing is serious about defense of its artificial islands in case of an armed contingency in the South China Sea," it said. "Among other things, they would be the last line of defense against cruise missiles launched by the United States or others against these soon-to-be-operational air bases." AMTI director Greg Poling said AMTI had spent months trying to figure out what the purposes of the structures was. "This is the first time that we're confident in saying they are anti-aircraft and CIWS emplacements. We did not know that they had systems this big and this advanced there," he told Reuters. "This is militarization. The Chinese can argue that it's only for defensive purposes, but if you are building giant anti-aircraft gun and CIWS emplacements, it means that you are prepping for a future conflict. "They keep saying they are not militarizing, but they could deploy fighter jets and surface-to-air missiles tomorrow if they wanted to," he said. "Now they have all the infrastructure in place for these interlocking rings of defense and power projection."The report said the installations would likely back up a defensive umbrella provided by a future deployment of mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) platforms like the HQ-9 system deployed to Woody Island in the Paracel Islands, farther to the north in the South China Sea. It forecast that such a deployment could happen "at any time," noting a recent Fox News report that components for SAM systems have been spotted at the southeastern Chinese port of Jieyang, possibly destined for the South China Sea. China has said military construction on the islands will be limited to necessary defensive requirements. The United States has criticized what it called China's militarization of its maritime outposts and stressed the need for freedom of navigation by conducting periodic air and naval patrols near them that have angered Beijing. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has also criticized Chinese behavior in the South China Sea while signaling he may adopt a tougher approach to China's assertive behavior in the region than President Barack Obama.

China has installed weapons on South China Sea islands: Think tank

The United States is ready to confront China should it continue its overreaching maritime claims in the South China Sea, the head of the US&nbsp;Pacific fleet said on Wednesday, comments that threaten to escalate tensions between the two global rivals.

China claims most of the resource-rich South China Sea through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

The United States has called on China to respect the findings of arbitration court in The Hague earlier this year which invalidated its vast territorial claims in the strategic waterway.

But Beijing continues to act in an &quot;aggressive&quot; manner, to which the United States stands ready to respond, Admiral Harry Harris, head of the US&nbsp;Pacific Command, said in a speech in Sydney.

&quot;We will not allow a shared domain to be closed down unilaterally no matter how many bases are built on artificial features in the South China Sea,&quot; he said. &quot;We will cooperate when we can but we will be ready to confront when we must.&quot;

The comments threaten to stoke tensions between the United States and China, already heightened by President-elect Donald Trump&#39;s decision to accept a telephone call from Taiwan&#39;s president on December&nbsp;2 that prompted a diplomatic protest from Beijing.

The United States estimates Beijing has added more than 3,200 acres (1,300 hectares) of land on seven features in the South China Sea over the past three years, building runways, ports, aircraft hangars and communications equipment.

In response, the United States has conducted a series of freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea, the latest of which came in October.

The patrols have angered Beijing, with a senior Chinese official in July warning the practice may end in &quot;disaster&quot;.

Harris said it was a decision for the Australian government whether the U.S. ally should undertake its own freedom-of-navigation operations, but said the United States would continue with the practice.

&quot;The US&nbsp;fought its first war following our independence to ensure freedom of navigation,&quot; said Harris. &quot;This is an enduring principle and one of the reasons our forces stand ready to fight tonight.&quot;

(Reuters)

Admiral Harry Harris, head of the US?Pacific Command, said the US will not allow a 'shared domain to be closed unilaterally'

The United States is ready to confront China should it continue its overreaching maritime claims in the South China Sea, the head of the US Pacific fleet said on Wednesday, comments that threaten to escalate tensions between the two global rivals. China claims most of the resource-rich South China Sea through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. The United States has called on China to respect the findings of arbitration court in The Hague earlier this year which invalidated its vast territorial claims in the strategic waterway. But Beijing continues to act in an "aggressive" manner, to which the United States stands ready to respond, Admiral Harry Harris, head of the US Pacific Command, said in a speech in Sydney. "We will not allow a shared domain to be closed down unilaterally no matter how many bases are built on artificial features in the South China Sea," he said. "We will cooperate when we can but we will be ready to confront when we must." The comments threaten to stoke tensions between the United States and China, already heightened by President-elect Donald Trump's decision to accept a telephone call from Taiwan's president on December 2 that prompted a diplomatic protest from Beijing. The United States estimates Beijing has added more than 3,200 acres (1,300 hectares) of land on seven features in the South China Sea over the past three years, building runways, ports, aircraft hangars and communications equipment. In response, the United States has conducted a series of freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea, the latest of which came in October. The patrols have angered Beijing, with a senior Chinese official in July warning the practice may end in "disaster". Harris said it was a decision for the Australian government whether the U.S. ally should undertake its own freedom-of-navigation operations, but said the United States would continue with the practice. "The US fought its first war following our independence to ensure freedom of navigation," said Harris. "This is an enduring principle and one of the reasons our forces stand ready to fight tonight." (Reuters)

US ready to confront Beijing on South China Sea issue: Pacific fleet chief

US President-elect Donald Trump fired a Twitter broadside at China on Sunday, accusing the Asian giant of currency manipulation and military expansionism in the South China Sea.

The taunt came two days after Trump risked offending Beijing by accepting a call from the Taiwanese president, and heralded the prospect of a trade battle between the world&rsquo;s largest economies.

China was a frequent target of Trump&rsquo;s during his presidential campaign and, as he prepares to take office next month, every sign points to his taking an aggressive line with Beijing.

&quot;Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the US doesn&rsquo;t tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea?&quot; he demanded, adding: &quot;I don&rsquo;t think so!&quot;

China is the United States&rsquo; largest trading partner, but America ran a $366 billion deficit with Beijing in goods and services in 2015, up 6.6 per cent on the year before.

US politicians often accuse China of artificially depressing its currency, the renminbi, in order to boost its exports -- its value has fallen by around 15 per cent in the past two-and-half years.

Trump has vowed to formally declare China a &quot;currency manipulator&quot; on the first day of his presidency, which would oblige the US Treasury to open negotiations with Beijing on allowing the renminbi to rise.

With China holding about a trillion dollars in US government debt, Washington would have little leverage in such talks, but the declaration would harm ties and boost the prospect of a trade war.

China charges an average 15.6 per cent tariff on US agricultural imports and nine percent on other goods, according to the World Trade Organization.

Chinese farm products pay 4.4 per cent and other goods 3.6 per cent when coming into the United States. &nbsp;

On Friday, Trump courted Chinese anger by accepting a congratulatory call from Taiwan&#39;s president Tsai Ing-wen.

China regards self-ruling Taiwan as part of its own territory awaiting reunification, and any US move implying support for independence would gravely offend Beijing.

Trump&rsquo;s incoming vice president, Mike Pence, played down the significance of the call, describing it as a courtesy, and said any new policy on China would be decided after his inauguration.

China responded cautiously to the call, with state media putting it down to Trump&#39;s &quot;inexperience.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(AFP)

Trump accused China of currency manipulation and military expansionism in the South China Sea

US President-elect Donald Trump fired a Twitter broadside at China on Sunday, accusing the Asian giant of currency manipulation and military expansionism in the South China Sea. The taunt came two days after Trump risked offending Beijing by accepting a call from the Taiwanese president, and heralded the prospect of a trade battle between the world’s largest economies. China was a frequent target of Trump’s during his presidential campaign and, as he prepares to take office next month, every sign points to his taking an aggressive line with Beijing. "Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the US doesn’t tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea?" he demanded, adding: "I don’t think so!" China is the United States’ largest trading partner, but America ran a $366 billion deficit with Beijing in goods and services in 2015, up 6.6 per cent on the year before. US politicians often accuse China of artificially depressing its currency, the renminbi, in order to boost its exports -- its value has fallen by around 15 per cent in the past two-and-half years. Trump has vowed to formally declare China a "currency manipulator" on the first day of his presidency, which would oblige the US Treasury to open negotiations with Beijing on allowing the renminbi to rise. With China holding about a trillion dollars in US government debt, Washington would have little leverage in such talks, but the declaration would harm ties and boost the prospect of a trade war. China charges an average 15.6 per cent tariff on US agricultural imports and nine percent on other goods, according to the World Trade Organization. Chinese farm products pay 4.4 per cent and other goods 3.6 per cent when coming into the United States. On Friday, Trump courted Chinese anger by accepting a congratulatory call from Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen. China regards self-ruling Taiwan as part of its own territory awaiting reunification, and any US move implying support for independence would gravely offend Beijing. Trump’s incoming vice president, Mike Pence, played down the significance of the call, describing it as a courtesy, and said any new policy on China would be decided after his inauguration. China responded cautiously to the call, with state media putting it down to Trump's "inexperience." (AFP)

Trump picks Twitter fight with China

Japan and India are set to sign a controversial civil nuclear deal this week, reports said Sunday, as the two Asian allies look to boost economic and security ties to counter an assertive China.

India&#39;s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe are set to sign a deal on Friday that would allow Japan to export nuclear technology to the subcontinent, the Yomiuri Shimbun paper reported.

India would become the first non-signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to agree such a nuclear deal with Japan -- which was the victim of US atomic bombings in the final days of World War II.

The two countries are also set to agree that if India conducts a nuclear test, Japan will stop cooperation, the Yomiuri reported.

The expected deal comes against a backdrop of growing security concerns in the region over China&#39;s military presence.

Beijing is expanding its deep-water naval presence and asserts sovereignty over disputed areas of the East and South China Sea and Indian Ocean region, parts of which Japan also claims.

India has a longstanding territorial dispute with China, and troops from the two countries engaged in a major stand-off at the border in 2014.

Tokyo has its own spat with Beijing over islands in the East China Sea, and is increasingly vocal about its rival&#39;s ambitions to control almost the whole of the South China Sea.

Japan has in the past shunned civil nuclear cooperation with India, citing concerns over the international Non-Proliferation Treaty, but appears to have softened its stance.

The business daily Nikkei confirmed the expected nuclear deal, adding that a batch of business-linked deals are also set to be signed.

Modi visited Japan in August 2014 on his first bilateral trip outside South Asia, months after coming to power.

Subsequently Abe paid a two-day visit to India last December.&nbsp;

Modi will arrive in Japan Thursday for a three-day visit, after the two men in September held talks on the sidelines of a Southeast Asia meeting in Laos.

(Reuters)

The deal, to be signed on Friday,comes against a backdrop of growing security concerns in the South China sea over China's military presence

Japan and India are set to sign a controversial civil nuclear deal this week, reports said Sunday, as the two Asian allies look to boost economic and security ties to counter an assertive China. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe are set to sign a deal on Friday that would allow Japan to export nuclear technology to the subcontinent, the Yomiuri Shimbun paper reported. India would become the first non-signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to agree such a nuclear deal with Japan -- which was the victim of US atomic bombings in the final days of World War II. The two countries are also set to agree that if India conducts a nuclear test, Japan will stop cooperation, the Yomiuri reported. The expected deal comes against a backdrop of growing security concerns in the region over China's military presence. Beijing is expanding its deep-water naval presence and asserts sovereignty over disputed areas of the East and South China Sea and Indian Ocean region, parts of which Japan also claims. India has a longstanding territorial dispute with China, and troops from the two countries engaged in a major stand-off at the border in 2014. Tokyo has its own spat with Beijing over islands in the East China Sea, and is increasingly vocal about its rival's ambitions to control almost the whole of the South China Sea. Japan has in the past shunned civil nuclear cooperation with India, citing concerns over the international Non-Proliferation Treaty, but appears to have softened its stance. The business daily Nikkei confirmed the expected nuclear deal, adding that a batch of business-linked deals are also set to be signed. Modi visited Japan in August 2014 on his first bilateral trip outside South Asia, months after coming to power. Subsequently Abe paid a two-day visit to India last December. Modi will arrive in Japan Thursday for a three-day visit, after the two men in September held talks on the sidelines of a Southeast Asia meeting in Laos. (Reuters)

Japan, India to ink controversial nuclear deal

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Saturday that he will not compromise his country&#39;s sovereignty in the disputed South China Sea.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own. Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and also claim part of the disputed waters.

&quot;In regards to Indonesia&#39;s sovereignty, I don&#39;t compromise. I don&#39;t compromise,&quot; Widodo told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ahead of a visit to Australia which he cancelled later on Saturday after protests in Jakarta by Muslim extremists briefly turned violent. The demonstrators were demanding the resignation of Jakarta&#39;s governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama for insulting Islam&#39;s holy book, the Koran.

His comments come after Australia&#39;s foreign minister, Julie Bishop&#39;s remarks on Tuesday that the two countries were considering joint naval patrols in the contested waters, Reuters reported.

The territory Widodo was talking about is the Natuna Islands in the South China sea which Indonesia claims as its own. China has not disputed Indonesia&#39;s claims to the islands but says the two countries have &quot;overlapping claims&quot; to the Natuna Sea, fuelling Indonesia&#39;s anger.

Last month, Indonesian warplanes staged a large-scale exercise in the waters around the Natuna Islands archipelago, following a spate of face-offs between the country&#39;s navy and Chinese fishing boats in the gas-rich southern end of the South China Sea.

Australia has previously drawn criticism from China for running surveillance flights over disputed islands in the South China Sea and supporting US freedom of navigation exercises there. 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

China has angered Indonesia by saying the two countries had "overlapping claims" to waters around the Natuna Islands

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Saturday that he will not compromise his country's sovereignty in the disputed South China Sea. China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own. Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and also claim part of the disputed waters. "In regards to Indonesia's sovereignty, I don't compromise. I don't compromise," Widodo told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ahead of a visit to Australia which he cancelled later on Saturday after protests in Jakarta by Muslim extremists briefly turned violent. The demonstrators were demanding the resignation of Jakarta's governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama for insulting Islam's holy book, the Koran. His comments come after Australia's foreign minister, Julie Bishop's remarks on Tuesday that the two countries were considering joint naval patrols in the contested waters, Reuters reported. The territory Widodo was talking about is the Natuna Islands in the South China sea which Indonesia claims as its own. China has not disputed Indonesia's claims to the islands but says the two countries have "overlapping claims" to the Natuna Sea, fuelling Indonesia's anger. Last month, Indonesian warplanes staged a large-scale exercise in the waters around the Natuna Islands archipelago, following a spate of face-offs between the country's navy and Chinese fishing boats in the gas-rich southern end of the South China Sea. Australia has previously drawn criticism from China for running surveillance flights over disputed islands in the South China Sea and supporting US freedom of navigation exercises there. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Indonesian president says 'no compromise' on South China Sea

China warned Japan that it will not &quot;sit and watch&quot; while Tokyo increases its operational activities and hold military drills along&nbsp;with the United States on the disputed waters.&nbsp;

The Chinese defence ministry told Tokyo not &quot;to mess up the South China Sea situation and try to gain interests from the troubled waters&quot;.

&quot;If Japan wants to conduct any joint patrol or joint exercises in waters administered by China, it is just like playing with fire, and the Chinese military will not sit and watch,&quot; ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a regular press briefing.

Tension between China and Japan, long-time sparring partners, escalated again when 40 Chinese military aircraft including surveillance planes apparently entered Japanese airspace on Sunday (September 25). Tokyo responded by dispatching fighter jets to tackle the situation.

China had said they were conducting a &quot;routine drill on the high seas&quot;.

Beijing&#39;s aggressive posturing comes after Tokyo&#39;s decision to increase its activities in the South China Sea.

China had earlier responded to Japan&#39;s plans by indicating they would station a heavier military apparatus on the hotly-disputed Spratly Islands.

Tokyo, a key US ally, is also strengthening defence ties with other countries in the disputed region. Japan and China are already at loggerheads over a longstanding territorial row in the East China Sea.

In recent months Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has criticised China for rejecting a July ruling by an international tribunal, which said Beijing&#39;s extensive claims to the waters had no legal basis.

That dispute relates to uninhabited islets controlled by Japan known as the Senkakus in Japanese and the Diaoyus in Chinese.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Beijing's threat comes after Tokyo announced its plans to up its operational activities on the disputed waters

China warned Japan that it will not "sit and watch" while Tokyo increases its operational activities and hold military drills along with the United States on the disputed waters. The Chinese defence ministry told Tokyo not "to mess up the South China Sea situation and try to gain interests from the troubled waters". "If Japan wants to conduct any joint patrol or joint exercises in waters administered by China, it is just like playing with fire, and the Chinese military will not sit and watch," ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a regular press briefing. Tension between China and Japan, long-time sparring partners, escalated again when 40 Chinese military aircraft including surveillance planes apparently entered Japanese airspace on Sunday (September 25). Tokyo responded by dispatching fighter jets to tackle the situation. China had said they were conducting a "routine drill on the high seas". Beijing's aggressive posturing comes after Tokyo's decision to increase its activities in the South China Sea. China had earlier responded to Japan's plans by indicating they would station a heavier military apparatus on the hotly-disputed Spratly Islands. Tokyo, a key US ally, is also strengthening defence ties with other countries in the disputed region. Japan and China are already at loggerheads over a longstanding territorial row in the East China Sea. In recent months Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has criticised China for rejecting a July ruling by an international tribunal, which said Beijing's extensive claims to the waters had no legal basis. That dispute relates to uninhabited islets controlled by Japan known as the Senkakus in Japanese and the Diaoyus in Chinese. (WION with inputs from AFP)

China warns Japan to stay away from South China Sea

Chinese and Russian navies today concluded their joint military exercise in waters off the southern province of Guangdong, with a drill to &quot;seize&quot; an island, in a symbolic move by Beijing whose claims over the South China Sea were struck down by an international tribunal. 
 
Though held off Guangdong coast far from nine-dash line claim over SCS, the drill has a strategic value for China as it comes nearly two months after an international tribunal struck down Beijing&#39;s claims over almost all of SCS. 
 
Under pressure from the US and Japan, China regards the drills as significant as they demonstrate Russia&#39;s backing of it, downplaying reports of international isolation. 
 
The eight-day long exercises ended with both navies staging a mission to seize an island. 
 
Besides the SCS which has numerous islands with rich mineral deposits, China also stakes claims over the islands held by Japan in the East China Sea. 
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed China&#39;s decision to reject the SCS tribunal verdict which the US and Japan said is legally binding. 
 
As the key element of the annual drill, the Chinese and Russian navies dispatched vessels including missile destroyer, anti-submarine vessels, missile frigates, ship-based helicopters and conventional submarines, among others, official media here reported. 
 
The exercises demonstrated the Chinese and Russian navies&#39; capacities in command management, telecommunications coordination, and intelligence and information sharing, senior captain Li Xiangdong, who commanded the Chinese warships, told state-run China Daily. 
 
Addressing the closing ceremony of the drill, which ran from September 13 to 19, Wang Hai, deputy commander of the Chinese Navy, lauded the exercise as successful and said the activity had achieved the desired aim. 
 
Wang said the drill had improved the actual combat capabilities, informationisation and standardisation of the two navies, adding that they will expand practical cooperation and boost communication, state-run Xinhua news agency said. 
 
Alexander Fedotenkov, deputy commander of the Russian Navy, said the two navies shared theoretical and practical experience and were engaged in sound collaboration throughout the exercise. 
 
Fedotenkov said the two sides will maintain close marine cooperation ties, deal with new challenges and threats, and together safeguard world peace and regional stability. 
 
The &quot;Joint Sea 2016&quot; drill featured surface ships, submarines, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, marines and amphibious armored equipment 
 
(PTI)

The exercise has strategic value coming as it does two months after Beijing's claims to the South China Sea were struck down

Chinese and Russian navies today concluded their joint military exercise in waters off the southern province of Guangdong, with a drill to "seize" an island, in a symbolic move by Beijing whose claims over the South China Sea were struck down by an international tribunal. Though held off Guangdong coast far from nine-dash line claim over SCS, the drill has a strategic value for China as it comes nearly two months after an international tribunal struck down Beijing's claims over almost all of SCS. Under pressure from the US and Japan, China regards the drills as significant as they demonstrate Russia's backing of it, downplaying reports of international isolation. The eight-day long exercises ended with both navies staging a mission to seize an island. Besides the SCS which has numerous islands with rich mineral deposits, China also stakes claims over the islands held by Japan in the East China Sea. Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed China's decision to reject the SCS tribunal verdict which the US and Japan said is legally binding. As the key element of the annual drill, the Chinese and Russian navies dispatched vessels including missile destroyer, anti-submarine vessels, missile frigates, ship-based helicopters and conventional submarines, among others, official media here reported. The exercises demonstrated the Chinese and Russian navies' capacities in command management, telecommunications coordination, and intelligence and information sharing, senior captain Li Xiangdong, who commanded the Chinese warships, told state-run China Daily. Addressing the closing ceremony of the drill, which ran from September 13 to 19, Wang Hai, deputy commander of the Chinese Navy, lauded the exercise as successful and said the activity had achieved the desired aim. Wang said the drill had improved the actual combat capabilities, informationisation and standardisation of the two navies, adding that they will expand practical cooperation and boost communication, state-run Xinhua news agency said. Alexander Fedotenkov, deputy commander of the Russian Navy, said the two navies shared theoretical and practical experience and were engaged in sound collaboration throughout the exercise. Fedotenkov said the two sides will maintain close marine cooperation ties, deal with new challenges and threats, and together safeguard world peace and regional stability. The "Joint Sea 2016" drill featured surface ships, submarines, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, marines and amphibious armored equipment (PTI)

China-Russia conclude naval exercise, drills included 'seizing' island

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at Hague gave a landmark judgment on the ongoing dispute in the South China Sea. Between the two litigating parties, the Court ruled in favour of the Philippines, rejecting the historical claims of China over the South China Sea. The Court further said that the rocky outcrops claimed by China as its own cannot be used as the basis for the territorial claims. Also, China has infringed upon the sovereign right of Filipinos by building artificial islands and exploring petroleum and fishing in the disputed waters.

In this backdrop, recently the annual summit of the ASEAN member countries took place at Vientiane in Laos. The tension surrounding the verdict concerning the South China Sea, and China&rsquo;s subsequent statement that it is not legally bound by the verdict, was evident at the recent summit.

The South China Sea holds strategic importance in the world trade as approximately $5 trillion of world trade passes through this region annually. The continuing tension in the region or dominance of one country over the entire region can have an adverse impact on the maritime trade and hence, the economies of several countries.

India and South China Sea 
India has no sovereign issues in the South China Sea but definitely has economic concerns. India has 55 per cent of its trade passing through the South China Sea. Thus, it is essential to maintain &lsquo;freedom of navigation&rsquo; in the waters of South China Sea. Moreover, the Vietnamese Government has offered India seven oil blocks within its territory at the South China Sea. Oil and Natural Gas Commission Videsh Limited has been deeply involved in sea drilling and exploration in the area. The Indian Government has pumped in over $5 billion of our taxpayers&#39; money there. China has often raised concerns and issued warnings to India for its drilling activities in the region. In fact in 2011 to frighten India, the Chinese actually cut away cable of a Vietnamese shipping rig.

However, India has always maintained that it would stay in the region and that every country should respect the concept of freedom of navigation. Under the Modi government, the relationship between Vietnam and India has further strengthened with India&rsquo;s Act East policy. The Prime Minister of India recently visited Vietnam before the G20 summit and extended a credit line of $500 million for deepening the defence cooperation between the two countries. India is making sure that its interests and presence in the South China Sea are ensured with Vietnam as its main ally. Recently, India has signed energy deals with Brunei as well.

The Bigger Picture 
The South China is just one small part of the whole picture. The Indian Ocean is pivotal to world trade with major sea lines of communication in this region. Most of the energy-related trade happens in this region. India due to its geographical placing has a natural control over this region. To counter this and strengthen its control, China has initiated two major infrastructural projects: Silk Route Economic Belt over land and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. They are commonly called the &lsquo;One Belt, One Road&rsquo; (OBOR) project.

In the 2nd century AD, the Eurasian merchants created the first super highway for trade over both land and sea called the Silk Road. For 1600 years, the Silk Road worked as a vital trade route between Asia and Europe as well as an instrument for cultural exchange between the two continents. The first mosque in China was built over a thousand years ago in Quanzhou city along this route by Arab Muslims. China aims to re-instate the silk route under OBOR starting from Shaanxi Province in Central Eastern China to all the way to Australia. &nbsp;

Several countries have expressed their concerns regarding OROB as it passes through the disputed territory of Kashmir as well as Arunachal Pradesh. Also, the disputes in the South China Sea are far from resolved. China is further strengthening its presence in the Indian Ocean Region; the US Dept. of Defense in its report &#39;Energy Futures in Asia&#39; used the term &#39;String of Pearls&#39; to describe the network of Chinese military and commercial facilities in the Indian Ocean region.&nbsp;

China is building massive facilities and ports in the Indian Ocean Region like the one in Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Gwadar in Pakistan. Gwadar port forms an integral part of China&rsquo;s massive $46 billion China - Pakistan Economic Corridor. The port is seen by Pakistan as extremely important because it frees Pakistan from dependence on Karachi port which has over 90 per cent of its trade. Additionally, it is extremely strategic for China as it is only 240 miles from the Strait of Hormuz, giving China access to the Middle East and the Gulf states.

Through the String of Pearls, the Chinese are attempting to dominate sea lines of communication across choke points such as the Strait of Malacca (Malaysian peninsula, Singapore and Indonesian Sumatra), the Strait of Mandeb (connecting Red sea and Gulf of Aden), the Strait of Hormuz (Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf) and others. Thus, China is methodically increasing its presence and control over the entire Indian Ocean Region: the oxygen of world trade.

In response to this, in 2007, India has opened its second overseas military listening post in northern Madagascar, hosted negotiations with Mauritania regarding the construction of an airstrip for Indian surveillance aircraft, as well as organised the construction of radar stations in the Maldives. The Indian Navy is also expanding aggressively lately. A bigger share of India&rsquo;s growing military budget is being passed to the Indian navy. Three years ago, it got just $4.2 billion; this year it has $6.2 billion, that is, nearly a fifth of the total military spending.

The US role 
An increasingly assertive China leaves the US with no option but to take an active interest in the South China Sea. It has to be borne in mind that America&rsquo;s influence in global politics, though significant, is now on the wane. Its misadventures &mdash; almost reckless approach to combat global jihad &mdash; had cost it much more than its failed Vietnam military expedition. If China, now controlling the economic stakes in an integrated global environment, casts its writ on the South China Sea, for the US that would be a body blow to its reputation as the uber power. At one level, this is more about brinkmanship than diplomacy. It is the West&rsquo;s desperate bid to show China its place.&nbsp;

Russia and China will hold their planned joint drills in the South China on September 12-19. According to Russia, the exercises would focus on organised efforts to protect merchant ships in the South China Sea. However, this exercise is being interpreted as a signal that Russia endorses the claims of China in the South China Sea. It is yet to be seen if another stakeholder is in the line of joining the South China Sea dispute.

Counteracting China's growing influence, India presses its economic interests in the South China Sea

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at Hague gave a landmark judgment on the ongoing dispute in the South China Sea. Between the two litigating parties, the Court ruled in favour of the Philippines, rejecting the historical claims of China over the South China Sea. The Court further said that the rocky outcrops claimed by China as its own cannot be used as the basis for the territorial claims. Also, China has infringed upon the sovereign right of Filipinos by building artificial islands and exploring petroleum and fishing in the disputed waters. In this backdrop, recently the annual summit of the ASEAN member countries took place at Vientiane in Laos. The tension surrounding the verdict concerning the South China Sea, and China’s subsequent statement that it is not legally bound by the verdict, was evident at the recent summit. The South China Sea holds strategic importance in the world trade as approximately $5 trillion of world trade passes through this region annually. The continuing tension in the region or dominance of one country over the entire region can have an adverse impact on the maritime trade and hence, the economies of several countries. India and South China Sea India has no sovereign issues in the South China Sea but definitely has economic concerns. India has 55 per cent of its trade passing through the South China Sea. Thus, it is essential to maintain ‘freedom of navigation’ in the waters of South China Sea. Moreover, the Vietnamese Government has offered India seven oil blocks within its territory at the South China Sea. Oil and Natural Gas Commission Videsh Limited has been deeply involved in sea drilling and exploration in the area. The Indian Government has pumped in over $5 billion of our taxpayers' money there. China has often raised concerns and issued warnings to India for its drilling activities in the region. In fact in 2011 to frighten India, the Chinese actually cut away cable of a Vietnamese shipping rig. However, India has always maintained that it would stay in the region and that every country should respect the concept of freedom of navigation. Under the Modi government, the relationship between Vietnam and India has further strengthened with India’s Act East policy. The Prime Minister of India recently visited Vietnam before the G20 summit and extended a credit line of $500 million for deepening the defence cooperation between the two countries. India is making sure that its interests and presence in the South China Sea are ensured with Vietnam as its main ally. Recently, India has signed energy deals with Brunei as well. The Bigger Picture The South China is just one small part of the whole picture. The Indian Ocean is pivotal to world trade with major sea lines of communication in this region. Most of the energy-related trade happens in this region. India due to its geographical placing has a natural control over this region. To counter this and strengthen its control, China has initiated two major infrastructural projects: Silk Route Economic Belt over land and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. They are commonly called the ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) project. In the 2nd century AD, the Eurasian merchants created the first super highway for trade over both land and sea called the Silk Road. For 1600 years, the Silk Road worked as a vital trade route between Asia and Europe as well as an instrument for cultural exchange between the two continents. The first mosque in China was built over a thousand years ago in Quanzhou city along this route by Arab Muslims. China aims to re-instate the silk route under OBOR starting from Shaanxi Province in Central Eastern China to all the way to Australia. Several countries have expressed their concerns regarding OROB as it passes through the disputed territory of Kashmir as well as Arunachal Pradesh. Also, the disputes in the South China Sea are far from resolved. China is further strengthening its presence in the Indian Ocean Region; the US Dept. of Defense in its report 'Energy Futures in Asia' used the term 'String of Pearls' to describe the network of Chinese military and commercial facilities in the Indian Ocean region. China is building massive facilities and ports in the Indian Ocean Region like the one in Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Gwadar in Pakistan. Gwadar port forms an integral part of China’s massive $46 billion China - Pakistan Economic Corridor. The port is seen by Pakistan as extremely important because it frees Pakistan from dependence on Karachi port which has over 90 per cent of its trade. Additionally, it is extremely strategic for China as it is only 240 miles from the Strait of Hormuz, giving China access to the Middle East and the Gulf states. Through the String of Pearls, the Chinese are attempting to dominate sea lines of communication across choke points such as the Strait of Malacca (Malaysian peninsula, Singapore and Indonesian Sumatra), the Strait of Mandeb (connecting Red sea and Gulf of Aden), the Strait of Hormuz (Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf) and others. Thus, China is methodically increasing its presence and control over the entire Indian Ocean Region: the oxygen of world trade. In response to this, in 2007, India has opened its second overseas military listening post in northern Madagascar, hosted negotiations with Mauritania regarding the construction of an airstrip for Indian surveillance aircraft, as well as organised the construction of radar stations in the Maldives. The Indian Navy is also expanding aggressively lately. A bigger share of India’s growing military budget is being passed to the Indian navy. Three years ago, it got just $4.2 billion; this year it has $6.2 billion, that is, nearly a fifth of the total military spending. The US role An increasingly assertive China leaves the US with no option but to take an active interest in the South China Sea. It has to be borne in mind that America’s influence in global politics, though significant, is now on the wane. Its misadventures — almost reckless approach to combat global jihad — had cost it much more than its failed Vietnam military expedition. If China, now controlling the economic stakes in an integrated global environment, casts its writ on the South China Sea, for the US that would be a body blow to its reputation as the uber power. At one level, this is more about brinkmanship than diplomacy. It is the West’s desperate bid to show China its place. Russia and China will hold their planned joint drills in the South China on September 12-19. According to Russia, the exercises would focus on organised efforts to protect merchant ships in the South China Sea. However, this exercise is being interpreted as a signal that Russia endorses the claims of China in the South China Sea. It is yet to be seen if another stakeholder is in the line of joining the South China Sea dispute.

Navigating a storm in the South China Sea

China will &quot;have to get involved if any Indian plot disrupts the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan&#39;s Balochistan&quot;, a Chinese Think Tank was reported saying. 
 
The statement came following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern &nbsp;over the restive Balochistan. 
 
Hu Shisheng, Director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), affiliated with the country&#39;s Ministry of State Security, said that India&#39;s growing military ties with the US and its changed attitude on the disputed South China Sea were not welcomed by China. 
 
&quot;It could be regarded as a watershed moment in India&#39;s policy towards Pakistan. Why Chinese scholars are concerned is because this is for the first time India has mentioned it,&quot; Hu said. 
 
He said that China was concerned about India using &quot;anti-government&quot; elements in Balochistan where Beijing is building the $46 billion CPEC -- crucial to the success of its One Road One Belt project. 
 
&quot;India may take the same approach that it believes Pakistan is taking, asymmetrically using anti-government factors in Pakistan,&quot; Hu said. 
 
&quot;If this kind of plot causes damage to the CPEC, China will have to get involved,&quot; he said. 
 
The CPEC will connect China&#39;s largest province, Xinjiang, with Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar port in Balochistan, marked by rebels and separatists. India has opposed the corridor as it will pass through Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir which India calls its own. 
 
Hu pointed that the defence cooperation between New Delhi and Washington had increased significantly after Modi took over as Prime Minster, also referring to US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter&#39;s visit to India in April. 
 
&quot;There is renewal of defence and technological cooperation (between India and the US) for another 10 years, enhancing the cooperation under the framework of DTTI (Defence Technology and Trade Initiative),&quot; Hu added. 
 
India must resist pressure from the US and Japan in countering China, he said. 
 
A UN court had in July rejected China&#39;s claims over the the Nine-Dash line -- which covers almost 90 per cent of the contested South China Sea -- and backed the Philippines which has overlapping claims in the waters, also partly claimed by Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

China is concerned about the Indian Prime Minister's comments hampering the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project work in Balochistan

China will "have to get involved if any Indian plot disrupts the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan's Balochistan", a Chinese Think Tank was reported saying. The statement came following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern over the restive Balochistan. Hu Shisheng, Director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), affiliated with the country's Ministry of State Security, said that India's growing military ties with the US and its changed attitude on the disputed South China Sea were not welcomed by China. "It could be regarded as a watershed moment in India's policy towards Pakistan. Why Chinese scholars are concerned is because this is for the first time India has mentioned it," Hu said. He said that China was concerned about India using "anti-government" elements in Balochistan where Beijing is building the $46 billion CPEC -- crucial to the success of its One Road One Belt project. "India may take the same approach that it believes Pakistan is taking, asymmetrically using anti-government factors in Pakistan," Hu said. "If this kind of plot causes damage to the CPEC, China will have to get involved," he said. The CPEC will connect China's largest province, Xinjiang, with Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan, marked by rebels and separatists. India has opposed the corridor as it will pass through Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir which India calls its own. Hu pointed that the defence cooperation between New Delhi and Washington had increased significantly after Modi took over as Prime Minster, also referring to US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's visit to India in April. "There is renewal of defence and technological cooperation (between India and the US) for another 10 years, enhancing the cooperation under the framework of DTTI (Defence Technology and Trade Initiative)," Hu added. India must resist pressure from the US and Japan in countering China, he said. A UN court had in July rejected China's claims over the the Nine-Dash line -- which covers almost 90 per cent of the contested South China Sea -- and backed the Philippines which has overlapping claims in the waters, also partly claimed by Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia. (WION with inputs from agencies)

'Will get involved if India stirs up trouble in Balochistan', Chinese think tank warns

Hailing India for keeping &quot;neutral stand&quot; over the South China Sea issue despite pressure from the United States and Japan, state-run Chinese media today said there are some contradictions and frictions between the two nations but the overall bilateral relations have been developing smoothly. 
 
&quot;When it comes to security, after the final award of the South China Sea arbitration was announced, the Indian government has kept a neutral stance despite the pressure from Washington and Tokyo,&quot; an article in the state-run Global Times said. 
 
Calling for &quot;solid step forward&quot; to improve relations, the article said &quot;admittedly, there are some contradictions and frictions between China and India, but the overall bilateral relations have been developing smoothly&quot;. 
 
It also flayed Indian media for &quot;going too far&quot; to blame China for blocking India&#39;s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and linking last week&#39;s Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi&#39;s visit to India to the South China Sea issue. 
 
&quot;Indian media has spared no effort in linking Wang&#39;s visit to the South China Sea issue and the country&#39;s failure in joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG),&quot; it said. 
 
Last month, an international tribunal struck down China&#39;s claims over the South China Sea based on historic rights, pushing Beijing on the back foot in its maritime dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan over the area. 
 
&quot;Regarding the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) case, Indian media has gone too far, for it is not at all a problem between Beijing and New Delhi. 
 
It was the US, not China, who made the relevant rules for NSG membership, and India failed to meet the criteria of entering the club. A dozen NSG members are now opposing India&#39;s bid, thus, it does not make sense for Indian media to point an accusing finger at China,&quot; it said. 
 
&quot;The two nations may have discussed the issue during Wang&#39;s visit, and it is possible for both sides to clarify their own ideas, stances and policies over the matter. But the conjecture that Wang was trying to win India&#39;s support over the South China Sea by helping New Delhi with the NSG membership doesn&#39;t make sense at all,&quot; it said. 
 
This is the second article in as many days by the daily to criticise Indian media. 
 
On August 15, another article blamed the Indian media for &quot;stirring up negative sentiments&quot; against China by highlighting the divergences in the bilateral ties. 
 
&quot;During the Wang s visit the two sides may have also discussed how to further promote a closer partnership, which was raised during Chinese President Xi Jinping&#39;s visit,&quot; the article said. 
 
&quot;For the moment, when we talk about Sino-India ties, we tend to use the phrase &#39;relations are generally stable without major conflicts&#39;. Yet this should not be the highest expectation we hold for the relationship,&quot; it said. 
 
&quot;Beijing and New Delhi have raised hopes for economic and trade cooperation, but turning them into reality requires wider consensus and more consultations,&quot; it said. 
 
Acknowledging problems in the bilateral collaboration on economic and trade issues which &quot;used to be one of the most positive parts of the bilateral relations, it said &quot;joint works in this regard have not been going smoothly in recent years&quot;. 
 
(PTI)&nbsp;

An article in state-run Global Times referred to pressure from US and Japan, and hailed India for the 'neutral stand'

Hailing India for keeping "neutral stand" over the South China Sea issue despite pressure from the United States and Japan, state-run Chinese media today said there are some contradictions and frictions between the two nations but the overall bilateral relations have been developing smoothly. "When it comes to security, after the final award of the South China Sea arbitration was announced, the Indian government has kept a neutral stance despite the pressure from Washington and Tokyo," an article in the state-run Global Times said. Calling for "solid step forward" to improve relations, the article said "admittedly, there are some contradictions and frictions between China and India, but the overall bilateral relations have been developing smoothly". It also flayed Indian media for "going too far" to blame China for blocking India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and linking last week's Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to India to the South China Sea issue. "Indian media has spared no effort in linking Wang's visit to the South China Sea issue and the country's failure in joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)," it said. Last month, an international tribunal struck down China's claims over the South China Sea based on historic rights, pushing Beijing on the back foot in its maritime dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan over the area. "Regarding the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) case, Indian media has gone too far, for it is not at all a problem between Beijing and New Delhi. It was the US, not China, who made the relevant rules for NSG membership, and India failed to meet the criteria of entering the club. A dozen NSG members are now opposing India's bid, thus, it does not make sense for Indian media to point an accusing finger at China," it said. "The two nations may have discussed the issue during Wang's visit, and it is possible for both sides to clarify their own ideas, stances and policies over the matter. But the conjecture that Wang was trying to win India's support over the South China Sea by helping New Delhi with the NSG membership doesn't make sense at all," it said. This is the second article in as many days by the daily to criticise Indian media. On August 15, another article blamed the Indian media for "stirring up negative sentiments" against China by highlighting the divergences in the bilateral ties. "During the Wang s visit the two sides may have also discussed how to further promote a closer partnership, which was raised during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit," the article said. "For the moment, when we talk about Sino-India ties, we tend to use the phrase 'relations are generally stable without major conflicts'. Yet this should not be the highest expectation we hold for the relationship," it said. "Beijing and New Delhi have raised hopes for economic and trade cooperation, but turning them into reality requires wider consensus and more consultations," it said. Acknowledging problems in the bilateral collaboration on economic and trade issues which "used to be one of the most positive parts of the bilateral relations, it said "joint works in this regard have not been going smoothly in recent years". (PTI)

'India has kept a neutral stand on South China Sea dispute despite pressure'

Vietnam has discreetly fortified several of its islands in the disputed South China Sea with new mobile rocket launchers capable of striking China&#39;s runways and military installations across the vital trade route, according to Western officials. 
 
Diplomats and military officers told Reuters that intelligence shows Hanoi has shipped the launchers from the Vietnamese mainland into position on five bases in the Spratly islands in recent months, a move likely to raise tensions with Beijing.&nbsp;The launchers have been hidden from aerial surveillance and they have yet to be armed, but could be made operational with rocket artillery rounds within two or three days, according to the three sources. 
 
Vietnam&#39;s Foreign Ministry said that the information was &quot;inaccurate&quot;, without elaborating.&nbsp;Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chi Vinh, had told Reuters in Singapore in June that Hanoi had no such launchers or weapons ready in the Spratlys, but reserved the right to take any such measures. 
 
&quot;It is within our legitimate right to self defence to move any of our weapons to any area at any time within our sovereign territory,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The move is designed to counter China&#39;s buildup on its seven reclaimed islands in the Spratlys archipelago. 
 
Military analysts say that it is the most significant defensive move Vietnam has made on its holdings in the South China Sea in decades.&nbsp;Hanoi wanted to have the launchers in place as it expected tensions to rise in the wake of the landmark international court ruling against China in an arbitration case brought by the Philippines, foreign envoys said. 
 
The ruling last month, stridently rejected by Beijing, found no legal basis to China&#39;s sweeping historic claims to much of the South China Sea.&nbsp;Vietnam, China and Taiwan claim all of the Spratlys while the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei claim some of the area. 
 
&quot;China has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands and nearby waters,&quot; China&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry said in a faxed statement on Wednesday. &quot;China resolutely opposes the relevant country illegally occupying parts of China&rsquo;s Spratly islands and reefs and on these illegally occupied Spratly islands and reefs belonging to China carrying out illegal construction and military deployments.&rdquo; 
 
The United States is also monitoring developments closely.&nbsp;&quot;We continue to call on all South China Sea claimants to avoid actions that raise tensions, take practical steps to build confidence, and intensify efforts to find peaceful, diplomatic solutions to disputes,&quot; a State Department official said. 
 
STATE-OF-THE-ART SYSTEM 
 
Foreign officials and military analysts believe that the launchers form part of Vietnam&#39;s state-of-art EXTRA rocket artillery system recently acquired from Israel. 
 
EXTRA rounds are highly accurate up to a range of 150 kilometres (93 miles), with different 150 kilograms (330 pounds) warheads that can carry high explosives or bomblets to attack multiple targets simultaneously. Operated with targeting drones, they could strike both ships and land targets. 
 
That puts China&#39;s 3,000-metre runways and installations on Subi, Fiery Cross and Mischief Reef within range of many of Vietnam&#39;s tightly clustered holdings on 21 islands and reefs. 
 
While Vietnam has larger and longer range Russian coastal defence missiles, the EXTRA is considered highly mobile and effective against amphibious landings. It uses compact radars, so does not require a large operational footprint, also suitable for deployment on islets and reefs. 
 
&quot;When Vietnam acquired the EXTRA system, it was always thought that it would be deployed on the Spratlys. It is the perfect weapon for that,&quot; said Siemon Wezeman, a senior arms researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).&nbsp;There is no sign the launchers have been recently test fired or moved. 
 
China took its first Spratlys possessions after a sea battle against Vietnam&#39;s then weak navy in 1988. After the battle, Vietnam said 64 soldiers with little protection were killed as they tried to protect a flag on South Johnson reef, an incident still acutely felt in Hanoi. 
 
In recent years, Vietnam has significantly improved its naval capabilities as part of a broader military modernisation, including buying six advanced Kilo submarines from Russia. 
 
Carl Thayer, an expert on Vietnam&#39;s military at the Australian Defence Force Academy, said the deployment showed the seriousness of Vietnam&#39;s determination to militarily deter China as far as possible. 
 
&quot;China&#39;s runways and military installations in the Spratlys are a direct challenge to Vietnam, particularly in their southern waters and skies, and they are showing they are prepared to respond to that threat,&quot; he said. &quot;China is unlikely to see this as purely defensive, and it could mark a new stage of militarisation of the Spratlys.&quot; 
 
Trevor Hollingsbee, a former naval intelligence analyst with the British defence ministry, said that he believed the deployment also had a political factor, partly undermining the fear created by the prospect of large Chinese bases deep in maritime Southeast Asia. 
 
&quot;It introduces a potential vulnerability where there was none before. It is a sudden new complication in an arena that China was dominating,&quot; he said. 
 
(Reuters)

Experts say the deployment shows the seriousness of Vietnam's determination to militarily deter China as far as possible

Vietnam has discreetly fortified several of its islands in the disputed South China Sea with new mobile rocket launchers capable of striking China's runways and military installations across the vital trade route, according to Western officials. Diplomats and military officers told Reuters that intelligence shows Hanoi has shipped the launchers from the Vietnamese mainland into position on five bases in the Spratly islands in recent months, a move likely to raise tensions with Beijing. The launchers have been hidden from aerial surveillance and they have yet to be armed, but could be made operational with rocket artillery rounds within two or three days, according to the three sources. Vietnam's Foreign Ministry said that the information was "inaccurate", without elaborating. Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chi Vinh, had told Reuters in Singapore in June that Hanoi had no such launchers or weapons ready in the Spratlys, but reserved the right to take any such measures. "It is within our legitimate right to self defence to move any of our weapons to any area at any time within our sovereign territory," he said. The move is designed to counter China's buildup on its seven reclaimed islands in the Spratlys archipelago. Military analysts say that it is the most significant defensive move Vietnam has made on its holdings in the South China Sea in decades. Hanoi wanted to have the launchers in place as it expected tensions to rise in the wake of the landmark international court ruling against China in an arbitration case brought by the Philippines, foreign envoys said. The ruling last month, stridently rejected by Beijing, found no legal basis to China's sweeping historic claims to much of the South China Sea. Vietnam, China and Taiwan claim all of the Spratlys while the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei claim some of the area. "China has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands and nearby waters," China’s Foreign Ministry said in a faxed statement on Wednesday. "China resolutely opposes the relevant country illegally occupying parts of China’s Spratly islands and reefs and on these illegally occupied Spratly islands and reefs belonging to China carrying out illegal construction and military deployments.” The United States is also monitoring developments closely. "We continue to call on all South China Sea claimants to avoid actions that raise tensions, take practical steps to build confidence, and intensify efforts to find peaceful, diplomatic solutions to disputes," a State Department official said. STATE-OF-THE-ART SYSTEM Foreign officials and military analysts believe that the launchers form part of Vietnam's state-of-art EXTRA rocket artillery system recently acquired from Israel. EXTRA rounds are highly accurate up to a range of 150 kilometres (93 miles), with different 150 kilograms (330 pounds) warheads that can carry high explosives or bomblets to attack multiple targets simultaneously. Operated with targeting drones, they could strike both ships and land targets. That puts China's 3,000-metre runways and installations on Subi, Fiery Cross and Mischief Reef within range of many of Vietnam's tightly clustered holdings on 21 islands and reefs. While Vietnam has larger and longer range Russian coastal defence missiles, the EXTRA is considered highly mobile and effective against amphibious landings. It uses compact radars, so does not require a large operational footprint, also suitable for deployment on islets and reefs. "When Vietnam acquired the EXTRA system, it was always thought that it would be deployed on the Spratlys. It is the perfect weapon for that," said Siemon Wezeman, a senior arms researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). There is no sign the launchers have been recently test fired or moved. China took its first Spratlys possessions after a sea battle against Vietnam's then weak navy in 1988. After the battle, Vietnam said 64 soldiers with little protection were killed as they tried to protect a flag on South Johnson reef, an incident still acutely felt in Hanoi. In recent years, Vietnam has significantly improved its naval capabilities as part of a broader military modernisation, including buying six advanced Kilo submarines from Russia. Carl Thayer, an expert on Vietnam's military at the Australian Defence Force Academy, said the deployment showed the seriousness of Vietnam's determination to militarily deter China as far as possible. "China's runways and military installations in the Spratlys are a direct challenge to Vietnam, particularly in their southern waters and skies, and they are showing they are prepared to respond to that threat," he said. "China is unlikely to see this as purely defensive, and it could mark a new stage of militarisation of the Spratlys." Trevor Hollingsbee, a former naval intelligence analyst with the British defence ministry, said that he believed the deployment also had a political factor, partly undermining the fear created by the prospect of large Chinese bases deep in maritime Southeast Asia. "It introduces a potential vulnerability where there was none before. It is a sudden new complication in an arena that China was dominating," he said. (Reuters)

Vietnam positions launchers in South China Sea, claim Western officials

Japan issued a new protest to Beijing today after Chinese coastguard ships and about 230 fishing vessels sailed close to what Tokyo considers its territorial waters around disputed islets in the East China Sea, Japan&#39;s foreign ministry said. 
 
The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions in Asia, less than a month after an arbitration court in the Hague invalidated China&#39;s sweeping claims in the disputed South China Sea, in a case brought by the Philippines. 
 
China has refused to recognise the ruling. Japan called on China to adhere to the verdict, which it said was binding, prompting warnings from Beijing to Tokyo not to interfere. 
 
Three of the six Chinese coastguard ships that were in the so-called contiguous waters today appeared to be armed, Japan&#39;s coast guard said.&nbsp;Yesterday, a Japanese foreign ministry official said Chinese coastguard ships and fishing vessels entered what Tokyo considers its territorial waters around the islets. 
 
Beijing claims the uninhabited, Tokyo-controlled East China Sea islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, and occasionally sends its coastguard vessels near them.&nbsp;A senior Japanese foreign ministry official today issued a protest to a Chinese embassy official in Tokyo, calling on the coastguard ships to leave the area immediately and condemning the action as a unilateral escalation of tensions, the ministry said. 
 
Japanese vice foreign minister Shinsuke Sugiyama yesterday summoned China&#39;s ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, to lodge a strong protest, the ministry said.&nbsp;Chinese officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday. 
 
China on Friday accused Japan&#39;s new defence minister, Tomomi Inada, of recklessly misrepresenting history after she declined to say whether Japanese troops massacred civilians in China during World War II. 
 
Ties between China and Japan, the world&#39;s second- and third-largest economies, have been plagued by the territorial row, the legacy of Japans&#39; wartime occupation of parts of China and regional rivalry. 
 
(Reuters)

Three of the six Chinese coastguard ships that were in the so-called contiguous waters appeared to be armed, Japan's coast guard said

Japan issued a new protest to Beijing today after Chinese coastguard ships and about 230 fishing vessels sailed close to what Tokyo considers its territorial waters around disputed islets in the East China Sea, Japan's foreign ministry said. The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions in Asia, less than a month after an arbitration court in the Hague invalidated China's sweeping claims in the disputed South China Sea, in a case brought by the Philippines. China has refused to recognise the ruling. Japan called on China to adhere to the verdict, which it said was binding, prompting warnings from Beijing to Tokyo not to interfere. Three of the six Chinese coastguard ships that were in the so-called contiguous waters today appeared to be armed, Japan's coast guard said. Yesterday, a Japanese foreign ministry official said Chinese coastguard ships and fishing vessels entered what Tokyo considers its territorial waters around the islets. Beijing claims the uninhabited, Tokyo-controlled East China Sea islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, and occasionally sends its coastguard vessels near them. A senior Japanese foreign ministry official today issued a protest to a Chinese embassy official in Tokyo, calling on the coastguard ships to leave the area immediately and condemning the action as a unilateral escalation of tensions, the ministry said. Japanese vice foreign minister Shinsuke Sugiyama yesterday summoned China's ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, to lodge a strong protest, the ministry said. Chinese officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday. China on Friday accused Japan's new defence minister, Tomomi Inada, of recklessly misrepresenting history after she declined to say whether Japanese troops massacred civilians in China during World War II. Ties between China and Japan, the world's second- and third-largest economies, have been plagued by the territorial row, the legacy of Japans' wartime occupation of parts of China and regional rivalry. (Reuters)

Japan protests after China coastguard, fishing vessels sail near disputed islets

China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in the South China Sea in September, Beijing&#39;s defence ministry said today, after an international tribunal invalidated the Asian giant`s extensive claims in the area. 
 
The drills will be carried out in the &quot;relevant sea and air of the South China Sea&quot;, defence ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told reporters at a monthly briefing. 
 
With international diplomatic tensions mounting and Washington regularly sending warships into the strategically vital area to assert the right to freedom of navigation, the move could see vessels from several of the world&#39;s most powerful militaries in the same region at the same time. 
 
The drills aim to &quot;consolidate and develop&quot; China and Russia&#39;s comprehensive strategic partnership, and &quot;enhance the capabilities of the two navies to jointly deal with maritime security threats&quot; Yang said. 
 
The announcement comes after a tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that there was &quot;no legal basis&quot; to Beijing`s claims in the South China Sea, embodied in a &quot;nine-dash line&quot; dating from Chinese maps of the 1940s and extending almost to the coasts of other countries, which have competing claims. 
 
China has built a series of artificial islands on rocks and reefs in the area hosting facilities capable of supporting military operations, widely seen as an attempt to bolster its control of the waters. 
 
The tribunal ruling in a case brought by the Philippine infuriated Beijing, which rejected it as &quot;waste paper&quot; and reiterated its right to declare an Air Defence Identification Zone controlling flights over the area.&nbsp; 
 
 
&#39;September&#39;s exercise does not target any party&#39; 
 
China and Russia have close military and diplomatic ties, often in opposition to the West, particularly the United States, and their leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin enjoy a tight relationship. 
 
The two sides hold joint drills regularly &quot;on land and sea&quot;, Yang said, which &quot;contribute to peace and stability.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
September&#39;s exercise was &quot;routine&quot; and &quot;does not target any third party&quot;, he added. 
 
Last August, the two powers who were allies then rivals during the Soviet era carried out military exercises in the waters and airspace of the Peter the Great Gulf, south of the Russian Pacific city of Vladivostok, involving 22 vessels, up to 20 aircraft and more than 500 marines. 
 
In May last year, they conducted their first joint naval exercises in European waters in the Black Sea and Mediterranean, China`s farthest-ever drills from its home waters. 
 
Xi and Putin meet frequently and their countries, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, often take similar stances there on divisive issues such as the conflict in Syria. 
 
Pentagon&#39;s &#39;freedom of navigation&#39; 
 
In response to Beijing&#39;s increased activity in the South China Sea, the US began a series of &quot;freedom of navigation&quot; operations in the area, sailing naval vessels within 12 nautical miles, the normal territorial limit around natural land of reefs in the region. 
 
The missions were widely seen as an attempt to push back against China&#39;s increasing assertiveness, although the Pentagon said they were also a warning to Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines. 
 
On Monday, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice told Chinese officials in Beijing that the US intended to continue its patrols in the region, while the vice chairman of China`s Central Military Commission, Fan Changlong, warned that ties between the two powers could easily fray.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We should be honest with ourselves that deep down in this relationship we&#39;re still faced with obstacles and challenges,&quot; Fan said, adding that military ties had been &quot;impacted by some complicated and some sensitive factors&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Rice noted that &quot;risks of unintended consequences&quot; of the two countries` forces operating in ever-closer proximity had been reduced thanks to better communication and other confidence-building measures. 
 
(AFP)

The move could see vessels from several of the world's most powerful militaries in the same region at the same time

China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in the South China Sea in September, Beijing's defence ministry said today, after an international tribunal invalidated the Asian giant`s extensive claims in the area. The drills will be carried out in the "relevant sea and air of the South China Sea", defence ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told reporters at a monthly briefing. With international diplomatic tensions mounting and Washington regularly sending warships into the strategically vital area to assert the right to freedom of navigation, the move could see vessels from several of the world's most powerful militaries in the same region at the same time. The drills aim to "consolidate and develop" China and Russia's comprehensive strategic partnership, and "enhance the capabilities of the two navies to jointly deal with maritime security threats" Yang said. The announcement comes after a tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that there was "no legal basis" to Beijing`s claims in the South China Sea, embodied in a "nine-dash line" dating from Chinese maps of the 1940s and extending almost to the coasts of other countries, which have competing claims. China has built a series of artificial islands on rocks and reefs in the area hosting facilities capable of supporting military operations, widely seen as an attempt to bolster its control of the waters. The tribunal ruling in a case brought by the Philippine infuriated Beijing, which rejected it as "waste paper" and reiterated its right to declare an Air Defence Identification Zone controlling flights over the area. 'September's exercise does not target any party' China and Russia have close military and diplomatic ties, often in opposition to the West, particularly the United States, and their leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin enjoy a tight relationship. The two sides hold joint drills regularly "on land and sea", Yang said, which "contribute to peace and stability." September's exercise was "routine" and "does not target any third party", he added. Last August, the two powers who were allies then rivals during the Soviet era carried out military exercises in the waters and airspace of the Peter the Great Gulf, south of the Russian Pacific city of Vladivostok, involving 22 vessels, up to 20 aircraft and more than 500 marines. In May last year, they conducted their first joint naval exercises in European waters in the Black Sea and Mediterranean, China`s farthest-ever drills from its home waters. Xi and Putin meet frequently and their countries, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, often take similar stances there on divisive issues such as the conflict in Syria. Pentagon's 'freedom of navigation' In response to Beijing's increased activity in the South China Sea, the US began a series of "freedom of navigation" operations in the area, sailing naval vessels within 12 nautical miles, the normal territorial limit around natural land of reefs in the region. The missions were widely seen as an attempt to push back against China's increasing assertiveness, although the Pentagon said they were also a warning to Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines. On Monday, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice told Chinese officials in Beijing that the US intended to continue its patrols in the region, while the vice chairman of China`s Central Military Commission, Fan Changlong, warned that ties between the two powers could easily fray. "We should be honest with ourselves that deep down in this relationship we're still faced with obstacles and challenges," Fan said, adding that military ties had been "impacted by some complicated and some sensitive factors". Rice noted that "risks of unintended consequences" of the two countries` forces operating in ever-closer proximity had been reduced thanks to better communication and other confidence-building measures. (AFP)

China, Russia to hold joint exercises in South China Sea to deal with maritime threats: Beijing

China&#39;s foreign minister has asked the US secretary of state John Kerry to support the resumption of talks between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea, following a ruling against Beijing over the dispute earlier this month. 
 
China did not participate in, and has refused to accept, the July 12 ruling by the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration, in which US ally Manila won an emphatic legal victory. 
 
Meeting in the Laos capital Vientiane on Monday during a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told Kerry that China and ASEAN had agreed the dispute should get back onto the &quot;correct&quot; track of being resolved by direct talks with the parties concerned. 
 
China &quot;hopes the United States side talks actual steps to support the resumption of talks between China and the Philippines, and support the efforts of China and ASEAN to maintain regional peace and stability&quot;, Wang said, according to a foreign ministry statement released on Tuesday. 
 
China has repeatedly blamed the United States for stoking tensions in the South China Sea and of taking sides in the dispute, charges Washington denies. 
 
Competing claims with China in the vital shipping lane and resource-rich sea are among the most contentious issues for the 10 members of ASEAN, who are pulled between their desire to assert their sovereignty while fostering ties with an increasingly assertive Beijing. 
 
China&#39;s foreign ministry said Wang again urged Tokyo not to intervene in the South China Sea, saying Japan was not a claimant in the disputes and should avoid interfering in the maritime spat. 
 
&quot;The China-Japan relations are still vulnerable and unsatisfactory,&quot; Wang told Fumio Kishida, Japan&#39;s minister for foreign affairs. 
 
Japan and allies Australia and the United States issued a joint statement, voicing their &quot;strong opposition to any coercive unilateral actions&quot; in the South China Sea and calling on both the Philippines and China to abide by the legally binding ruling. 
 
China scored a diplomatic victory on Monday as Southeast Asian nations dropped any reference to the court ruling in a joint statement in the face of resolute objections from Cambodia, China&#39;s closest ASEAN ally. 
 
(Reuters)

Wang Yi told John Kerry that China and ASEAN had agreed the dispute should be resolved by direct talks between the parties concerned

China's foreign minister has asked the US secretary of state John Kerry to support the resumption of talks between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea, following a ruling against Beijing over the dispute earlier this month. China did not participate in, and has refused to accept, the July 12 ruling by the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration, in which US ally Manila won an emphatic legal victory. Meeting in the Laos capital Vientiane on Monday during a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told Kerry that China and ASEAN had agreed the dispute should get back onto the "correct" track of being resolved by direct talks with the parties concerned. China "hopes the United States side talks actual steps to support the resumption of talks between China and the Philippines, and support the efforts of China and ASEAN to maintain regional peace and stability", Wang said, according to a foreign ministry statement released on Tuesday. China has repeatedly blamed the United States for stoking tensions in the South China Sea and of taking sides in the dispute, charges Washington denies. Competing claims with China in the vital shipping lane and resource-rich sea are among the most contentious issues for the 10 members of ASEAN, who are pulled between their desire to assert their sovereignty while fostering ties with an increasingly assertive Beijing. China's foreign ministry said Wang again urged Tokyo not to intervene in the South China Sea, saying Japan was not a claimant in the disputes and should avoid interfering in the maritime spat. "The China-Japan relations are still vulnerable and unsatisfactory," Wang told Fumio Kishida, Japan's minister for foreign affairs. Japan and allies Australia and the United States issued a joint statement, voicing their "strong opposition to any coercive unilateral actions" in the South China Sea and calling on both the Philippines and China to abide by the legally binding ruling. China scored a diplomatic victory on Monday as Southeast Asian nations dropped any reference to the court ruling in a joint statement in the face of resolute objections from Cambodia, China's closest ASEAN ally. (Reuters)

China asks US to support resumption of South China Sea talks with Philippines

Vietnam has warned that the inability of Southeast Asian nations to forge a unified front against Beijing&#39;s militarisation of the South China Sea is a &quot;test&quot; of the regional bloc in the face of its greatest security challenge. 
 
The unusually strong comments from a key claimant to the contested waters, comes as diplomats meet in Laos for the first summit since a UN-backed tribunal debunked Beijing&#39;s legal claim to vast stretches of the strategically vital sea. 
 
After talks stuttered on Sunday, Vietnam&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a late night statement warning that the South China Sea had become &quot;a test case for the unity and the central role of ASEAN&quot;. 
 
&quot;Many ministers stressed that in this context, ASEAN should promote solidarity, unity and a central role,&quot; the statement added. 
 
Diplomats met for a new round of crunch talks, called for by Laos today morning.&nbsp;As they came to a close, Indonesia&#39;s foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, expressed optimism that a statement would be agreed to, though diplomats previously told AFP it would likely be &quot;watered down&quot;. 
 
Staunch Beijing ally Cambodia has been accused of scuppering efforts by the bloc to issue a joint statement calling on Beijing to adhere to the UN tribunal&#39;s decision.&nbsp;Four ASEAN members - Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have competing claims with Beijing over parts of the South China Sea.&nbsp; 
 
Most members of the bloc want to keep pressure on China over its campaign of island building in the strategic waters.&nbsp;But ASEAN operates on a tradition of consensus diplomacy, meaning a single nation can have an effective veto power if it disagrees with the others. 
 
China has been accused of teasing poorer members like Laos and Cambodia into fracturing regional unity with promises of aid and trade.&nbsp;Critics have long derided ASEAN for lacking real diplomatic clout. 
 
A failure to respond to the tribunal ruling or the region&#39;s key security issue will do little to counter those claims.&nbsp;The ongoing impasse in Vientiane has led to fears of a repeat of a 2012 summit in Cambodia, where the bloc failed to issue a joint communique for the first time in its history because of disagreements over the South China Sea. 
 
Chinese pressure was blamed last month for a startling show of discord by the bloc, when countries swiftly disowned a joint statement released by Malaysia after an ASEAN-China meeting.&nbsp;That statement had expressed alarm over Beijing&#39;s activities in the South China Sea. Cambodia and Laos were later fingered as being behind moves to block the joint statement. 
 
(AFP)

Four ASEAN members - Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have competing claims with Beijing over parts of the South China Sea

Vietnam has warned that the inability of Southeast Asian nations to forge a unified front against Beijing's militarisation of the South China Sea is a "test" of the regional bloc in the face of its greatest security challenge. The unusually strong comments from a key claimant to the contested waters, comes as diplomats meet in Laos for the first summit since a UN-backed tribunal debunked Beijing's legal claim to vast stretches of the strategically vital sea. After talks stuttered on Sunday, Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a late night statement warning that the South China Sea had become "a test case for the unity and the central role of ASEAN". "Many ministers stressed that in this context, ASEAN should promote solidarity, unity and a central role," the statement added. Diplomats met for a new round of crunch talks, called for by Laos today morning. As they came to a close, Indonesia's foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, expressed optimism that a statement would be agreed to, though diplomats previously told AFP it would likely be "watered down". Staunch Beijing ally Cambodia has been accused of scuppering efforts by the bloc to issue a joint statement calling on Beijing to adhere to the UN tribunal's decision. Four ASEAN members - Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have competing claims with Beijing over parts of the South China Sea. Most members of the bloc want to keep pressure on China over its campaign of island building in the strategic waters. But ASEAN operates on a tradition of consensus diplomacy, meaning a single nation can have an effective veto power if it disagrees with the others. China has been accused of teasing poorer members like Laos and Cambodia into fracturing regional unity with promises of aid and trade. Critics have long derided ASEAN for lacking real diplomatic clout. A failure to respond to the tribunal ruling or the region's key security issue will do little to counter those claims. The ongoing impasse in Vientiane has led to fears of a repeat of a 2012 summit in Cambodia, where the bloc failed to issue a joint communique for the first time in its history because of disagreements over the South China Sea. Chinese pressure was blamed last month for a startling show of discord by the bloc, when countries swiftly disowned a joint statement released by Malaysia after an ASEAN-China meeting. That statement had expressed alarm over Beijing's activities in the South China Sea. Cambodia and Laos were later fingered as being behind moves to block the joint statement. (AFP)

Vietnam warns South China Sea is a 'test' of ASEAN

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