The Issues between China and the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regarding the vessels of the countries operating in the now contested regions of the South China Sea have heated considerably and now involve the United States.
As I reported last week, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs sent a message to the Chinese embassy on June 2, 2011, protesting activities of Chinese vessels, citing repeated incidents of Chinese aircraft and naval vessels entering Philippine territory and taking provocative acts, including the use of naval gunfire, against unarmed fishing vessels.
Then, on Sunday, June 05, Vietnamese students and other young people demonstrated near the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi carrying signs reading, "Stop Chinese Invasion of Vietnam's Islands." Demonstrators sang the Vietnamese national anthem as they marched through the streets of the Vietnamese capital city. The specific charge, that on May 26, China destroyed a cable on a Vietnamese state owned boat, representing PetroVietnam, and doing seismic research.
On June 9, in the second incident involving ship cables, a net from a Chinese fishing boat became entangled in the cables of a Vietnamese oil exploring vessel. That vessel dragged the Chinese fishermen for in excess of one hour, until the Chinese cut the net. Prior to the entanglement, according to the crew of the Vietnamese vessel, the fishing boat “intentionally rammed” the Vietnamese ship in a premeditated and carefully calculated attack.
China saw the incident differently; the Chinese accused Vietnam of "gravely violating" its sovereignty, and endangering Chinese lives. China went on to warn Vietnam to stop all “invasive activities”.
In recent months China has complained about activities of U.S. military vessels in China's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), defined as a seazone extending out to 200 miles from a national coast or continental shelf. It is a zone wherein the state has special rights over exploration and the use of marine resources. China, on the currently escalating issue of sovereignty over the entire South China Sea region, has expressed anger about U.S.vessel activity which, China says, is by no means innocent of violating rules regulating such behavior. Sovereignty is an important issue involving anticipated deposits of oil and gas.
Article comments
1 - China Lee
Vietnamese and Filipinos should stop encroaching on thousand-year-old Chinese territory in the South China Sea.
"The coast belonged to the Kingdom of Cauchi China."
"China
618~1279
* There are some Chinese cultural relics in the Paracel islands dating from the Tang and Song dynasty eras[12][note 1], and there is some evidence of Chinese habitation on the islands in these periods.[13]."
2 - John Lake
These other nations also have rights. Most of the world sees these rights as given by a divine creator, or being based on a high regard for life.
3 - Glenn Contrarian
China Lee - who is probably another one of the Chinese who show up whenever anything critical of China is said - is ignoring the fact that Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia all are significantly closer to the Spratly Islands, and so in the eyes of a fair judge should have a strongly claim than China.
But this was never about fairness, was it?
4 - Dr Dreadful
Well, Glenn, no. Not that geographical proximity has much to do with these things.
But judging by the map I saw the other day, if China gets its way its territorial waters extend so far that a holidaymaker taking a paddle on a beach in Sarawak would be in danger of getting arrested for border incursion.
5 - Cannonshop
It's about the same things it's always been about-who can hold it, and does the west care enough about the matter to get involved.
6 - China Lee
Dummies’ guide to South China Sea sovereignty:
Who discovered Spratly and Paracel Islands a thousand years ago? China
The human remains of which country are found on South China Sea islands? China
The artifacts of which country are found on South China Sea islands? China
Which country has claimed South China Sea islands throughout dynasties? China
Vietnam Premier Pham Van Dong admitted which country owns South China Sea territory in a diplomatic document? China
This issue is crystal clear. China has sovereignty over South China Sea for a thousand years.
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@Glenn According to your simplistic theory of physical proximity and disregarding historical discovery, Falkland Islands belong to Argentina. I bet you never complained about British sovereignty over the Falklands. Am I right?
7 - Glenn Contrarian
Doc and 'China Lee'
Good point. I cannot argue against it.
That said, in another thread I argued that if Vietnam, the Philippines and the other smaller nations were wise, they'd offer to give up their claims on the Spratlys in exchange for a significant amount of money...and then rush to be the first to provide logistical support to the Chinese industry that will need food, fuel, and manpower support in those areas.
There's a time for national pride...and there's also a time for pragmatism. This is the time for the latter.
8 - Obama
To China Lee
UNCLOS 1982 was signed by China. China has to obey international law. China has no legitimacy to the entire China Sea. For China to use "chingchong" history as its reason to claim, then China needs to give Vietnam back Guangdong because that used to be ruled by the BaiYeu (Vietnam).
9 - HackYourAss
Chinese documents are FAKE! Their documents have been cut and pasted to support their greedy ambitions. IF you don't believe me, look at their so so famous character such as Fake melamine milk which kills children, Fake Toys wtih LEAD that kills children, Fake Egg, Fake Rice, Fake Wine, etc... The list goes on.
If you don't believe me, you will see all the chinese spies which ate Bun filled with cardboard for breakfast cyber snooping. Don't mess with NAM!
10 - Peter
CHinese documents are fakes? How about maps from early 20th century Japan, US, France, Vietnam, etc..? Even France, before taking over the islands in the 19th century noted Chinese are living on the islands.
How about international records that indicated in the 50's, both Vietnam and Philippine leaders both agreed that China is the owner of the islands?
Old Chinese documents, old maps, old artifacts cannot all be fake unless you closed your mind already
11 - Matias
britishs want to turn malvinas into a military fortress, why do the british want that when South America is the most peacefully place in the world?? because they want to take control of everything, they have middle atlantic islands, pacific islands and they want to have malvians to enter to Antartida, british as the americans are so predictable, they want natural resources they dont care about the kelpers.
12 - Dr Dreadful
Well, isn't this jolly?
What do you think, regulars? Shall we sit back and let the Chinese, Vietnamese and Argentine government shills fight amongst themselves?
Or is it more fun to join in?
13 - Tommy Mack
There are better venues, Doc. These chaps aren't any fun.
Tommy