China - South China Sea

[winston]

Tillerson Says China Can’t Have Access to South China Sea Isles

by Isabel Reynolds and Peter Martin

China says it has right to carry out activities in territory
Short of war, ‘there is nothing the Americans can do’: Davis

“We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that first the island-building stops and second your access to those islands is also not going to be allowed,” he said when asked whether he would support a more aggressive posture in the South China Sea. He compared China’s actions to those of Russia in the Crimea.

China claims more than 80 percent of the South China Sea, where it has constructed artificial land features on seven rocks and reefs, and installed military facilities.

Source: Bloomberg

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... -sea-isles

[winston]

Beijing ‘may retaliate’ if US tries to block China’s access to South China Sea islands

Secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson made incendiary comments about China at his confirmation hearing, reflecting incoming Trump administration’s ‘lack of diplomatic experience’ experts say

China might set up an air ­defence identification zone if the US tried to block China’s access to the islands

China would also retaliate if, as Tillerson also indicated, the US unilaterally upgraded punishment of Chinese companies violating UN sanctions against North Korea

“If China will not comply with the UN sanctions, then it’s appropriate ... for the United States to consider actions to compel them to comply”

Source: SCMP

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomac ... 0.0.22Evcc

[winston]

China says will protect South China Sea sovereignty

By Ben Blanchard and David Brunnstrom

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.

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."

Aides have said that Trump plans a major naval build-up in East Asia to counter China's rise.

Source: Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-c ... SKBN1572M4

[winston]

China ‘steps up preparedness for possible military conflict with US’

Donald Trump’s election as US president has increased the risk of hostilities breaking out, according to Chinese state media and analysts

Source: SCMP

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomac ... onflict-us

[winston]

US-China war increasingly a 'reality,' Chinese army official says

by Evelyn Cheng

Source: CNBC

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/29/us-china ... -says.html

[winston]

Mattis says no need for dramatic U.S. military moves in S.China Sea

Trump Defense Chief Seeks Diplomatic End in South China Sea

“What we have to do is exhaust all efforts, diplomatic efforts, to try to resolve this properly, maintaining open lines of communication,” Mattis said, in his most complete remarks on the issue to date.

“And certainly our military stance should be one that reinforces our diplomats in this regard. But there is no need right now at this time for military maneuvers or something like that, that would solve something that’s best solved by the diplomats.”

“China has shredded the trust of nations in the region, apparently trying to have a veto authority over the diplomatic and security and economic conditions of neighboring states,” he said.

Source: SCMP

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomac ... ves-schina

[winston]

China lashes out at Mattis’s remarks on East China Sea islands

Foreign Ministry says that by raising issue of disputed cluster of uninhabited outcrops, US is putting regional security at risk

The United States is putting regional stability in East Asia at risk, a Chinese spokesman said on Saturday following remarks by the new US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis that a US commitment to defend Japanese territory applied to an island group claimed by China

Source: SCMP

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomac ... ea-islands

[winston]

Does the Trump White House know that Asia is opting for diplomacy on South China Sea?

Elena Collinson says its belligerent tone exposes the Trump administration as out of touch, and Australia must urge restraint as well as underline changing regional realities

So how would Secretary Tillerson justify a blockade? No US allies or partners – Japan, Singapore or India – have shown the slightest interest in joining in. It would arguably be a breach of international law and very likely to be viewed by China as an act of war.

As for China, there are competing strands at work in its foreign policy. Its behaviour oscillates between rising-power forcefulness and cautious diplomacy. But with all of Southeast Asia engaging with it, Beijing would lose a lot by returning to assertiveness. In a sense, it is locked into restraint by its recent diplomacy.

Source: SCMP

http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opi ... macy-south

[winston]

China ‘beefing up military’ on disputed islands in the South China Sea, says US think tank

Satellite images suggest further military build-up on the Paracel Islands, US researchers say

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Centre for Strategic and International ­Studies in Washington said on Wednesday that China now ­occupied 20 outposts in the ­Paracels, and that there had been an extensive military build-up on eight islands.

“Three of these now have ­protected harbours capable of hosting large numbers of naval and civilian vessels. Four others boast smaller harbours, with a fifth under construction at Drummond Island,” the group said on its website.

“Five of the islands contain helipads, with Duncan Island housing a full helicopter base. And the largest of the Paracels, Woody Island, sports an airstrip, hangars and a [detachment] of HQ-9 surface-to-air missile batteries.”

Source: SCMP

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomac ... -china-sea

[winston]

U.S., China military planes come inadvertently close over South China Sea

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the aircraft came within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of each other on Wednesday in the vicinity of the Scarborough Shoal, between the Philippines and the Chinese mainland.

Source: Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-c ... News%20Now