China's SCS Strategy Thread

[PanAsian]

The most detailed and non-political reporting of Ma's visit to Taiping Island I can find.

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Original Chinese article:

登太平島美國感失望 馬英九：為促進和平　2016-01-28 23:20

台灣的馬英九總統上任以來首次到南沙太平島視察，提出落實他所提出的「南海和平倡議」。他強調登島並非是去叫囂，而是希望和平。 馬英九率領相關官員及學者登上太平島，是他就任總統八年來首次登島。他在島上逗留一個上午，期間向派駐島上的官兵發言。提出落實他去年所作出「南海和平倡議」的「三要三不要」，分別是「要合作、不要衝突」，建立合作及開發機制，將主權問題留待日後和平解決。而各方在分配資源上「要共享、不要獨佔」，免得損害任何一方利益。在推進合作時，則要從容易達成共識的方面入手，「要務實、不要僵持」。 馬英九表示：「我們解決南海爭議的具體主張，則是主權在我、擱置爭議、和平互惠、共同開發。」 馬英九又反駁菲律賓指太平島是岩礁的說法，指島上設施足以維持人類居住及經濟生活，符合聯合國海洋法公約對「島嶼」的定義。馬英九巡視了太平島上多個發展項目，又從島上寄信，下午回台北。 對於美國國務院表示對他登島的決定感到失望，馬英九不認為這樣做，是導致關係更緊張：「主權不容易解決，爭議也許可以擱置，但是資源可以來分享。所以我們跟美國在大方向上應該是一致的。我去並不是要去叫囂，去罵那個國家說你要怎麼樣。我們一切的規劃都是為了促進和平。」 馬英九又表示邀請當選總統的民進黨主席蔡英文同行是尊重制度，對於民進黨不派人一起去感到很意外。馬英九強調，登島主要是趁農曆新年臨近，慰勞駐島人員，但外界普遍視為「宣示主權」。 在北京，外交部表示南沙群島自古以來是中國領土，兩岸有責任維護中華民族祖產。

Google Translate to English:

Teng Ma Taiping Island US disappointed: for peace 2016-01-28 23:20
President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan for the first time since he took office to inspect Nansha Taiping Island, propose ways to implement his proposed "South China Sea peace initiative." He stressed that the landing is not to clamor, but hope for peace. Ma Ying-jeou led officials and academics boarded Taiping Island, he became president eight years for the first time landing. He stayed on the island a morning, speaking to soldiers stationed on the island during. Propose ways to implement "the South China Sea Peace Initiative" in "three to three don'ts" he made last year, are "to cooperate, not conflict," the establishment and development of cooperation mechanisms, will be left to the peaceful settlement of the issue of sovereignty in the future. The parties "want to share, not exclusive" in the allocation of resources, so that harm the interests of any party. In pursuing cooperation aspect is easy to reach a consensus from the start, "to be pragmatic, not a stalemate." Ma said: "We resolve specific claims the South China Sea dispute, it is sovereignty in me, putting aside disputes, peace, reciprocity and common development." Ma Ying-jeou has refuted the Philippines refers to Taiping Island are rocks argument refers to the island facilities are sufficient to sustain human habitation and economic life , in line with the United Nations Convention on the "island" definition. Ma Ying-jeou visited the Pacific island a number of development projects, and from the island to send a letter, in the afternoon back to Taipei. For the US State Department expressed disappointment decided he landed on the island, Ma Ying-jeou does not think to do so led to more intense relationship: "sovereignty is not easy to solve, the dispute may be set aside, but the resources so that we can share with the United States in the general direction of the should be consistent. I'm not going to clamor, to criticize that country say how you like. All of our planning is to promote peace. "President-elect Ma Ying-jeou also said that the invitation of the Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Tsai Ing-wen is respected peer system, the DPP does not send people to go to surprise. Ma stressed that the landing was mainly to take advantage of the Lunar New Year approaching, reward personnel stationed in the island, but it is widely regarded as "declaration of sovereignty." In Beijing, the Foreign Ministry said the Nansha Islands are Chinese territory since ancient times, both sides have a responsibility to safeguard the nation patrimony.

 

[Janiz]

1) How can ( Japanese Master + Japanese Neocons ) champion Freedom of Navigation in SCS, and at the same time, continuously Smacking and Violating the Basic Human Right of OKINAWAN people -- every single day since 1945 ??

2) When will XINHUA, PEOPLE's Daily, and CCTV start loudly writing and broadcasting the 70+ years / 7+ decades of INJUSTICE, BLIGHT, and SUFFERING of the OKINAWAN people and connecting those dots to DiaoYudao and South China Sea, at minimum 1x per week ??

Pure gold!

 

[siegecrossbow]

Surprised no one posted this yet.

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A US warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of an island claimed by Beijing in the South China Seas, in an operation intended to underscore America's right to access the disputed waters, the Pentagon said.

"We conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea earlier tonight," Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said in statement issued late Friday US time.

He said the operation was carried out near Triton Island in the Paracel Islands, "to challenge excessive maritime claims of parties that claim the Paracel Islands."

Davis said that the USS Wilbur was the guided missile destroyer used in the operation, and that no Chinese ships were in the vicinity at the time.

The waters of the South China Sea have been the subject of tense territorial disputes in the region, the Pentagon spokesman noted.

He added that Washington did not notify any of the countries laying claim to the islands that it intended to enter the territorial waters before embarking on the mission.

"This operation challenged attempts by the three claimants -- China, Taiwan and Vietnam -- to restrict navigation rights and freedoms around the features they claim by policies that require prior permission or notification of transit within territorial seas," Davis said.

"The excessive claims regarding Triton Island are inconsistent with international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention.

"This operation was about challenging excessive maritime claims that restrict the rights and freedoms of the United States and others, not about territorial claims to land features," he said.

Davis added: "The United States takes no position on competing sovereignty claims between the parties to naturally-formed land features in the South China Sea. We do take a strong position on protecting the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all countries. All maritime claims must comply with international law."

 

[GreenestGDP]

This should humiliate Adm. Wu Sheng Li.
Let's see what will happen next ?

If nothing happen from PRC, then we all know that the HANJIAN faction is in control of PLA.

 

[xxl_aber]

USA has made a new effort to make itself an enemy of ordinary Chinese people. It may suggest that DF-21 and DF-26 missiles are not as capable as rumours suggested. Indeed it is often the case that Chinese high profile weapon systems are not as good as reported as in military forums.

 

[supercat]

This should humiliate Adm. Wu Sheng Li.
Let's see what will happen next ?

If nothing happen from PRC, then we all know that the HANJIAN faction is in control of PLA.

One man's "FONOP" is another's "Innocent Passage". China does not even need to protest. They can just make a simple statement such as "we noticed that USN made a innocent passage within 12 miles of such island". The USN's FONOP is a waste of treasury and manpower in my opinion. It won't change the fact on the ground the least bit.

 

[supercat]

USA has made a new effort to make itself an enemy of ordinary Chinese people. It may suggest that DF-21 and DF-26 missiles are not as capable as rumours suggested. Indeed it is often the case that Chinese high profile weapon systems are not as good as reported as in military forums.

Who knows? There is a 50% chance that DF-21D and DF-26 are even better than disclosed.

 

[joshuatree]

This should humiliate Adm. Wu Sheng Li.
Let's see what will happen next ?

If nothing happen from PRC, then we all know that the HANJIAN faction is in control of PLA.


View attachment 24581

I predict this will be used as justification to fully develop Triton with a permanent presence. When the Vietnamese protest, China can deflect to this FON incident. So the next time a FON comes within 12 NM for innocent passage, there will be visible presence of being monitored. Neither side loses their position with such acts.

 

[Blackstone]

One man's "FONOP" is another's "Innocent Passage". China does not even need to protest. They can just make a simple statement such as "we noticed that USN made a innocent passage within 12 miles of such island". The USN's FONOP is a waste of treasury and manpower in my opinion. It won't change the fact on the ground the least bit.

Well said. Unless and until it suits China's interests to align with US FON principles, it's better off making simple but firm statements that it doesn't agree with the US view of FON and it reserves the right to take appropriate actions, should they be necessary. Meanwhile, it could consider a wide range of short and long-term options, one of which is to embrace current majority norms when it suits its interests.

On the other hand, just because you could go where you please doesn't mean it's the wisest thing to do, especially against a country with a long memory and increasing comprehensive national power to make life rough for you.

 

[GreenestGDP]

The huge difference is Triton Island is in PARACEL, not SPRATLY.
Triton is very close to Danang, Vietnam ( the famous naval deep water ports ) and Hainan, the home of PRC submarine fleet and future CV fleet.

Triton is very far, far away from Philippines.
This humiliation is happening in PARACEL not in SPRATLY.

If we are honest, then we all will admit -- this is not about FON.
It has never been about FON, because Nobody is obstructing FON in South China sea.

This is all about HEGEMONIC right to humiliate and destroy everybody on Earth. The Mightiest force on Earth has humiliate Vietnam and PRC. Taiwan is PRC.

===

1) What if, ... ... the next Spit--in--your--Face humiliation is done by Japanese warship citing FON too ?

2) What if, ... ... the next Spit--in--your--Face humiliation is done by Indian warship citing FON too ?

3) What if, ... ... the next Spit--in--your--Face humiliation is done by Australian warship citing FON too ?

If MIGHT is not RIGHT, and ... ...
In order to be JUST and EQUAL to every nation, PRC strategy MUST let all the other nations sail through inside PRC 12 nautical miles of the not so SACRED sovereignty as well. --- Right ??

Yes, yes, yes, yes ... ...
You are weak, then you must.
Peaceful strategy to all weaker nations.

Might makes Right