Vietnam! Hands Off Cambodia first!!!

A protester holds an anti-China placard as she marches during a demonstration along a street in Hanoi July 8, 2012. Some hundred Vietnamese demonstrated in Hanoi on Sunday against China's moves to strengthen its claim on disputed islands in the South China Sea and its invitation to oil firms to bid for blocks in offshore areas that Vietnam claims as its territory. Hanoi has also denounced a move by China to change the administrative status of Sansha City as a way of enforcing its claims to several largely uninhabited islands, including the Paracels and Spratlys. REUTERS/Stringer

Vietnamese protesters hold up posters while shouting anti-China slogans in front of the Chinese embassy in Hanoi. Hundreds of people staged the anti-China protest, the second one in a week, after the China National Offshore Oil Corporation announced last month that nine offshore blocks were available for exploration, and said it was seeking bids from foreign companies

07/08/2012
AFP

More than 200 protesters took to Hanoi's streets on Sunday in the second anti-China rally in the Vietnamese capital this month amid heightened territorial tensions over the South China Sea.

Demonstrators said they were stopped by security forces about 100 metres (330 feet) away from the Chinese embassy in the city, but no arrests were made in the latest public expression of discontent over Beijing's perceived aggression in the sea.

The crowd waved banners and chanted "Paracel -- Vietnam! Spratlys -- Vietnam!" during the peaceful rally, in reference to two potentially oil-rich island chains claimed by both Beijing and Hanoi.

Vietnam monks set sail for disputed Spratlys

13 April 2012
AFP

HANOI — Five Buddhist monks from Vietnam have set sail for the disputed Spratly islands where they will spend six months setting up pagodas in the archipelago, also claimed by China, a senior monk said Friday.

The monks will re-establish three temples which were abandoned by Vietnam in 1975 but have been recently renovated as part of the communist country's drive to assert its territorial claims over the potentially oil-rich islands.

"We plan to stay on the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands for six months," Thich Giac Nghia told AFP by phone on board a boat sailing towards the islands in the Spratly chain which are held by Vietnam.

The team will stay on one of the larger islands which is under Vietnamese military control. One more monk will join the team at a later date, he added.

ASEAN leaders fail to come up with protocol on Spratlys

By Allen V. Estabillo

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (MindaNews/03 April) – Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) failed to come up with a common stand over the disputed Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea especially on dealing with powerhouse China, in a meeting here on Monday afternoon.

But the ministers agreed to continue with the high-level discussions over a proposed code of conduct (COC) for the settlement of the disputed maritime space and islands, and hopes remained high that the issue would be settled soon.

“We stood by our position (for ASEAN) to conclude first the drafting of the COC before we sit down with China,” Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario told reporters after their meeting at the Office of the Council of Ministers’ Peace Palace here.

He said other parties wanted China to sit down with them before the drafting of the COC but “we did not agree to that.”

Philippine wants Asean stand on Spratlys

April 03, 2012
By Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star)

PHNOM PENH – The Philippines wants the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a common stand on regional maritime disputes, particularly over the potentially oil-rich Spratly Islands, before dealing with China on the issue.

“On the Code of Conduct, it is important for ASEAN to first agree among themselves on the draft text of the COC before meeting with China,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario declared yesterday in a statement read before a gathering of foreign ministers of the regional bloc.

“The Philippines believes that the COC must contain the following fundamental elements: Guidelines by which stakeholder-states are to conduct themselves in the West Philippine Sea,” Del Rosario said.

China Warns Against Joint Exercises in South China Seas

Chinese Navy's guided missile destroyer Guangzhou (Photo: ipod.itpub.net)

There have been a series of run-ins involving fishermen, military patrols, and other vessels in the disputed region in recent months, increasing tension over the competing territorial claims.

Apr-01-2012

Shannon Van Sant | Beijing

Voice of America

(BEIJING VOA) - Chinese officials in Beijing are warning against any joint military patrols or exercises between Vietnam and the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea.

Vietnam and Philippines military officials have discussed conducting joint exercises in the disputed region in meetings earlier this month. The exercises could include joint patrols of the Spratly Islands, which both countries and China claim as their own.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei warned against any exercises in the Spratlys, which China calls Nansha.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, he said, and the adjacent waters. Hong also said China is opposed to foreign countries’ violation of China’s sovereign rights and interests.

លោកសមរង្ស៊ី​ ប្រកាស​គាំទ្រ ចិន​ក្នុង ជម្លោះ​ សមុទ្រចិន ​ខាងត្បូង​ - Sam Rainsy announces his support for China in the South China Sea

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy

25 Jan 2012
ដោយ លី ម៉េងហួរ
Radio France Internationale

Synopsis: In his open letter for the Chinese New Year, opposition leader Sam Rainsy announced his support for China in its South China Sea dispute with Vietnam, in particular in regards to the Paracel and Spratly Islands. In his new year message, Sam Rainsy praised Chinese-Cambodians, saying that they constitute an important part of the Cambodian population and they have actively participated in the edification of the country.

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លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ​ដែល​កំពុង​រស់នៅ​ប្រទេស​បារាំង​ បាន​សរសេរ​លិខិត​ចំហ ​ក្នុង​ឱកាស​បុណ្យ​ចូល​ឆ្នាំ​ចិន​។ ​លោក​សម​រង្ស៊ី ​ដែល​ត្រូវ​តុលាការក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ​ផ្តន្ទាទោស​ក្នុង​រឿង​ព្រំដែន​ជាមួយ​វៀតណាម​ បាន​ប្រកាស​ជំហរ​ជា​ថ្មី​គាំទ្រ​ចិន​ ក្នុង​ជម្លោះ​ដែន​សមុទ្រ​ចិន​ភាគខាងត្បូង​រវាង​ចិន ​និង​វៀតណាម ​ទាក់ទង​នឹង​ប្រជុំ​កោះ ​ប៉ា​រ៉ា​ហ្សែល ​និង​ស្ត្រាត​លី​។​ប្រទេស​ចិន​ត្រូវបាន​លោក​សម​រង្ស៊ី លើកឡើងថា​ បាន​ជួយ​អភិវឌ្ឍ​​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​ និង​មាន​ចំណង​មិត្តភាព​យូរឆ្នាំ​មក​ហើយ ​តាំងពី​ជំនាន់​សម្តេច​ព្រះ នរោត្តម ​សីហនុ​ និង​អតីត​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ ជូ អេ​នឡាយ​។

ក្រៅពី​ជូនពរ​ជនរួមជាតិ​ខ្មែរ​ជាប់សែ​ស្រឡាយ​ចិន ​និង​ប្រជាជន​ចិន ក្នុងឱកាស​ពិធី​បុណ្យ​ចូល​ឆ្នាំ​ថ្មី​ ឆ្នាំ​រោង ​ប្រពៃណី​ចិន​ ពី​ទីក្រុង​ប៉ារីស ប្រទេស​បារាំង លោក​សម​រង្ស៊ី បាន​លើកសរសើ​ជនជាតិ​ខ្មែរ​ជាប់សែ​ស្រឡាយ​ចិន ថា​ជា​ផ្នែក​មួយ​ដ៏​សំខាន់​នៃ​ប្រជាជាតិ​ខ្មែរ ​ដោយ​បាន​រួម​ចំណែក​យ៉ាង​សកម្ម ​ក្នុងការ​ធ្វើឲ្យ​ប្រទេស​ជាតិ​យើង ​មាន​ភាពរុងរឿង​សម្បូរ​សប្បាយ​។


លោក​សម​រង្ស៊ី​ ក៏បាន​លើកឡើង​ថា ក្នុងចំណោម​គ្រួសារ​របស់​លោក​នៅ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា លោក​ក៏​មាន​ជីតា​លួត ​ គឺ​ជីតា​របស់​ជីតា​លោក​សម​រង្ស៊ី​ជា​ជនជាតិ​ចិន ​មកពី​ប្រទេស​ចិន ​ប្រមាណ​ជាង ១០០ ឆ្នាំមុន​។ ​លោក​សម​រង្ស៊ី បាន​លើកឡើង​ថា សហគមន៍​ខ្មែរ​ជាប់សែស្រឡាយ​ចិន មាន​តួនាទី​មួយ​ដ៏​សំខាន់ គឺ​ធ្វើ​ជា​ស្ពាន​ ដើម្បី​ពង្រឹង​ជានិច្ច​នូវ​ចំណង​មិត្តភាព និង​ភាតរភាព​រវាង​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា និង​សាធារណរដ្ឋ​ប្រជាមានិត​ចិន​។ មហាមិត្ត​ចិន ដែល​ជា​ប្រិយមិត្ត និង​សម្ព័ន្ធមិត្ត​យូរអង្វែង​នៃ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​។

PHL seeks ASEAN support for possible China meet on Spratly row

January 15, 2012
KBK, GMA News (The Philippines)

The Philippines called anew for the support of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in having a meeting with China to resolve the territorial row involving the Spratly Islands.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario made the call at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Retreat at Siem Reap, Cambodia, where he reiterated his stand for a rules-based solution to the problem.

"In the context of the Philippine position and the background on this issue, the Philippines reiterates its proposal that a meeting be held as soon as possible among the claimant states including China, under the guidance of ASEAN, to resolve the conflicting claims in the WPS (West Philippine Sea) based on the rules-based regime of (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). This proposal for constructive engagement should be acceptable to all," Del Rosario said.

US asks China to lower tensions in South China Sea

Sun Jun 26,2011
by Rob Shikina

HONOLULU, Hawaii (AFP) – The United States called for China to lower tensions in the South China Sea through dialogue as the Pacific powers held first-of-a-kind talks on friction in Southeast Asia.

Senior US official Kurt Campbell said he assured China during the talks in Hawaii that the United States welcomed a strong role for Beijing, which has warned Washington against involvement in the intensifying disputes.

"We had a candid and clear discussion about these issues," Campbell, the assistant secretary of state of East Asian and Pacific affairs, told reporters after the session in Honolulu.

"We want tensions to subside. We have a strong interest in the maintenance in peace and stability, and we are seeking a dialogue among all of the key players," he said.

The South China Sea Conflict - Op-Ed by Salen Sy

http://www.box.net/shared/j17vkrzq10icn4i9ml3v

South China Sea Turbulence - A treat for Vietnam, a trick for the World

This file photo shows Chinese Navy vessels during military exercises. China is staging three days of military exercises in the South China Sea and plans to boost its offshore maritime patrol force, state media said, as tensions with its neighbours simmer. (AFP/XINHUA/File/Zha Chunming)

Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Op-Ed by Khmer Academy

The rising tensions in South China Sea spark a renewed concern over the regional stability and global implications. Clearly, it is no longer just a matter of the territorial claims and counter-claims among neighboring countries in the region, but also a complex and dangerous arm wrestling between Eastern and Western superpowers.

Whether justified or not, the West views South China Sea tensions as China's increasing assertiveness in the region. Along with that view, the West has directly and indirectly incited the countries involved in the dispute to stand up to China. Such maneuver does not in any way contribute to a peaceful resolution; on the contrary, it only serves to escalate the tensions and hostility. It is not by coincident that some concerned countries in the region, Vietnam in particular, are already using the dispute and capitalizing on the waves of China-bashing sentiment in the West to advance their own hidden agendas.

The recent naval drill conducted by Vietnam in South China Sea has perplexed some observers and raised several interesting questions. What truly entice Vietnam to undertake such a bold and defying exercise? Given the enormous disparity between the Chinese and the Vietnamese navies, what are the real motives behind Vietnam's naval drill?

Vietnamese protest China amid rising tensions

Sunday, June 19, 2011

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Hundreds of people in Vietnam launched a third week of protests against China on Sunday amid escalating tensions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, where both countries recently conducted live-fire military drills.

About 300 people gathered near the Chinese Embassy in the capital, Hanoi, and marched through the streets, yelling "Down With China!" and demanding that their powerful northern neighbor stay out of Vietnam's territory. Crowds also gathered in southern Ho Chi Minh City.

"We will fight for our country if the nation needs us," said student Nguyen Manh Ha, 20. "Not only me, but all Vietnamese people will die to protect our territory."

Protests are extremely rare in Vietnam and are typically quashed quickly by security forces, but Hanoi has allowed the demonstrations to go on for the past three Sundays.

Chinese naval maneuvers seen as warning to Vietnam

The exercises in the South China Sea escalate tensions over a potentially resource-rich area also claimed by several neighboring countries.

June 18, 2011

By Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times

Reporting in Beijing

The Chinese navy conducted three days of exercises — including live fire drills — in the disputed waters of the South China Sea this week, escalating tensions over a potentially resource-rich area also claimed by some neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

The display of naval might hundreds of miles from China's southernmost border was widely seen as a warning to Vietnam, which this week conducted its own live fire drills near the Spratly Islands. Several countries claim sovereignty over the string of uninhabited volcanic rocks, which are ringed by jagged reefs and crusted with bird droppings but rendered attractive by virtue of the surrounding waters that are fertile fishing grounds and may cover significant reserves of oil and natural gas.

Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all claim jurisdiction over some of the territory. But China contends its sovereignty dates from ancient national maps that show the islands to be an integral part of its territory.

On Friday, state television showed video of Chinese patrol boats firing repeated rounds at a target on what looked like an uninhabited island, as twin fighter jets streaked in tandem overhead. The report said 14 vessels participated in the maneuvers, staging antisubmarine and beach landing drills aimed at "defending atolls and protecting sea lanes.''

China holds 3-day military exercises near Spratlys

Saturday, June 18th, 2011
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BEIJING—In moves likely to raise tensions with its neighbors, China staged three days and nights of military exercises in the South China Sea and, state media said, planned to boost its offshore maritime patrol force in one of Asia’s most politically sensitive regions.

The drills involved a total of 14 Navy patrol boats, landing craft and submarine hunting boats, along with two military aircraft, the official People’s Daily newspaper said.

It said the exercises were aimed at refining antisubmarine, replenishment and island defense capabilities in order to better respond to any future sudden crisis.

The vast South China Sea—called West Philippine Sea by Manila—and its island groups have been described as a potential flashpoint, with China, Vietnam and the Philippines trading diplomatic barbs recently over overlapping territorial claims.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Hanoi or China?

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Cambodia's position vis-a-vis the China-Vietnam conflict in the South China Sea

Friday, June 17, 2011
Opinion by School of Vice

But China is in a far better position to do so, and Khmer nationalists, including Opposition groups should seek Chinese financial support needed to build up a nationwide movement or network capable of supplanting the existing Vietnamese installed CPP economic patronage arrangement.

Hanoi must have foreseen this tension with China over the South China Sea potentially leading to a major confrontation for a while.

With the US publicly voicing displeasure over China's claim over this stretch of international water, the Vietnamese maybe looking to agitate the US even more by provoking Beijing and hoping increased tension will result in US war ships being despatched to the region where Vietnam will be their most eager ally and port of call.

If I'm not mistaken, this is what Hanoi is banking on: by exploiting Washington's fear of losing control over this vital international waterway it hopes to gain a committed patron that will be strong enough (like the former Soviet Union in Ho Chi Minh's time) to shield Vietnam from the Chinese threat.

Vietnam-China Spratly Islands dispute threatens to escalate [-Viet gets a taste of aggression]

A woman holds a placard supporting Vietnam in a protest demanding China to stay out of their waters following China's increased activities around the Spratly Islands and other disputed areas, in Hanoi, Vietnam on June 12. (Na Son Nguyen/AP)

Tensions between China and Vietnam have risen in recent weeks, with Vietnam expressing alarm at what it says are increasingly aggressive actions by China in disputed waters.

June 16, 2011

By Helen Clark, Contributor

The Christian Science Monitor

Hanoi, Vietnam

Tensions between Vietnam and China over disputed claims to the resource-rich Spratly Islands in the South China Sea are threatening peace in the region.

China sent its largest patrol ship Thursday on what it claimed was a routine trip through the area, but the deployment comes after a spate of other moves, including Vietnam’s staging of a live-fire exercise in the area and China’s denouncement of it.

Neither country is likely to back down easily, and if they did, neither population would see it in a favorable light. Because of this, some worry tensions could escalate to the point of exchange of fire.

Cambodia Supports China in The Defense of Her Sovereignty Over The South China Sea

17 June 2011

CAMBODIA SUPPORTS CHINA IN THE DEFENSE OF HER SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

On behalf of the Cambodian people, the 28 elected Members of Parliament (26 National Assembly Members and two Senators) from the Sam Rainsy Party would like to express their support to, and their solidarity with, the Peoples’ Republic of China at a time when this great friend and ally of Cambodia is rightfully asserting its sovereignty over the South China Sea including the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands.

We have been denouncing and condemning Vietnam’s arrogance and groundless claims to territories belonging to neighboring countries. The continuous violation of Cambodia’s territorial integrity by expansionist Vietnam and the bellicist position Hanoi is adopting in South East Asia and in the South China Sea constitute a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.

We urge Vietnam to stop stirring up tensions with provocative military exercises and to stop using her current position as chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations to try to internationalize any conflict Hanoi wants to exacerbate in the South China Sea.

SRP Members of Parliament

David and Goliath: Vietnam confronts China over South China sea energy riches

Tuesday, 14 June 2011
By JOHN C K DALY
OilPrice.com

LONDON: An increasingly fractious maritime confrontation is developing in the South China Sea, with enormous implications for international companies interested in developing East Asia’s offshore hydrocarbon resources.

Far from the radars of city of London and Wall Street investors, the clash has seen Vietnam emerge as spear carrier for its fellow ASEAN members on the dispute.

Offshore drilling is the most capital-intensive form of exploiting hydrocarbons, but its expense and scarcity has also allowed technically advanced Western companies to drive hard bargains with third world countries over their offshore waters, as they don’t have indigenous advanced technical resources nor finances to exploit their maritime wealth.

China Navy Reaches Far, Unsettling The Region

A Chinese naval honor guard. China's navy has grown more assertive in recent years, rattling the nerves of maritime neighbors. (Pool photo by Andy Wong)

June 14, 2011
By EDWARD WONG
The New York Times

QINGDAO, China — The photographs of Chinese warships speeding between Japanese islands in the Pacific for drills circulated quickly last week, raising what Japan’s defense minister called “serious concern.”

Vietnam, with little forewarning, then began live-fire naval exercises off its coast — a show of bravado in the face of rising tensions with China over rival claims to the oil- and gas-rich South China Sea. Protests against Chinese actions in the sea took place on the last two Sundays in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with at least the tacit approval of the government.

The separate events reflect a new and potentially volatile pattern. As the Chinese government and the fast-modernizing naval branch of the People’s Liberation Army extend the nation’s maritime reach, uneasy neighbors are tracking Chinese vessels, including military and surveillance boats, fisheries law enforcement ships and fishing skiffs, and pushing back hard over anything deemed aggressive.

Vietnam signs military order amid tensions

Vietnam's navy said it conducted nine hours of artillery training in the South China Sea Monday (AFP, Vietnam News Agency)

Map showing the disputed Paracel and Spratly islands in the South China Sea (AFP/Graphic, Gal/Js)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011
AFP

HANOI — The prime minister of Vietnam has signed an order on eligibility for military conscription, at a time of high maritime tension with China, the official army newspaper reported Tuesday.

The decree is not a mobilisation order but clarifies who will be exempt from military service in the event of war, including key government officials and men with no siblings, Quan Doi Nhan Dan said. It will take effect on August 1.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed the document on Monday, the same day Vietnam's navy said it conducted about nine hours of live-fire artillery training in the tense South China Sea.

Hanoi is sending a message to China that Vietnam "has significantly upped the ante in this dispute," said Ian Storey, a security analyst with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

"Tensions have never been higher in the South China Sea," he said.