Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data Figure: Diagram of the South China Sea islands
data for: Vietnamese naval forces

newspaper freelance writer Xu Liping (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences researcher Asia-Pacific)

February month, the South China Sea situation dramatically escalated. Since April to enter the South China Sea situation continues to heat up. Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia on the South China Sea dispute, action after another, causing widespread concern in society at home and abroad. These countries have a tacit understanding? Why the continued escalation of the situation in the South China Sea?

alarming trend in Vietnam

4 25, Vietnam officially appointed the so-called “yellow sand Island County” (Paracel Islands) People’s Committee.

4 28, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu answered reporters’ questions on the matter. Jiang Yu, said: “China Paracel Islands and adjacent waters has indisputable sovereignty over the Paracel Islands does not exist on the more controversial. Vietnam is such a practice is illegal and invalid. The Chinese side has the more solemn side to the position.”

In fact, many of Vietnam’s recent noteworthy actions.

the central organ of the Communist Party of Vietnam “People’s Daily” reported on April 18, Communist Party of Vietnam Hanoi Municipal Party Committee, deputy secretary often had to lead a delegation to Vietnam’s occupation of the Spratly Islands area, 21 local people to send each one in 500 million VND (about 1920 yuan) of the book.

4 月 19 morning, a Vietnam Navy ships carrying the first batch of dozens of tourists away from Vietnam’s southern Ho Chi Minh City, visit to the disputed Spratly Islands travel.

4 25, the Vietnamese government held a ceremony officially appointed “sand island (China Paracel Islands) County People’s Committee chairman.”

4 28, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman even claimed: “Vietnam has been reiterated many times in Changsha and sand Islands (Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands) sovereign position. … Vietnam has enough historical evidence and legal basis to support its sovereignty over these two islands. sand Island County Chairman elected in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese law to carry out, is the norm for many years. “Thus, Vietnam to be regarded as “minor issue”, which in Viet Nam in the South China Sea issue is how often the action.

In addition, according to Russia’s “Kommersant” reported the Russian Navy in Vietnam will build six “Kilo” class diesel-electric submarines, each submarine is priced at $ 300 million, amounting to 1.8 billion contract dollars.

Since February this year, the situation in the South China Sea has been heating up. Some media in Vietnam Vietnam territory and territorial waters of disputes reported excesses, even the spread of hatred and Vietnam, together with the financial crisis, the Vietnamese private sector, “patriotism” unprecedented.

recent trend in Vietnam is indeed worthy of close attention. Vietnam is the only full sovereignty over the Nansha Islands made the ASEAN countries, the Nansha parties to the dispute is the largest party in the substantive action. In the western Nansha, Vietnam has 600 troops stationed in and set up headquarters in the South Island. Vietnamese occupation in the Nansha area has become safe from the south to sub-island sandbar about 230 nautical miles po island chain area.

Malay Westerly strengthen arms

4 27, Malay Westerly “Kuala Lumpur security reviews” to “If the Chinese fishing boats invade Malaysia waters, the Malaysian navy to expel “in the title refers to the Malaysian Navy commander Abdullah 齐兹贾法尔 the view that the Malaysian attitude towards the problem of the South China Sea.

Malaysian Navy’s submarine and surface fleet plans to engage in joint training to improve the ability to fight together. Also, they will also work with Australia P3C anti-submarine aircraft joint anti-submarine warfare training, its relevance is not self-evident.

the South China Sea dispute has nothing to do with ASEAN

countries involved in the South China Sea disputes, although many of the ASEAN countries, but only a sovereignty dispute between China and neighboring countries of the South China Sea between the bilateral dispute can be said that has nothing to do with ASEAN.

the one hand, the South China Sea between China and neighboring countries there is a dispute. Such as China and Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, etc. there is the South China Sea territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of the dispute. The dispute is only after the 1970s happened, mainly oil, natural gas and other resources to stimulate the desire of these neighboring countries.

the other hand, the countries surrounding the South China Sea, there are also aspects of this controversy. Malaysia’s former foreign minister has said Miami game, the Vietnamese occupation of Malaysia has sovereignty over part of the island Xisha requirements. In addition, Malaysia and the Philippines in the Spratly Islands territorial dispute, there are some reefs.

Therefore, China’s South China Sea dispute should be resolved through bilateral mechanisms, through friendly consultations, the peaceful settlement of differences. China, in particular the use of ASEAN countries to prevent the platform, the problem is transformed into the conflict between China and the ASEAN.

according to plan, Vietnam will take over from Thailand to become the next Chair of ASEAN countries. Vietnam will chair platform with ASEAN, the South China Sea issue in the countries of ASEAN joint trouble, it is very worthy of attention. Some time ago, in Thailand at the ASEAN summit in abortion, but a meeting was as usual, that is April 10 in Pattaya Political and Security Community, ASEAN held the first meeting.

whether ASEAN countries coordinate their positions at this meeting, ready to fight against China on the South China Sea, is still unknown. However, some recent actions, people have to have this association.

in the current context of financial crisis, the South China Sea disputes, the parties, and is beneficial to fight is a lose-lose. Some countries use territorial dispute this if you want to “cure” to transfer the people at the line of sight, the result will be counterproductive.

Vietnam, one diplomat said, China and Vietnam in the South China Sea conflict is happy to see some third party, both China and Vietnam do not want to fall into the trap of third parties, both China and Vietnam should be negotiated, peaceful settlement of the two State disputes. Having said so, but in order to avoid deterioration of the situation, Vietnam somehow come up with real action because as good.