China is expanding artificial islands in disputed South China Sea, which is also called Vietnam East Sea areas despite saying it stopped two years ago, according to a security think tank that released satellite images it said showed the land reclamation. Beijing claims most of the sea and has been turning reefs in the Spratly and Paracel chains into islands, installing military aircraft and missile systems on them -- an activity the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said was continuing. "China's own reclamation work did not end in mid-2015 with the completion of its artificial islands in the Spratlys. Beijing continues to reclaim land farther north, in the Paracel Islands," the security think tank said on its website. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum in Manila on Monday that Beijing completed its South China Sea reclamation activities two years ago. "I also … [Read more...]

Vietnam has long claimed sovereignty over the island in the Paracel archipelago. China has begun daily civilian charter flights to Woody Island in the South China Sea (which Vietnam calls the East Sea) after approving the airport there for civilian operations, the Xinhua state news agency reported on Thursday. The maiden flight took off on Wednesday from Haikou, the provincial capital of Hainan Island. A ticket on the daily flight costs roughly 1,200 Yuan ($172.77) one-way. The island's airport is a joint military-civilian facility and was approved for civilian operations last Friday, according to Xinhua. "This will effectively improve the working and living conditions of civil servants and soldiers based in Sansha city," the report added. The flights will reportedly leave Haikou Airport at 8:45 a.m. and return from Woody Island at 1 p.m. Woody Island sits in the Paracel archipelago, which the Chinese navy violently seized in 1974. The island, which is also claimed by Vietnam … [Read more...]

HA NOI ' "Viet Nam protests against China's plan to invite international bidding for oil block 65/12, about 3 nautical miles off Cay (Tree) Island of Viet Nam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi yesterday. Nghi was responding to media inquiries over China National Offshore Oil Corporation's call on Tuesday for international bidding for 26 oil and gas blocks, including the 65/12. Nghi said the action "had seriously violated Viet Nam's sovereignty towards Hoang Sa, gone against common sense of the two countries' high-level leaders and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between ASEAN and China in 2002." … [Read more...]

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi on August 31 protested against China's plan to invite international bids for oil block 65/12, about 3 nautical miles off Cay (Tree) Island of the country's Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago.'" Vietnam protests Chinese oil company's move … [Read more...]

Vietnam requests China to respect its territorial sovereignty and stop all activities that violate Vietnam’s sovereignty of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi on March 15. Chinashould stop violating Vietnam’s sovereignty: FM spokesman Recently, China continued to carry out activities at Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, specifically: Chinese Oil Company invited bids for 19 blocks in the northern East Sea, one nautical mile from the Tree Island of the Hoang Sa Archipelago. On March 2, China’s coast guard ship 11 conducted a drill on territorial waters belonging to Hoang Sa Archipelago. On March 7, Deputy Head of the China National Tourism Administration talked about cooperation between the administration and Hainan province’s administration in expanding tourism activities at the Hoang Sa Archipelago. The Chinese side also conducted a series of activities in violation of Vietnam’s … [Read more...]

Carlyle A. Thayer, Emeritus Professor from the Australian Defence Force Academy talked about the deployment of eight batteries of what are reported to be part of China's HQ-9 air defence system in the Spratly Islands. "This is a demonstration that at short notice China can deploy similar systems in the Spratlys on the pretext of a threat from the United States, Thayer said. According to Thayer, up until now concerns by the United States and other countries about militarisation of the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) have focused on China's artificial islands in the East Sea. Woody Island in the Paracels has been militarised for quite some time. Its airfield was recently extended to 3,048m. Woody houses hangars and military aircraft. This past year the latest model J-11 BH/BHS jet fighters were deployed there. An off-shore island houses a major SIGINT base. Other photos that have appeared recently shows a marked step up in construction on two sites - North … [Read more...]

Carlyle A. Thayer, Emeritus Professor from the Australian Defence Force Academy talked about the deployment of eight batteries of what are reported to be part of China's HQ-9 air defence system in the Spratly Islands. Professor Carlyle A. Thayer, photo from the Australian Defence Force Academy. "This is a demonstration that at short notice China can deploy similar systems in the Spratlys on the pretext of a threat from the United States, Thayer said in an interview with DTiNews. According to Thayer, up until now concerns by the United States and other countries about militarisation of the South China Sea have focused on China's artificial islands in the South China Sea. Woody Island in the Paracels has been militarised for quite some time. Its airfield was recently extended to 3,048m. Woody houses hangars and military aircraft. This past year the latest model J-11 BH/BHS jet fighters were deployed there. An off-shore island houses a major SIGINT base. Other photos that have … [Read more...]

Water-based civilisation Lying along the Tien River and stretching 120 km to the East Sea, Tien Giang has a very thick crisscrossing canal network, spotted by beautiful islets like Co Lich, Tan Phong, Ngu Hiep, Thoi Son, Tan Long and Con Ngang to create verdant gardens in all four seasons where famous fruits are growing like Hoa Loc mango, Ngu Hiep durian, oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, Vinh Kim Lo Ren star apple and Go Cong acerola, and create the fresh air and water world in the Mekong River. The diverse natural conditions divide Tien Giang province into three different ecological zones - naturally conducive to tourism development. The freshwater ecological zone consists of the fruit tree island region and the residential region along the Tien River, including Cai Be, Cai Lay and Chau Thanh districts and My Tho City where fruit trees are green in all four seasons and canals are very thick for the formation of water-world resorts like Thoi Son islet and Cai Be floating market. … [Read more...]

Vietnam slams China's island oil bid call Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi on August 31 protested against China's plan to invite international bids for oil block 65/12, about 3 nautical miles off Cay (Tree) Island of the country's Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago." … [Read more...]

Military action a remote possibility, but quest for peaceful solutions weakened by Chinese aggression and obfuscation, experts say Traditional bamboo fishing boats on My Khe Beach in the central coastal city of Da Nang. Experts say China’s recent actions, including the arrest of 21 Vietnamese fishermen on March 3, have worsened tensions in the East Sea. China’s plan to publish a map that claims disputed regions and its aggressive actions of late have worsened tensions in the East Sea, also known as the South China Sea. But military actions are unlikely, experts say. On March 27, the South China Morning Post said China will publish a map of the South China Sea this year to “strengthen their claim to the disputed region.” The map is part of a national campaign involving a dozen ministries and the Chinese Communist Party's publicity department to help raise public awareness of the country's territories and safeguard its sovereignty in disputed areas, the paper … [Read more...]