Credit for Chart: “China Orders Foreign Fishing Vessels Out of Most of the South China Sea,” The Washington Free Beacon
China is again pushing for a “new norm” that would make the South China Sea essentially Chinese sovereign territory. In clear violation of the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea, the Province of Hainan has declared that, as of Jan. 1, all foreign vessels must get their permission to fish in approximately two thirds of the South China Sea including waters that are clearly within the Exclusive Economic Zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia, an area reportedly five times the size of the state of Texas.
In addition to the report credited below the illustration, here is a Wall Street Journal Report and Reuters reports the diplomatic sparing between the US and China.
Their likely instrument in this push is the newly organized Chinese Coast Guard. Naval War College professor James R. Holmes, offers some thoughts on “The Return of China’s Small Stick Diplomacy in South China Sea.”
Looks like China is even upsetting the Malaysians. http://thediplomat.com/2015/06/malaysia-responds-to-chinas-south-china-sea-intrusion/
They have sent a missile corvette to monitor Chinese intrusion. http://www.janes.com/article/52162/malaysia-dispatches-missile-corvette-to-monitor-china-coast-guard-intrusion
CIMSEC considers the dynamics of US/Vietnamese cooperation.http://cimsec.org/vietnam-us-move-closer-need-discuss-a2ad/16841#comment-4737
Makes me wonder what will happen if Chinese start to shell nearby Vietnamese outposts.
Chinese amphib plays bumper cars with Vietnamese F/Vs in the South China Sea. http://www.eaglespeak.us/2015/08/interesting-addition-to-office-of-naval.html
More info on the incidents in which a Chinese warship rammed two Vietnamese F/V. http://news.usni.org/2015/08/07/report-chinese-navy-warship-likely-rammed-two-vietnamese-fishing-vessels
Report that three Chinese F/Vs stop a Vietnamese F/V, board the vessel armed with assault rifles and what seem to be cattle prods, beat up Vietnamese crewmembers, destroy equipment, and steal their catch. http://www.eaglespeak.us/2015/08/south-china-sea-bully-chinas-peoples.html
Chinese F/V kidnaps three Taiwanese CG. Taiwan raids Chinese F/V to recover their officers.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/print/2015/08/14/2003625307
Some Chinese misbehavior in US, and other countries. If you are Chinese ancestry, it does not matter what your passport is, if you do not support China you are a traitor. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/17/us/politics/obama-administration-warns-beijing-about-agents-operating-in-us.html?_r=0
Review of military modernization efforts in Vietnam. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/2015/08/30/vietnam-pushes-modernization-china-challenge-grows/32042259/
Vietnam prepared to act more aggressively. http://thediplomat.com/2015/09/watch-out-china-vietnams-coast-guard-will-fight-back/
German Navy blog, Marine Forum, reports, “14 October, CHINA (Territorial Disputes), South China Sea: A Vietnamese fisherman claimed a Chinese vessel rammed and sank his boat within Vietnamese fishing grounds.”
Upcoming changes in Vietnamese leadership may indicate leanings toward China or the US. http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/vietnam-is-changing-and-so-is-the-balance-of-power-in-asia/
Vietnamese Report of intimidation of a Vietnamese supply ship by Chinese Navy and Coast Guard: http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/31908/chinese-warship-soldiers-point-guns-at-vietnamese-supply-boat-in-vietnams-waters
Chinese misbehavior is starting to upset the Malaysians as well. http://thediplomat.com/2015/11/how-is-malaysia-responding-to-chinas-south-china-sea-intrusion/
Vietnamese F/V crew claims they were rammed by a Chinese vessel. http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/32564/chinese-vessel-sinks-vietnamese-fishing-boat-in-vietnams-waters
Not surprising. Norway is of course the maker of the Naval Strike Missile a stealthy and very intelligent missile. . http://news.softpedia.com/news/norway-makes-it-official-accuses-china-of-hacking-and-stealing-military-secrets-501060.shtml
Some thoughts on the NSM here: https://chuckhillscgblog.net/2014/10/02/what-does-it-take-to-sink-a-ship-another-illustration/
From the German Navy Blog, Marine Forum, “South China Sea: A Vietnamese fishing boat has been attacked and robbed by a (ostensibly civilian) Chinese ship while fishing near disputed with China Paracel Islands … took food and fuel, destroyed fishing nets.
(rmks: destruction of fishing nets points beyond mere robbery)”
I suspect this was action by a Chinese Maritime Militia Unit. Under orders or acting on its own initiative?
This is interesting, US Army stockpiles in Vietnam. http://breakingdefense.com/2016/03/us-army-plans-stockpiles-in-vietnam-cambodia-hello-china/
For humanitarian assistance/disaster relief of course.
Vietnam seizes a Chinese ship that reportedly entered their waters carrying fuel to Chinese F/Vs.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/vietnam-seizes-chinese-ship-state-media-reports-1459659194
China declares a large part of the South China Sea off limits for an exercise leading up to the Tribunal decision. https://news.usni.org/2016/07/07/chinese-military-south-china-sea-no-sail-zone-nothing-new
China now says they will imprison those who fish illegally in Chinese waters. Of course their interpretation of Chinese water may be different from the way the rest of the world defines them. http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/china/2016/china-160803-pdo01.htm?_m=3n%2e002a%2e1783%2ejj0ao001ud%2e1n0k
Vietnam places multiple rocket launchers on islands to counter China’s militarization. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-vietnam-exclusive-idUSKCN10K2NE
A study of incidents in the South China Sea. Chinese CG was involved in 2/3 of them. http://www.marinelink.com/news/involved-chinese-clashes415043.aspx
“The evidence is clear that there is a pattern of behaviour from China that is contrary to what law enforcement usually involves,” Glaser told Reuters.
“We’re seeing bullying, harassment and ramming of vessels from countries whose coast guard and fishing vessels are much smaller, often to assert sovereignty throughout the South China Sea.”
Singapore expresses their concern their wil be an incident. http://gcaptain.com/fishermen-coast-guards-worry-singapore-most-in-south-china-sea/
One of the motives behind China’s behaviour, whyhttp://asia.nikkei.com/Viewpoints/Viewpoints/Robert-A.-Manning-The-South-China-Sea-enigma-The-Fish-Imperative?page=2 it will backfire, and a possible approach to resolution.
China warns the US. Draws a baseline around the Spratleys. http://www.marinelink.com/news/provocative-protests417258
Need for fish as a driving force behind China’s behavior. http://thediplomat.com/2016/11/the-secret-driver-of-the-south-china-sea-disputes-chinas-hunger-for-fish/
Vietnam has also been fortifying some “islets” in the South China Sea. Walking the tight rope between giving in to the Chinese and provoking a war. http://www.voanews.com/a/vietnam-taking-long-term-hard-line-toward-china-on-maritime-claims/3614214.html
Vietnam is looking for allies in its ongoing conflicts with China. Looking to India and Australia and well as the US. https://www.rand.org/blog/2018/03/vietnams-remarkable-month-of-balancing-against-china.html?adbsc=social_20180331_2240021&adbid=10156687355858676&adbpl=fb&adbpr=55708608675
Following from ONI report. http://www.eaglespeak.us/2018/04/u-s-navy-office-of-naval-intelligence_30.html
VIETNAM: On 20 April, Six Vietnamese fishermen were rescued after their boat was allegedly sunk by two Chinese vessels in disputed waters, a Vietnamese official said. The incident occurred near Lincoln Island in the Paracel Archipelago,according to Nguyen Viet Thang, chairman of the state-run Vietnam Fisheries Society. Thang said the two Chinese boats chased and rammed the Vietnamese boat before armed assailants boarded the vessel and seized equipment and fishing catch from the fishermen. According to Vietnam’s Tuoi Tre newspaper, since March, over 10 Vietnamese fishingboats have allegedly been hit and robbed while fishing in the South China Sea.
China attempts to ban fishing in the South China Sea. Vietnam will not comply. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnam-rejects-china-s-fishing-ban-in-south-china-sea-3918758.html?fbclid=IwAR1I9Z7JpTkmgVzMlV5cbfwExQOUJaNrSdfToAdvt0V6yObdiDSC1l7Iyc4
Vietnam tells Chinese to leave their EEZ. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/vietnam-demands-china-withdraw-from-south-china-sea-oil-bloc
Vietnamese vs China CG in the Vietnamese EEZ. https://www.marinelink.com/news/vietnam-china-south-china-sea-standoff-468529
“U.S. Sides With Vietnam in Maritime Dispute With China” State Dept tells China to stop the bullying. https://freebeacon.com/national-security/u-s-sides-with-vietnam-in-maritime-dispute-with-china/
A possible Chinese Naval Base in Vietnam’s western neighbor, Cambodia. https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/why-a-new-china-naval-outpost-in-cambodia-would-matter/?fbclid=IwAR371YK8H4nJW3rYJq18g8UmbPRaLTK6W6AEsipfRmAoAIgbh4icoq6hlNY
China doing research in Vietnam’s EEZ again.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/chinese-ship-returns-vietnams-eez-469466
Discussing the implications. https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2019/08/20/chinas_incursion_into_vietnams_eez_and_lessons_from_the_past_114677.html
More push back from the US https://www.newsweek.com/us-china-block-oil-navy-drills-1455756
DOD news release on Chinese behavior. https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/1943953/china-escalates-coercion-against-vietnams-longstanding-oil-and-gas-activity-in/
China Coast Guard sinks another Vietnamese fishing vessel. https://www.marinelink.com/news/vietnam-protests-beijings-sinking-south-477335
Review of recent events in the South China Sea.
https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/maritime-security-world/feature-troubled-waters-chinas-sovereign-ambition-in-the-shadows-of-covid-19/
Critique of US handling of China/Malaysia showdown in South China Sea. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/05/04/malaysia-south-china-sea-us-navy-drillship-standoff/
“Chinese interference with projects in Vietnam’s territorial waters is motivating the Southeast Asian nation to shore up defense relationships with partners, including Australia, Canada, India and the United States.” https://ipdefenseforum.com/2020/08/while-prc-provokes-vietnam-shores-up-defense-pacts/
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2020/09/prc-officials-election-to-international-tribunal-sparks-concern-for-settling-south-china-sea-disputes/
Vietnam leading ASEAN against Chinese bullying. https://ipdefenseforum.com/2020/09/vietnam-leads-unclos-discussion/
Not immediately Coast Guard related, but another indication of China’s willingness to act as a bad neighbor and perhaps another act that may lead to war.
https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/marine-projects-world/maritime-infrastructure-development/column-will-china-turn-off-asias-tap/
China gets more aggressive with its sea territory claims as world battles coronavirus https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/china-gets-more-aggressive-with-its-sea-territory-claims-as-world-battles-coronavirus-1.660535
“Defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was chaired by Vietnam in 2020, made a joint declaration that called on ASEAN states and “plus” countries, including the PRC, to “respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.” International law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), must be the basis for the “peaceful resolution of disputes” in the South China Sea, they added.” https://ipdefenseforum.com/2021/01/asean-members-decry-prc-aggression-in-south-china-sea/
“The top uniformed soldier in China, chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, stated that war with the United States is inevitable,” https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/03/11/china-declares-war-us-inevitable-army-general-highlights-need-fighting-vehicles.html
“PERILOUS PROSPECTS: TENSIONS FLARE AT MALAYSIAN, VIETNAMESE OIL AND GAS FIELDS” vs China. https://amti.csis.org/perilous-prospects-tensions-flare-at-malaysian-vietnamese-oil-and-gas-fields/
Chinese Ships Ignore Vietnam Demand to Leave Area Close to Russian-run Offshore Gas Fields https://www.marinelink.com/news/chinese-ships-ignore-vietnam-demand-leave-505408