Turbulence in the South China Sea: China established administrative districts in Sansha, protests in Vietnam, US military exercises. USA

Last weekend (April 18), the Chinese State Council announced that the city of Sansha, Hainan province, would establish the “Xisha District” in the Xisha Islands with sovereignty disputes and the “Nansha District” in the Nansha Islands. The Nansha District People’s Government is stationed in Yongshu Jiao.

China’s move sparked a rebound in Vietnam and issued a statement to protest.

Especially in early April, just as a Vietnamese fishing vessel was operating in the South China Sea, it was sunk by the Chinese military maritime police vessel, sparking a diplomatic dispute between Vietnam and China. China’s main action announcement this time established administrative districts in Xisha and Nansha, which attracted the attention of Vietnam and the South China Sea.

South China Sea dispute

The so-called South China Sea issue is a dispute between the guiding waters and who the islands are. In addition to mainland China and Taiwan, neighboring Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Wenlai also have sovereign rights over the Nansha Islands, and because the strategic position is important, the US military. USA It also considers the South China Sea as an important maritime area.

After World War II, disputes in the South China Sea became more intense, and disputes over sovereignty disputes in the Nansha, Xisha and Zhongsha Islands became increasingly fierce. Countries began to claim land on various islands and reefs to declare sovereignty. In recent years, the issue of sovereignty over the Natuna Islands located near Indonesia and Malaysia has also been divided from the dispute in the South China Sea. The “Shangri-La Dialogue” is considered an important platform for the discussion of disputes between countries in the South China Sea.

In 2013, the Philippines brought China to the Ocean Law Arbitration Court. At that time, China refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the arbitration court and refused to appear in court. Only a document equivalent to China’s position was passed to the arbitration court.

“Fight for the right to speak”

Due to its rich natural gas and fishery resources, and its strategic location, the South China Sea has long been a battleground for military strategists.

Lin Yingyou, an assistant professor at the Institute of International Affairs for Strategic Affairs at Chung Cheng University in Taiwan, told BBC China that April or May is a relatively stable season for sea imagery in the South China Sea. It is not difficult to imagine China acting in the South China Sea right now. He also said that the situation of the pneumonia epidemic is still trapped in several countries. At this time, Beijing has established an administrative area in the South China Sea, which also gives the outside world the feeling of being gradually approached or “invaded”.

But Lin Yingyou emphasized that one of the biggest purposes of establishing these administrative regions is to compete for the right to speak. He said that once China names these administrative regions or islands and reefs, will the international community, or all forces in the South China Sea, follow the Chinese name? “This is a battle for the right to speak,” he said.

• Nansha Showdown: China and Vietnam fight for Wan’an Beach

Vietnam protest

It was not until early April that two Chinese Maritime Police vessels detained and sank a fishing vessel in Vietnam, Vietnam and China had a fierce diplomatic war.

Therefore, Vietnam responded fiercely to the great move by the Chinese side to establish the South China Sea.

On April 20, Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Li Shiqiuheng issued a statement: “The city of Sansha and other administrative regions established by China decided to seriously violate the sovereignty of Vietnam. Vietnam has repeatedly stated that it wishes Extending its sovereignty over the Xisha Islands and the Nansha Islands, Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal basis. ” He called on China to withdraw its decision.

Vietnam also submitted a note to the United Nations, reiterating its sovereignty over the Xisha and Nansha islands. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China also submitted a note to the UN Secretary General on April 17 in which he states that China “opposes Vietnam’s illegal claims and claims and strongly demands Vietnam to evacuate all personnel and facilities from its occupation of islands and reefs. “

Many Vietnamese observers told Vietnamese BBC journalists that China has recently carried out many “safe activities” in the South China Sea.

Hoang Viet, a researcher at Ho Chi Minh City National University School of Law, also commented on April 17: “In fact, Vietnam also has many ambitions during its rotating ASEAN presidency, hoping that ASEAN plays a role and allows Vietnam Seeking good partners on the South China Sea issue “;” However, the difficulty is that the limited number of meetings due to the new coronary pneumonia epidemic has greatly weakened the Vietnam’s role as rotating president and whether ASEAN countries can reach an agreement during this period. It is not easy. “

“Therefore, Vietnam must show enough courage on the issue of the South China Sea. However, another challenge is whether the countries of the region can unite. Therefore, it is very difficult to deal with the issue of the South Sea. from China, “he added.

US military exercises in the South China Sea

In response to China’s recent actions in the South China Sea, the United States that deployed the Indo-Pacific strategy also responded.

American Seventh Fleet Missile Destroyer“Berry“No. (USS Barry) was launched on March 21 while on the Indo-Pacific security mission.“Standard type 2“Medium range missile. The same day, the Chinese navy also posted on the official Weibo the recent images of a coordinated anti-submarine training over a certain area in the South China Sea, counteracting the strong significance of the American side.

On April 6, U.S. State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus first issued a statement expressing serious concern over China’s collision with the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel in the South China Sea. The statement called on China to “focus on supporting the international community to combat the new coronary pneumonia pandemic and to stop using the attention or vulnerability of other countries to expand their illegal claims in the South China Sea.”

The 31st United States Marine Expeditionary Team confirmed on April 22 that the amphibious assault ship “American” recently conducted landing and landing training for military aircraft, including the F35B stealth fighter in the South China Sea. The United States Army released a statement saying that its activities in the South China Sea are to guarantee freedom of navigation and consolidate security in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing that the United States supports allies in safeguarding of your financial interests.

Lin Yingyou said that the “Shangri-La Dialogue” held in Singapore each year has been canceled this year due to the epidemic. In the past, the forum, the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific regional security were the key issues. He believes that how to respond to China’s activities and controversies in the South China Sea, countries busy with epidemic prevention may not have much effort to deal with.