South China Sea: A Ticking Time Bomb

Map of the South China Sea

Senator Jim Webb, Washington Adviser Concerned About Growing Tension in the Region

Last week, Senator Jim Webb (D-Va) appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" and expressed great concern over tensions developing in the South China Sea region and the White House's lackluster response in addressing the situation.

Webb, who chairs the Senate subcommittee that deals with American policy toward east Asia, stated, "The United States should condemn China's use of force and push for multilateral negotiations to resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea that have raised tensions in the region.

On June 13, Associated Press reporter Matthew Pennington wrote, "Vietnam fired live artillery rounds off its central coast in naval drills staged after accusing Chinese boats of disrupting oil and gas exploration. A similar dispute flared a week earlier between China and the Philippines."

Washington officials made it abundantly clear, back in 2009, that the U.S. has a vested interest -- in relation to national security -- where the altercations took place and urged against any outside interference or provocation.

During a Council on Foreign Relations seminar, Webb said, "Vietnam and other countries were watching whether we were going to back up those words with substantive action." However, Webb noted that the situation did not necessarily call for immediate U.S. military intervention.

In order to get a better perspective of the potential crisis, From The G-Man contacted Charles Armstrong, PhD., a professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and member of the steering committee for the National Committee on North Korea.

Armstrong, who served as a foreign affairs analyst for two previous articles on this site, is one of the leading observers and scholars in the country on matters concerning the Asian region, particularly in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"I have not been following the Webb story, but I know there have been concerns in U.S. security policy circles for some time about China asserting its naval power in nearby seas, especially the South China Sea where there are numerous territorial disputes with other countries: Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, etc.," said Armstrong.

"Most recently, Vietnam and China have come close to military confrontation over their territorial dispute in this region. Webb, chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, proposed a resolution calling for multilateral discussions and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The resolution was passed unanimously by the Senate," he continued.

"I find it fascinating that Webb, a Vietnam vet, seems to be implicitly taking Vietnam's side against China. But this is part of a larger trend these days: 36 years after the ignominious fall of Saigon, Vietnam has become our de facto ally against the rising power of China in Asia. Up to now, China's ability to project naval power is still quite limited. The Pacific remains dominated by American power now, more or less, as it has for the past 60 years. Nevertheless, China's naval power and ambition are growing, and this worries those concerned with maintaining US military dominance in the region."

Map image created and copyrighted (2006) by Yeu Ninje. Released under the GNU FDL.
Based on original in "South China Sea", National Geographic, December 1998.

BREAKING NEWS: The following has been reported, as of July 2, 2011 (12am) by Pia Lee Brago of the Philippine Star.

China invites DFA chief to visit Beijing

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario is expected to bring up the territorial dispute in the waters of Southeast Asia in his meeting with his counterpart in Beijing next week.

“I’ve been invited to go to Beijing and we’re looking for peaceful means to settle the challenges facing us,” Del Rosario said when asked if the Spratlys issue would be on the agenda. “I think probably maritime security is a subject we’ll be discussing.”

But Del Rosario said the schedule of his visit has not yet been finalized. The secretary’s visit was tentatively scheduled on July 7-9.

“We’re still trying to finalize that (schedule). We’re still trying to discuss to China as far as my participation is concerned. It hasn’t been finalized yet. It’s a bilateral visit,” Del Rosario said during a forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at the Mandarin Hotel in Makati City last Thursday.

The invitation of China’s foreign minister Yang Jiechi to Del Rosario came amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea triggered by reported intrusions of Chinese vessels and aircraft into Philippine territorial waters.

According to Del Rosario, more than 100 agreements signed between the Philippines and China on trade, investments, tourism, education and security would definitely be discussed during the visit.

He also said President Aquino’s visit to China may take place next month or in September this year. “But the date is not yet final,” he said.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said freedom of navigation in the waters of Southeast Asia has never been compromised.

"China safeguards its sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, which does not affect freedom of navigation in the South China Sea enjoyed by countries according to international law,” Hong said.

“In fact, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is out of question,” he said.

Singapore has called on China to clarify the extent of its claims in the West Philippine Sea with more “precision” saying its ambiguity has only heightened tensions. The island state said that parties should use as basis for resolving their dispute the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Sure of help

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said a resolution by the United States Senate criticizing China’s intrusions into Philippine waters may be considered an assurance of US support.

“This is good for us because we have an assurance at least somebody will help us in an event of a conflict (breaking out) in the area,” Gazmin said.

The US Senate resolution on Monday, Gazmin said, also debunked China’s denials that it had ever made incursions in Philippine waters.

“As the US senate viewed it, there was use of unnecessary force contrary to claims by China. The truth of the matter is that violations were noted during this period and we find the increased intrusions very alarming,” Gazmin said.

He said only a superpower can deal with another superpower in defusing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines and the US are bound by a 60-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) to come to the defense of each other against foreign aggressors.

On China’s continued disregard of the diplomatic protests filed by the DFA, Gazmin said China’s attitude would have bearing on its standing in the international community.

“We are not offended. What will happen here is that China will lose face before the international community,” Gazmin said.

He stressed that China’s contention that the entire West Philippine Sea is under its jurisdiction is indefensible.

He also said that there is no need to reinforce the Philippine garrison in the Kalayaan Island group.

“We don’t need more troops there. What is more important now is that the conflict is contained in the region,” he said.

With Jaime Laude