China and Russian Federation are underscoring their military partnership, by holding a joint naval exercise in the South China Sea (SCS), following a ruling, by an worldwide tribunal at The Hague, which did not go in Beijing’s favour.
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“This is a routine exercise between the two armed forces, aimed at strengthening the developing China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership”, China’s defense ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a regular monthly news conference. He said exercise is routine and does not target any third party. According to Xinhua, these analysts and politicians “defend China’s position on the South China Sea disputes”.
Many Vietnamese citizens have been vocal about their support for the Philippines following the Hague’s ruling on July 12, that rejected exclusive Chinese rights to the South China Sea.
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Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said after the ruling that Beijing could declare an air defense identification zone over the waters if it felt threatened.
The dispute over the South China Sea, which includes the Spratly and the Paracel Islands, involves rival territorial claims from China, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.
The U.S. says it is encouraged by the willingness of China and the Philippines to engage in direct dialogue over the South China Sea following a tribunal ruling against Beijing earlier this month.
The global court case to determine the validity of China’s claims to most of the South China Sea had been brought to the court by Manila and has greatly angered Beijing, whose news agency described it as a “blow to peace and stability in the region”.
China has repeatedly blamed the United States for stoking tension in the region through its military patrols, and of taking sides in the dispute.
The move comes weeks after The Hague ruled that China has “no legal basis” to claim resources in the South China Sea.
“Although the South China Sea issue was mentioned many times in the communique, it only gave a general overview of principles that must be stuck to”.
China’s Defense Ministry also confirmed Thursday that it would move forward with anti-missile system tests in response to South Korea’s decision to employ an advanced us anti-missile system. The ruling also said China had interfered with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, constructed artificial islands and used its law enforcement vessels to block off parts of the sea and obstruct ships.
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The Chinese consulate in Ho Chi Minh City said in a statement the act was “shameless and cowardly”, adding that it had “stained the dignity of both China and its nationals”.
