A state-run Chinese newspaper has demanded “revenge” against Australia after it backed an worldwide tribunal’s landmark decision to reject its claims over the South China Sea.
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The Chinese defense minister has warned the tense situation in the South China Sea poses the threat of a direct confrontation and has called on the military, police and general population to be ready to defend the country’s territorial integrity.
The development of Navy’s aviation division came as Beijing strongly defended its claims over the disputed South China Sea (SCS) in the aftermath of global tribunal’s verdict striking down China’s claims over the area.
Beijing claims nearly all of the South China Sea, which is also claimed in part by Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.
The warning comes despite a recent ruling in favour of the Philippines by an arbitration court in The Hague which ruled out China’s territorial claims and criticised its activities that cause environmental destruction.
“That would allow China to say, ‘Look, we held a joint exercise with Russian Federation in the South China Sea, ‘ while Russian Federation can say, ‘Yes, but this is in undisputed worldwide waters, or waters where China has maritime control'”.
Under the interpretation, seas under China’s jurisdiction include not only inland waters and territorial seas, but also such areas as contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves.
“The South China Sea has drawn huge attention, but some information online is not accurate”, said Zhang Haiwen, director of State Oceanic Administration’s worldwide cooperation division, adding that many historical and legal documents were being made public for the first time.
It takes 50 pages to outline Japan’s deepening alliance with the United States, as Tokyo takes a step back from its war-renouncing constitution by easing curbs on overseas operations for its Self Defense Forces.
In the defence review approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government, Japan warned that “unintended consequences” could result from Beijing’s assertive disregard of worldwide rules. While Washington and most Southeast Asian nations would like to see tensions in the South China Sea resolved through application of shared rules and norms, Beijing has shown its determination to settle the matter through power politics.
As for the accusations in the white paper of increased Chinese military activity near the Diaoyu Islands, Wu said what the Chinese military did was entirely in line with the islands belonging to China.
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The regulation also addresses Chinese citizens or organisations engaged in fishing in fishing zones or the open sea under co-management between China and other countries, according to signed agreements.
