Weekly News 30/1 – 6/2

-(The-diplomat 4/2) Beijing’s South China Sea Gamble: If China is right, then there is enough oil under the South China Sea to feed global consumption for several years. But Beijing may be making an aggressive bet on the wrong horse

-( Scmp 4/2 ) A tale of two unequal treaties: The Philippines' recent talks with US officials were aimed at securing a firm defence commitment, which has been reaffirmed to Japan, but still eludes Manila

-(Inquirer 31/1) Philippines seeks peace with China anew: Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has urged Beijing anew to fully concur with Manila’s stated position on the East Sea issue; (Manilatimes 31/1) Philippines’ good ties with China to stay

PetroVietnam says oil activities normal in East Sea

The state-owned Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) said despite "complications" last year, it was business as usual for it in the East Sea.

Phung Dinh Thuc, the chief executive of PetroVietnam, which explores and drills oil in the sea, said at a press conference Monday that thanks to assistance from the ministries of public security, defense, and foreign affairs, its activities in the East Sea remained “quite smooth”

The company was operating within Vietnam’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, he said.

Vietnam manufactures its first warship

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam already boasts a thriving merchant ship construction sector, and has also built some coastal paramilitary craft in recent years. Now, the country is emerging as a warship builder.

Towards an international legal duty of ocean cooperation? by Ian Townsend-Gault

This paper explores the rules of international law, as well as relevant state practice, pertaining to maritime cooperation.  Its scope therefore includes formal and informal arrangements whereby states have decided to blur, or establish some alternative to, the usual rules pertaining to exclusive jurisdiction at sea.

Cooperation in the South China Sea region: a way to regional peace, stability and prosperity, by Li Jianwei

This paper continues to support the idea of a sub-regional organization which acts as the coordinating institution for all-round cooperation in the South China Sea region. Only in this way can all actions be coordinated and fully communicated to avoid potential conflicts and promote efficiency of cooperation.

CLCS submissions and claims in the South China Sea, by Robert C. Beckman & Tara Davenport

We will first briefly outline the claims to islands in the South China Sea prior to 2009. We will then examine the official documents submitted to the CLCS relating to the South China Sea claims and the significance of these developments, especially how they have resulted in several of the claimants bringing their claims into conformity with their rights and obligations under UNCLOS

When the elephants dance….China, the United States and the South China Sea, by Geoffrey Till

This paper will focus on the symbolic aspect of this island dispute for China and for the United States, a country that is not a claimant but which appears nevertheless to be getting ever more involved in the conduct of the dispute and in discussions about its final possible resolution

New actors and thoughts in Chinese foreign policy and its implications to Vietnam in South China Sea, by Nguyen Minh Ngoc

The purpose of this paper by Nguyen Minh Ngoc is to analyze the actors and new thoughts in Chinese foreign policy and implications of China’s policies for South China Sea. The author would like to offer readers with the policy-making process of new foreign policy of China, which helps Vietnamese more aware of the situation and find appropriate solutions.

Legal bases and reality approaches of legal documents on South China Sea disputes by Nguyen Duc Hung

In the process of seeking measures to the disputes in the South China Sea, UNCLOS 1982 and the related international legal documents are the creditable legal basis despite their drawbacks. Therefore, the reality approaches are crucial. First, the following article analyzes the pros and cons of taking UNCLOS as the legal basis.