Indonesia says has no overlapping South China Sea claims with China

An Arbitral Tribunal is expected to rule this month on a South China Sea territorial dispute between China and the Philippines, and the US should be prepared to respond to any Chinese reaction, a think tank panel said today.

“We must take advantage of these opportunities to practice warfighting techniques that are required to prevail in modern naval operations”, Alexander was quoted as saying.

Duterte said he asked U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg in a recent meeting, “Are you with us or are you not with us?” adding that Goldberg responded, “Only if you are attacked”.

An EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from a nation’s shore, and within it a country has exclusive rights to natural resources, including fish, according to the 1982 United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea. The looming decision, along with stepped-up US patrols, have led to mounting tensions in the disputed region.

China, meanwhile, praised its ASEAN ally Cambodia for siding with Beijing on the South China Sea row.

It was the third such skirmish in recent months between Indonesia and China near the Natunas, which are west of Borneo, as tensions rise between Beijing and several nations over its growing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea. In response to this incident, Indonesia blew up 23 foreign trawlers seized for illegally fishing in Indonesian waters, hoping to send a message China’s way. Observers had initially said the ruling was likely to come at the end of May.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan lay claim to parts of the sea.

US officials had been examining the potential of two aircraft carriers operating together in the Pacific, which USA senator John McCain had called a “strong statement” of American commitment to regional security in a speech in Singapore earlier this month ahead of the Shangri-La Dialogue.

“I would say that our security commitment to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) is ironclad”.

A new proposal seeks to develop routes to the Spratlys, much further south, said the China Daily, which is published by the government.

“They’re not explicitly tied to the arbitration at The Hague”, Townshend said.

The Indonesian navy’s Western Fleet commander, Rear Admiral A Taufiq R, said China was trying to “mark their territory” with the presence of the coast guards.

The US is urging China to respect the upcoming ruling, which could happen this month and is widely expected to favor the Philippines.

“No one wants to see China isolated”, Bower added.

Although it was not the first time nor unusual for Washington to hold a joint exercise with the Philippines, the fact that it was held in the Philippine Sea at a time when the Permanent Court of Arbitration was about to announce a verdict has been perceived as a show of support for Washington’s long-time ally, the Philippines. But it said the U.S.

The inaugural COSCO route to the Xisha Islands will be followed by the development of other routes in the South China Sea and Taiwan Straits, with a gradual expansion to global routes, in a bid to build China’s first national cruise brand, the company said.