Chinese Army to hold military exercises in the South China Sea

Almaty. July 18. Silkroadnews – During July 19-21 the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China will hold exercises in the South China Sea.

“The military exercises will be carried out within the water area specified by four coordinate points. Entry into this area is prohibited,” TASS quoted the statement by China’s Maritime Safety Administration.

No other details are given.

The local observers note, the forthcoming exercises are to demonstrate China’s non-acceptance of an international court ruling saying the Chinese claim to most of the territory and waters of the South China Sea are groundless.

China’s dispute with several countries of the region on the territorial jurisdiction of a number of islands in the South China Sea has been lasting for decades. In various degrees the dispute involved Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. The point in case is mainly about the Xisha archipelago (Paracel Islands), the islands of Nansha (Spratly) and Huangyan (Scarborough Shoal). Significant reserves of hydrocarbons have been discovered here, besides the important sea trade routes are passing through this territory.

In January 2013 acting via the Permanent Court of Arbitration the Philippines unilaterally initiated the international arbitration with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The suit included 15 items. In particular, the Philippines stated China’s actions and infringement on 90% of the South China Sea territories violate the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.

On July 12 the arbitration created under the auspices of the Permanent Court of Arbitration has ruled that China’s claim to the territory in the South China Sea are groundless. On the same day China’s Foreign Ministry said the Chinese government does not accept this ruling and considers it “as having no force”.