International press protests China's actions in Truong Sa

The press in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and the US have taken turns speaking out against China conducting test flights on the runway it illegally built on Fiery Cross Reef in the East Sea.

The New Straits Times reported on January 12, quoting Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, that China's test flights on the runway it illegally built on Fiery Cross Reef have created an unfavorable environment for resolving territorial disputes in the East Sea.

China built an airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef.

On January 11, Minister Anifah stressed that China's actions could increase tensions in the East Sea and could make disputes in the East Sea increasingly difficult due to the erosion of trust between countries.

Mr. Anifah stressed that it is important for all parties to comply with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). All parties must seek to enhance common understanding, enhance trust and avoid any activities that may increase tensions.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Post, with an article titled “Unnecessary Aviation Risks,” said that tensions have once again risen in the South China Sea dispute. In it, the newspaper emphasized that with all its claims to own almost the entire region, China must be held responsible for creating and prolonging unnecessary and truly dangerous risks of conflict.

The Bangkok Post reviewed China’s illegal construction and reclamation activities over the past year, asserting that these actions have caused strong reactions from neighboring countries. In particular, the article emphasized the imminent danger from Chinese flights to and from between their territory in mainland China and Hainan Island, to the entities they are renovating in Vietnam’s Spratly Islands. The article said that Beijing authorities, in a very dangerous move, have treated these flights as domestic routes. Chinese air force and civilian companies fly over the East Sea without any notice.

The article asserted that the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) had correctly stated that China’s flights had “threatened the safety of flights in the region.” Vietnam had protested to China and sent a letter notifying Beijing of its violations to the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Meanwhile, the article also quoted Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario as saying he would raise the safety issue with ASEAN. He also expressed concern that China may be considering establishing an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and would require all foreign flights to identify themselves when flying into what China considers its territory.

Kyodo news agency quoted Philippine Foreign Ministry spokesman Charles Jose on January 13 as saying that Manila had just officially handed over a diplomatic note protesting China's test flights to a new runway built by Beijing on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands in the East Sea.

In a written statement, Mr. Jose said that the Philippines protests China's "provocative actions that restrict freedom of navigation and overflight in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea)." He stressed: "Such actions by China have increased tensions and raised concerns in the region, and violate the spirit and letter of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC)."

According to Infonet (synthesis)