中國把戲：毗鄰區稱領海

【Comment】

HMS Albion, a 22,000 ton amphibious warship and one of the three Royal Navy vessels stationing in and around Japan, sailed through the contiguous zone of Paracel Islands en route to Vietnam.  China strongly protested it and claimed the Royal Navy’s infringed the territorial water of China.

China just does not honor the international law.  It is the contiguous zone not the territorial water of China.  Even it is, the foreign vessels have the right of innocent passage.

Now, the US, UK, Japan, Australia, France are exercising Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs).  When the German Navy will come jointing?

英艦自由航行西沙 中國抗議挑釁    自由 20180907

繼美國頻在具有主權爭議的南海進行「航行自由」行動並呼籲各國跟進，排水量二．二萬噸的英國皇家兩棲船塢登陸艦「海神之子」（HMS Albion）上月卅一日也駛入南海西沙群島海域，不過未進入主權爭議島礁十二浬範圍。對此，中國六日指控英軍進逼「領海」主權，要求英方停止「挑釁」。

英國皇家海軍今年共部署三艘艦艇到亞洲，包括「海神之子」駐守日本周邊。路透六日獨家報導，兩位熟悉內情者透露，「海神之子」上月底載著英國皇家海軍陸戰隊分隊轉往越南胡志明市並於三日駛抵，途中基於「航行自由」曾通過西沙群島，並和中國一艘巡防艦與兩架直升機進行對峙，雙方未發生衝突。中方宣稱英艦遭到中國護衛艦和直升機驅離。

我國和越南皆聲稱擁有西沙群島主權，但當地目前受中國實質掌控，英艦過去「航行自由」行動從未進入爭議島嶼的十二浬內「領海」。上述人士向路透指出，「海神之子」上月卅一日同樣未駛入南海主權爭議各方任一國的領海，展現英國不承認南海周邊國家主權過度聲索的作為。

英軍聲明 航行符合國際法規範

英國皇家海軍發言人表示，「海神之子」當時行使「航行自由」權利，「完全符合國際法與規範」。除英國外，澳洲四月也曾派艦航行南海。

但中國外交部與國防部六日口徑一致強調，西沙群島乃中國固有領土，上月卅一日「英方派軍艦擅自進入中國領海挑釁」，譴責英方之舉「違反中國法律及相關國際法，侵犯中國主權，損害中國安全利益，極易引發海空意外事件」，「強烈敦促英方停止此類挑釁行為」，以免損害兩國關係大局和地區和平穩定，「中國軍隊將堅定履行防衛職責，繼續採取一切必要措施」。

问：一艘英国海军舰艇前几天在西沙群岛附近开展了航行活动，中方对此有何回应?

　　答：8月31日，英国“海神之子”号船坞登陆舰未经中国政府允许，擅自进入中国西沙群岛领海。中国海军依法对英国军舰实施查证识别，并予以警告驱离。

　　西沙群岛是中国固有领土。1996年5月，中国政府根据《中华人民共和国领海及毗连区法》，划定西沙群岛领海范围。英舰有关行为违反中国法律和相关国际法，侵犯中国主权。中方对此坚决反对，已经向英方提出了严正交涉，表达了强烈不满。

　　中方强烈敦促英方停止此类挑衅行为，以免损害两国关系大局和地区和平稳定。中方将继续采取一切必要措施捍卫国家主权和安全。

Q: A British navy ship sailed near the Xisha Qundao the other day. What is China's reaction to it?

A: On August 31, Britain's HMS Albion-class landing platform dock entered China's territorial sea of the Xisha Qundao without the Chinese government's approval.  The Chinese navy identified and verified the British warship in accordance with the law and warned and expelled it.

The Xisha Qundao is an inherent part of the Chinese territory.  In accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Chinese government promulgated the baseline of the territorial sea of the Xisha Qundao in May, 1996.  The relevant behavior of the British warship violated the Chinese law and relevant international law and infringed upon China's sovereignty.  China is firmly opposed to this.  We have lodged stern representations with the British side and expressed our strong dissatisfaction.

The Chinese side strongly urges Britain to stop this kind of provocation lest it should undermine the overall picture of bilateral ties as well as regional peace and stability.  China will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security.

Exclusive: British Navy warship sails near South China Sea islands, angering Beijing    Reuters 20190907

(Reuters) - Beijing expressed anger on Thursday after a British Royal Navy warship sailed close to islands claimed by China in the South China Sea late last month, saying Britain was engaged in “provocation” and that it had lodged a strong complaint.

The HMS Albion, a 22,000 ton amphibious warship carrying a contingent of Royal Marines, exercised its “freedom of navigation” rights as it passed near the Paracel Islands, two sources, who were familiar with the matter but who asked not to be identified, told Reuters.

The Albion was on its way to Ho Chi Minh City, where it docked on Monday following a deployment in and around Japan.

One of the sources said Beijing dispatched a frigate and two helicopters to challenge the British vessel, but both sides remained calm during the encounter.

The other source the Albion did not enter the territorial seas around any features in the hotly disputed region but demonstrated that Britain does not recognize excessive maritime claims around the Paracel Islands. Twelve nautical miles is an internationally recognized territorial limit.

The Paracels are occupied entirely by China but also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

China’s Foreign Ministry, in a faxed statement sent to Reuters, said the ship had entered Chinese territorial waters around the Paracel Islands on Aug. 31 without permission, and the Chinese navy had warned it to leave.

“The relevant actions by the British ship violated Chinese law and relevant international law, and infringed on China’s sovereignty.  China strongly opposes this and has lodged stern representations with the British side to express strong dissatisfaction,” the ministry added.

“China strongly urges the British side to immediately stop such provocative actions, to avoid harming the broader picture of bilateral relations and regional peace and stability,” it said.

“China will continue to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and security.”

The encounter comes at a delicate time in London-Beijing relations.

Britain has been courting China for a post-Brexit free trade deal, and both countries like to describe how they have a “golden era” in ties.

A spokesman for the Royal Navy said: “HMS Albion exercised her rights for freedom of navigation in full compliance with international law and norms.”

British Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said Britain had a strong relationship with China.

FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION

China’s claims in the South China Sea, through which some $3 trillion of shipborne trade passes each year, are contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Britain does not have any territorial claims in the area.

While the U.S. Navy has conducted Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) in the same area in the past, this British challenge to China’s growing control of the strategic waterway comes after the United States has said it would like to see more international participation in such actions.

Both Britain and the United States say they conduct FONOP operations throughout the world, including in areas claimed by allies.

The British Navy has previously sailed close to the disputed Spratly Islands, further south in the South China Sea, several times in recent years but not within the 12 nautical mile limit, regional diplomatic sources have said.

Singapore-based South China Sea expert Ian Storey said Britain had strong traditional interests in defending freedom of navigation but regular deployments in the South China Sea would be constrained due to limited numbers of warships and onerous demands in other parts of the world.

“The UK’s actions will please Washington as the Trump administration has grumbled that U.S. allies have been remiss in upholding freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” said Storey, of Singapore’s ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute.

“But China will be displeased as it suggests that U.S. allies are responding to Washington’s appeals... It might also nudge other U.S. allies to make similar moves.”

FONOPs have so far not persuaded Beijing to curtail its South China Sea activities, which have included extensive reclamation of reefs and islands and the construction of runways, hangars and missile systems.

Beijing says it is entitled to build on its territories and says the facilities are for civilian use and necessary self-defense purposes. China blames Washington for militarizing the region with its freedom of navigation patrols.

Foreign aircraft and vessels in the region are routinely challenged by Chinese naval ships and monitoring stations on the fortified islands, sources have said previously.

In April, warships from Australia - which like Britain is a close U.S. ally - had what Canberra described as a close “encounter” with Chinese naval vessels in the contested sea.

The Albion is one of three Royal Navy ships deployed to Asia this year, along with HMS Argyll and HMS Sutherland.

In a speech in Jakarta in August, Foreign Office Minister for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field said Britain was committed to an enduring security presence in Asia and urged countries to respect navigational freedom and international law in the South China Sea.

That law included the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, whose landmark 2016 judgment criticized Chinese actions in the South China Sea and found no basis for its sweeping historic claims. Beijing has repeatedly rejected the ruling and earlier refused to participate in the case brought by the Philippines.

Reporting by Tim Kelly. Additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan and William James in LONDON, Ben Blanchard in BEIJING and Greg Torode in HONG KONG. Editing by Lincoln Feast and Alison Williams

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