This is a continuation of The Mermen Journal's year-end timeline reports summarising events occurring in the South China Sea. For the 2020 timeline, click here.
The concerns remain the same: that we are in a global pandemic and also at the precipice of armed conflict, and ASEAN remains the same in its indifference towards authoritarian regimes and China's expansionism. France, Germany, and the UK have made their moves in the South China Sea. Australia, the US, and the UK have entered into a trilateral security partnership to build nuclear submarines. Beijing remains aggressive towards the Philippines and has maintained its nonsense historical ownership of the entire South China Sea. Taiwan continues to improve its military infrastructure to better defend itself once Beijing finally decides to invade the independent country.
14 January 2021
The United States has blacklisted and imposed sanctions on Chinese firms, officials, and a state-owned oil company for their alleged involvement in the South China Sea conflict, only a few days before President Donald Trump leaves office. The sanctions range from investment bans to visa restrictions, and some of the blacklisted companies reiterated they have no ties to the Chinese military.
20 January 2021: Joseph R. Biden, Jr takes his oath as 46th president of the United States, weeks after former president Donald Trump instigated Republican extremists to storm the US Capitol on 06 January.
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, as their children Ashley and Hunter watch. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
22 January 2021
Beijing has directed its coastguard to attack foreign vessels and demolish buildings in Chinese-claimed waters, which encompasses areas of conflict such as the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The Coast Guard Law allows Beijing to use hand-held, ship-bourne, or airbourne weapons to prevent threats from foreign ships and create temporary exclusion zones to halt vessels from entering. China’s foreign ministry reiterates that they are adhering to international practices. Beijing has been hostile with its Southeast Asian neighbours and Japan, among others.
Pratas Island seen from space on January 13, 1986, taken by crew of STS-61-C on Space Shuttle Columbia from orbit. (Photo by The Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center)
23 January 2021
Taiwan’s air force detected a large group of Chinese military aircraft flying near Pratas Islands where recent Chinese missions have been occurring. Eight bomber planes and four fighter jets were spotted by Taiwan’s air force, and air defence missiles had been deployed to monitor the fleet.
24 January 2021
A convoy of US aircraft carriers led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt has arrived in the South China Sea to conduct routine exercises, in a bid to promote freedom of the seas and maintain US military presence in the disputed waters. The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell and USS John Finn are also navigating the area. China’s foreign ministry denounced the move, saying it is “not conducive to the peace and stability in the region.”
26 January 2021
China has prohibited vessels from entering the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam’s east to conduct military exercises.
26 January 2021
Taiwan’s air force conducted war simulation drills in Tainan City where its F-CK-1 Ching-kuo Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF) are located. A military official affirmed they are prepared and “will not give up one inch of our territory.”
28 January 2021
China has warned Taiwan that “independence means war” as it believes Taiwan’s democratic government is planning to declare formal independence. The defence ministry explained that Beijing’s military activities in the Taiwan strait are necessary to address “external interference and provocations by ‘Taiwan independence’ forces.” But Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has been consistent in their position that Taiwan is already an independent country, and Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council retorted that China should not underestimate them. China has been upholding the “One China” policy which claims Taiwan as part of China’s territory, but Taiwan historically rejected this notion.
31 January 2021
Taiwan has reported that both China and the US deployed fighter and reconnaissance aircraft near Pratas Islands.
01 February 2021: Myanmar's military has staged a coup d'etat against democratically elected leaders after insufficiently claiming widespread fraud during the elections.
NAYPYIDAW, MYANMAR - FEBRUARY 01: Military soldiers with tanks and police truck block the road near parliament in Naypyidaw this afternoon in Myanmar on February 1, 2021. Myanmar's military announced Monday that it has seized power and will rule the country for at least one year after detaining its top political leaders. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
02 February 2021
A high-ranking Chinese diplomat urged the United States to stop interfering with China’s affairs in Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang, and its other territorial issues. The Chinese Communist Party’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission Director Yang Jicheng also argued that China never intervened in US affairs or its elections, and both countries should pursue “no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.”
The crew of Chinese research ship Jia Geng that entered waters off Catanduanes province without clearance from the Philippine government refused access to Philippine Coast Guard supposedly because of COVID-19 protocols. PCG
02 February 2021
Chinese research vessel Jia Geng, previously spotted trespassing Philippine territory last year, has been found taking a pit stop in Catanduanes in the east. This prompted lawmakers to seek an inquiry on Chinese ships operating in the country, although a Coast Guard report explained that Jia Geng secured diplomatic clearance to seek shelter “due to bad weather and sea condition.” The Chinese Embassy also clarified that the survey ship is “seeking humanitarian shelter… due to unfavorable… conditions in the Pacific where they are scheduled to conduct research mission.”
03 February 2021
A joint statement from Japan and UK’s foreign ministers express concern on tensions in the East China Sea and South China Sea, urging “all parties to exercise self-restraint and refrain from activities likely to raise tensions.”
05 February 2021
China’s military has argued the United States is deliberately “creating” tensions in Taiwan Strait after the US Navy’s guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain sailed through on 04 Feb. Tensions are already present in the status quo as Taiwan had reported Chinese fleet presence in its air defence identification zone last month.
05 February 2021
The US Navy has reported that destroyer USS John S. McCain conducted freedom of navigation exercises near Paracel Islands. China’s military said the US “seriously infring[ed] upon China’s sovereignty and security” and disrupted “the good atmosphere of the South China Sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation.”
PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 25, 2020) The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) transits the Pacific Ocean Jan. 25, 2020. The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaylianna Genier)
09 February 2021
The US Navy’s Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group have conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea, which Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said is a demonstration of “clear US attitude towards challenges to the security status quo in the Indo-Pacific region.”
09 February 2021
The French Armed Forces has reported that the nuclear-propelled attack submarine Emeraude has sailed in the South China Sea, explaining it is based on a “tradition of cooperation with regional states and on defense diplomacy which contributes in particular to support multilateralism, international law and the principle of freedom of navigation.” The Emeraude, accompanied by warship BSAM Seine, has passed through the Indian Ocean and the Pacific as part of an eight-month mission. France’s Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said the operation was proof of the French Navy’s capacity to aid Australian, American, and Japanese partners.
10 February 2021
The Philippine military will be deploying additional ships in the South China Sea to protect fishermen, “not to [instigate] war against China,” according to the chief of staff. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had also expressed concern over China’s new coast guard law which enables its coast guard to utilise military weapons to defend against foreign vessels, saying it could “cause some miscalculations and accidents.”
11 February 2021
Chinese President Xi Jinping has told US President Joe Biden that a confrontation between the two countries would be a disaster and they should cooperate, manage disputes, and re-establish dialogue mechanisms to avoid misunderstandings. Xi added that US should carefully handle matters related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the province of Xinjiang, where Uighur Muslims are facing human rights violations.
17 February 2021
US Navy warship USS Russell has conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
19 February 2021
Taiwan’s National Defence Ministry has reported that four Chinese J-16s and four JH-7s flew near Pratas Islands in the South China Sea. Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng was also appointed prior to the announcement, and President Tsai Ing-wen expects them to complete military reforms which included planning for “asymmetric warfare” and mobile weapons that will make Chinese attacks as difficult as possible.
20 February 2021
The US State Department has expressed concern over China’s new coast guard law, which enables its coast guard to fire weapons at foreign vessels in waters illegally claimed by Beijing. The law’s language, it says, “strongly implies this law could be used to intimidate [China’s] maritime neighbors.”
20 February 2021
Taiwan’s National Defence Ministry has detected eight Chinese fighter jets, two nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, an anti-submarine aircraft, and unspecified naval forces conducting drills near Pratas Islands in the South China Sea.
04 March 2021
Germany plans to deploy a warship through the South China Sea in August, assuring it will not sail within the 12 nautical mile limits claimed by China and other neighbouring countries. The US said it welcomed “Germany’s support for a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.”
March 17, 2021
Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng has increased military deployment on Itu Aba in the South China Sea as Beijing maintains its expansion and military activities in the contested waters. The US has also approved export permits for equipment to be used by Taiwan’s submarine fleet.
Some of the about 220 Chinese vessels reported by the Philippine Coast Guard, and believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, are pictured at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea, March 7, 2021. Picture taken March 7, 2021. Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea/Handout via REUTERS.
March 20-27, 2021
The Philippine military has reported that nearly 220 Chinese military vessels have been detected on Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea since 07 March. The Whitsun Reef, located in the Spratly Islands west of the island of Palawan, is within in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) where a state is free to manage the area’s resources and has jurisdiction over it. Defence minister Delfin Lorenza said the fleet is “violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory.”
The Chinese Embassy in Manila insisted the vessels are just taking shelter due to bad weather conditions, but maritime expert Jay Batongbacal argued there have been no storms since the beginning of the month and they have been in the area for at least two weeks.
Satellite data from American company Simularity shows Chinese vessels have been trespassing since November 2020.
March 24, 2021
The Chinese Embassy in Manila argued that tensions are rising in the Southeast Asian region because “external countries are bent on playing fusty geopolitical games,” taking aim at Japan after Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko’s statement on Twitter opposing “any action that heightens tensions.”
March 25, 2021
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has posted harsh comments on Twitter as several diplomats stood against Beijing’s illegal military activities in the South China Sea, exclaiming they do not “have the ability to think and judge independently.” The Embassy had previously criticised Japan for “acting as a strategic vassal of the US” after it opposed “any action that heightens tensions.”
March 26, 2021
Taiwan’s National Defence Ministry has reported that 20 Chinese military aircraft entered its air defence identification zone, now considered the largest incursion by the Chinese air force in the country. The fleet was conducting a simulation against US warships that would sail through the Bashi Channel, according to a source who spoke to Reuters.
March 26, 2021
Taiwan and the United States have signed its first agreement under the Biden administration to establish a Coast Guard Working Group as a response to China’s Coast Guard Law, which explicitly allows Beijing’s maritime forces to use force and attack foreign vessels.
March 28, 2021
The Philippine military has deployed light fighter aircraft in the South China Sea as hundreds of Chinese military vessels have been detected within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
March 31, 2021
The Philippines’ task force in the West Philippine Sea has reported that 44 Chinese military vessels still remain on Whitsun Reef, 115 vessels on Kennan Reef. 45 vessels in Thitu Island, and 50 other ships on Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, and Subi Reef. These locations are within the Kalayaan Island Group in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, covered by the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Task Force has earlier demanded the vessels to leave the West Philippine Sea, arguing “they may be doing illicit activities at night and their lingering presence may cause irreparable damage to the marine environment due to marine pollution and destruction of coral reefs. Their swarming also poses a threat to the peaceful exercise of sovereign rights of the Philippines in its EEZ.”
April 03, 2021
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has demanded Chinese military vessels anchored within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to leave the Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea. Lorenzana said he is no fool and “the weather has been good so far, so they have no other reason to stay there.” The Armed Forces of the Philippines also expressed serious concern over the presence of more than a hundred ships in the area.
April 03, 2021
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has berated Philippine Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana after his strong criticism on the presence of Chinese military vessels within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Embassy said “we hope authorities… avoid any unprofessional remarks,” and “nobody has the right to make wanton remarks on such activities.”
April 04, 2021
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that China plans to occupy more areas in the South China Sea as Chinese military vessels remain in the area, within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) where a state is free to manage the area’s resources and has jurisdiction over it.
April 05, 2021
Taiwan’s National Defence Ministry has reported that a Chinese fleet of eight fighter jets and two other aircrafts flew over the country’s air defence identification zone and the Bashi Channel. The fleet consists of four J-16 and four J-10 fighters, an early warning plane, and an anti-submarine aircraft.
April 05, 2021
The Philippines’ Foreign Affairs bureau has criticised China’s statement against the country’s defence chief, saying it is deplorable and full of “blatant falsehoods” about adverse weather conditions in the area “when there were none” and hundreds of Chinese vessels spotted were supposedly not military. The bureau also argued against China’s position that the Whitsun Reef and its waters are traditional fishing ground when “tradition yields to law whether or not it is regarded as traditional fishing,” and referenced the 2016 Hague ruling which posits historic rights are without lawful effect if it exceeds limits stipulated in the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Chinese Embassy officials, the Foreign Affairs bureau noted, are “guests of the Philippine government… and… must… accord respect to Philippine Government officials.”
April 06, 2021
After a strong stance from ministers, generals, and diplomats on the presence of Chinese military vessels in the South China Sea, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said they “will continue to resolve the issues on Julian Felipe (Whitsun Reef) through diplomatic channels and through peaceful means.” The President also maintained that “differences…with China will not… be an obstacle to the overall positive trajectory of our bilateral friendly relations… including vaccine cooperation and in post-pandemic economic recovery.”
April 06, 2021
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s aircraft carrier group led by Liaoning will now conduct regular military exercises near Taiwan. Taiwan’s National Defence Ministry said it was “appropriately handling” the matter.
April 07, 2021
Taiwan has reported that Chinese drones are circling the Pratas Islands in the South China Sea, and they might have to shoot the drones if it enters Taiwan’s restricted zone which extends 6km from its coast.
April 07, 2021
Taiwan’s National Defence Ministry has reported that an additional 15 Chinese aircraft and 12 fighter jets entered its air defence identification zone. Taiwan Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu said they “will fight the war if we need to fight the war. And if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day we will defend ourselves to the very last day.” The US Navy’s guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain also passed through Taiwan Strait, with US officials expressing concern over the possibility of China launching an attack against Taiwan.
April 08, 2021
A Filipino civilian vessel with local media onboard was chased by a pair of Chinese Navy patrol vessels armed with missiles on its way to a military outpost. The ABS-CBN news team was travelling to reefs and shoals in the West Philippine Sea, west of the island of Palawan, as part of their report on how China’s expansionism affected the livelihood of Filipino fishermen. The team was on their way to the Second Thomas Shoal where a military detachment is located when a China Coast Guard ship spotted them, later chasing them and deploying two Type-022 Houbei class missile boats. The news team is still within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which the country supposedly has jurisdiction over. Correspondent Chiara Zambrano writes this could be the “first documented instance of a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel used to chase down a Filipino boat that was offering no form of resistance.”
Watch the ABS-CBN report here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp0cLAKjzBk
April 08, 2021
China’s state media Xinhua has reported that Beijing’s drilling system “Sea Bull II” used by Chinese scientists on a marine research vessel has extracted a 231-metre sediment core from the South China Sea’s seabed. The system is used for exploring natural gas hydrate resources in the seabed that are promising sources of energy. There is no information as to where exactly in the South China Sea the extraction took place.
April 11, 2021
The Philippines and the US will conduct the two-week “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) joint military exercise focusing on responding to natural disasters and extremist attacks. The drills will be attended by only 1,700 troops for minimal physical contact.
April 13, 2021
Taiwan has revealed its new locally made amphibious warship “Yu Shan" which is scheduled to enter service next year. The warship will be armed with a cannon for air and surface targets and rapid-fire anti-aircraft and anti-missile guns, and can be used for transport in the South China Sea and offshore Taiwanese islands that are close to China’s coast.
April 13, 2021
Japan has announced plans to hold a joint naval drill with Germany this year as a German frigate is scheduled to sail through South China Sea in August. It is considered the first German warship to cross the South China Sea since 2002.
April 16, 2021
Security sources in Taiwan have argued that Beijing’s increased air and naval simulations are meant to prevent foreign militaries from aiding Taiwan in case of a war, particularly the US military.
April 21, 2021
The Philippines’ South China Sea task force has affirmed that additional police and coastguard units will be deployed to increase presence in waters illegally claimed by China. Nine vessels, a coastguard aircraft and police watercraft are expected to be deployed. President Rodrigo Duterte has also ordered stringent operations against unregulated fishing in territorial waters.
April 23, 2021
Philippines’ foreign affairs bureau has filed another diplomatic protest concerning the prolonged presence of 160 Chinese military and coastguard vessels within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Chinese diplomats have insisted the vessels are not military.
April 25, 2021
The European Union has urged China and parties to the South China Sea dispute to abide by the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China’s historical claims to the entire contested waters. A spokesperson mentioned the presence of Chinese vessels found in the Whitsun Reef, located within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives in Gibraltar for her first overseas port visit. The 65,000 tonne future flagship was conducting a routine logistics stop having left her home in Portsmouth a week earlier for helicopter trials. (Photo by Dave Jenkins, 9 February 2018)
April 26, 2021
The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will lead a fleet on its way to East Asia, passing through the contested South China Sea. The British fleet includes 18 F-35B stealth fighter jets, two destroyers, two frigates, and two support ships. Together with fleets from other countries namely the United States and the Netherlands, they will conduct military exercises with Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, the UAE, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Israel, India, Oman and South Korea. France had also deployed amphibious carrier Tonnerre and its frigate Surcouf in the region back in February.
April 28, 2021
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said China has no business in preventing the country from conducting maritime exercises within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as the Philippines coastguard bolsters its presence following the threat of Chinese military vessels in the area. China’s foreign ministry had said the Philippines should stop complicating the situation, while Manila responded that “China has no business telling the Philippines what it can and cannot do” and it was China that was escalating tensions by encroaching in reefs it transformed into artificial islands.
May 04, 2021
Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin has published a blunt Twitter post demanding hundreds of Chinese military vessels to leave the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. China has responded, saying “we hope that certain individual from the Philippine side will mind basic manners and act in ways that suit his status.”
May 13, 2021
The Philippines’ task force on the South China Sea has reported that 287 Chinese military vessels were spotted within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. The Chinese Embassy in Manila has not responded, and President Rodrigo Duterte’s comments contradict the tough statements from diplomats and other government officials. Duterte had also said the 2016 arbitral ruling in The Hague, which the Philippines won and invalidated China’s historical claims, is merely a piece of paper that could be thrown in the trash.
May 14, 2021
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has rejected Beijing’s demand to withdraw Filipino vessels in the South China Sea.
May 17, 2021
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has banned cabinet ministers from expressing strong opinions against Beijing as it continues its illegal expansion in the South China Sea.
May 20, 2021
The Chinese military has reported that warship USS Curtis Wilbur trespassed waters near the Paracel Island without notice, but the US Navy explained the vessel was just asserting navigational rights and was not “expelled” from any territory. USS Curtis Wilbur had sailed through Taiwan Strait on 18 May.
May 22, 2021
The Philippines’ foreign affairs bureau has announced it held a “friendly and candid” meeting with China regarding the South China Sea, after hundreds of Chinese military vessels were spotted within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
May 29, 2021
The Philippines’ foreign affairs bureau has sent another diplomatic protest to China and demanded its military vessels to leave, as Beijing maintains its prolonged presence within waters beyond the country’s territorial sea.
June 02, 2021
Malaysia’s foreign affairs ministry has announced it will summon China’s ambassador to Malaysia to explain why 16 Ilyushin il-76 and Xian Y-20 strategic transporters trespassed into its airspace, 60 nautical miles near Sarawak in Borneo. The air force reported the Chinese planes refused to contact air traffic control after being instructed to do so. The Chinese embassy explained the planes conducted flight training and abided by international law.
June 08, 2021
ASEAN and Chinese diplomats have agreed to exercise restraint in the South China Sea, during a 07 June meeting in Chongqing, China.
June 09, 2021
The Pentagon has issued an internal directive detailing unspecified initiatives to counter Beijing, which it says would improve the military’s ability to “revitalize our network of allies and partners, bolster deterrence, and accelerate the development of new operational concepts."
June 13, 2021
Group of Seven (G7) leaders, which are comprised of some of the world’s wealthiest countries, have demanded China to take accountability for the human rights violation of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang and a deeper investigation into the origins of COVID-19 that first broke out in Wuhan.
June 14, 2021
The Philippines has suspended again its termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, a military agreement that has been put on pending for another six months to address issues such as lack of jurisdiction over US personnel who commit crimes in the country.
June 15, 2021
US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is conducting routine operations in the South China Sea, accompanied by USS Shiloh and USS Halsey. The US Navy said “the strike group is conducting maritime security operations, which include flight operations with fixed and rotary wing aircraft, maritime strike exercises, and coordinated tactical training between surface and air units.”
June 16, 2021
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has reported that 14 J-16 and six J-11 fighters, and four H-6 bombers have entered its air defence identification zone, the largest fleet recorded since the ministry began reporting Beijing’s air force activities last year. The aircraft flew near Pratas Islands and the southern tip of Taiwan.
China has defended the latest incursion, arguing it is a response to foreign military forces interfering in its affairs with the independent state of Taiwan.
June 25, 2021
A $3.5m maritime training centre funded by the United States has been established in the Riau Islands in Indonesia.
July 06, 2021
Germany’s defence minister has discussed with Chinese General Wei Fenghe issues on South China Sea and China’s human rights violations against the Uighur people, and reminded the general on the importance of a 2016 arbitral ruling which invalidated China’s illegal historical claims to the South China Sea.
July 12, 2021
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has rebuffed a former foreign secretary’s claim that China may have influenced the outcome of the 2016 election. Former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario claimed a reliable international entity informed him that senior Beijing officials were bragging about manipulating the elections in favour of Duterte. Del Rosario did not provide substantial details to support this claim, and the presidential spokesperson told him to shut up.
July 13, 2021
The Philippines’ defence minister has ordered an investigation into a report by Simularity, a satellite image analysis company, detailing Chinese vessels dumping sewage into South China Sea. The company emphasised that untreated human waste is detrimental to marine life in waters illegally claimed by Beijing.
July 14, 2021
In a virtual conference with Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) ministers, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern over state violence in Myanmar and China’s illegal expansionism in the South China Sea.
July 16, 2021
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will not be visiting Beijing on her second trip to Asia, where she is scheduled to visit Japan, South Korea, and Mongolia. Sherman is expected to discuss the climate crisis, global health security, and the US-Mongolia Strategic Partnership among others.
July 19, 2021
France and South Pacific countries will establish a coastguard network in response to China’s continued illegal activities in the South China Sea. The three objectives of the coastguards, French President Emmanuel Macron explained, are information sharing, operational cooperation, and training.
July 20, 2021
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to visit the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.
July 21, 2021
The United Kingdom will be permanently deploying two warships in Asian waters after aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and its envoy visit Japan in September. A Littoral Response Group, a marine unit, is also expected to be deployed later this year.
July 27, 2021
The US defence secretary has affirmed Washington’s commitment to pursuing a stable relationship with China and a stronger crisis communications with the People’s Liberation Army, noting “We will not flinch when our interests are threatened. Yet we do not seek confrontation.” The defence secretary is scheduled to travel to Vietnam and the Philippines.
July 30, 2021
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has withdrawn his earlier promise of terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), a military pact with the US, in order to uphold “the Philippines' strategic core interest (...) and clarity of U.S. position on its obligations and commitments under the MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty)." The decision to terminate the agreement had been suspended multiple times during the country’s ongoing spat with China over its illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea.
August 04, 2021
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced a strategic dialogue with Indonesia to cooperate on maritime security in the South China Sea, the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis, and bilateral trade and economic ties.
August 04, 2021
US Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit Vietnam and Singapore and discuss freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, strengthening US regional leadership, and expanding security cooperation.
August 04, 2021
India will deploy a naval task force to the South China Sea as part of its “Act East” foreign policy which seeks to enhance India’s ties with neighbouring countries. The task force is comprised of four warships, a guided missile destroyer, and a missile frigate, and will join war drills with the US, Japan, and Australia.
August 07, 2021
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern over China’s increased nuclear capability during the ASEAN Regional Forum, referring to satellite images of Beijing constructing new silos for nuclear missiles. China had said it is ready to conduct bilateral dialogues after Russia and the US signed to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which they hoped Beijing would join in.
August 10, 2021
US Secretary of State Antony Blinked called out China’s illegal claims in the South China Sea, and China’s deputy UN Ambassador Dai Bing retorted that Washington is stirring up trouble and provoking conflict by sending military vessels in South China Sea.
August 18, 2021
China has conducted assault drills near Taiwan as response to “external interference and provocations by Taiwan independence forces.” Its warships, anti-submarine aircraft, and fighter jets were practising “capturing air supremacy” drills with J-16 fighters, electronic reconnaissance, and electronic interference operations. Among the fleet that entered Taiwan’s air defence zone were 11 aircraft, two nuclear-capable H-6K bombers, and six J-16 fighters. According to an official who spoke with Reuters, Taiwan believes China is trying to gather electronic signals from US and Japanese aircraft to “paralyse reinforcing aircraft including F-35s in a war.”
August 23-26, 2021
During a trip to Southeast Asia, US Vice President Kamala Harris exchanged tirades with Beijing over its illegal claims to the entire South China Sea. Harris said her visit is meant to “reinforce a shared vision of a free and open Indo Pacific region” and reaffirm US commitment “to uphold the rules-based international order and freedom of navigation.” She also said that China “continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea,” and “we need to find ways to pressure, raise the pressure… on Beijing to abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to challenge, its bullying and excessive maritime claims.”
The United States has signed security agreements with Singapore that will enable "rotational deployments of U.S. P-8 aircraft and littoral combat ships to Singapore,” according to a White House fact sheet. Harris has also offered Vietnam support in enhancing its maritime security through increased visits by US warships and aircraft carriers, which would include a third US Coast Guard high-endurance cutter and 24 patrol boats, and joint military exercises.
August 27, 2021
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd and US Coast Guard cutter Munro has sailed through Taiwan Strait days after China conducted assault drills in the area, which prompted the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army to follow and guard the course of its operations.
September 06, 2021
The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has been deployed at a naval base near Tokyo to signal its commitment to maintain military presence in the region. HMS Queen Elizabeth is accompanied by two destroyers, two frigates, two support ships and a frigate, a US destroyer and a Dutch frigate. Two warships are expected to take its place once the carrier strike group returns. Japan has identified China as its main national security threat in a defence strategy paper.
September 09, 2021
The Philippines’ defence minister said a comprehensive review must be conducted on the country’s 1951 treaty with the US as Washington had provided more military aid and advanced weapons systems to its other allies and “the Philippines, facing major adversaries in Asia, deserves as much, if not more, assistance and commitment.” The defence minister reiterated the Philippine president’s concern that the US has been reluctant in supplying Manila with modern weaponry, and that Filipinos are casting doubt on whether the US is a reliable ally in South China Sea disputes. He emphasised the need to update the alliance and make Washington’s commitments explicit.
September 11, 2021
China’s foreign minister said Vietnam and China should avoid actions that may complicate the situation in the South China Sea, while Vietnam affirmed its neutral stance to not align with one country against another. Beijing’s illegal claim to the entirety of the South China Sea overlaps with Vietnam’s. The two countries should respect each other’s legitimate rights in accordance with international law and UNCLOS, according to Vietnam’s deputy minister.
September 12, 2021
Japan’s defence ministry has reported that a suspected Chinese submarine and destroyer have been detected near Amami Oshima island. The defence ministry was still instructed to maintain surveillance despite the vessels being in a contiguous zone, which is outside territorial waters where foreign vessels are required to identify themselves.
September 15, 2021
Military forces from China, Pakistan, Mongolia and Thailand have participated in “Shared Destiny 2021,” a 10-day multinational peacekeeping exercise where they reenacted real-life scenarios between terrorists and peacekeepers and deployed drones to detect bombs. A Rajaratnam School of International Studies defence research fellow said “the use of Chinese equipment by foreign troops can be touted as a sign of enhanced military interoperability (...) and also for the purpose of marketing them to foreign militaries.” China has funded 15% of UN’s total expenses for peacekeeping operations in 2020.
September 15, 2021
Taiwan’s foreign minister, addressing an online forum attended by former senior US officials, said that “a democratic Taiwan serves as a sea fortress to block China's expansionism into the wider Pacific” and they are willing to share the knowledge on how to counter Beijing. The US has been supplying Taiwan with military weapons despite having no formal diplomatic ties with the country, and China has been repeatedly sending warnings to Taiwan’s government to obstruct it from seeking independence. Beijing upholds the One China policy that claims Taiwan as part of its territory although Taiwan has historically rejected it.
September 15, 2021
Australia is expected to sign a trilateral security partnership with the US and Britain for the construction of eight nuclear-powered submarines, and reject a 2016 multi-billion dollar program for French-designed submarines. The American and British technology that will be used for the submarines will replace Australia’s Collins-class submarines, according to ABC News. Media group Politico also reported that the partnership will enable the three countries to share information on cyber and artificial intelligence, quantum computing, underwater systems, long-range strike capabilities, and maintenance of nuclear-defence infrastructure.
China will likely see the partnership as a threat, Asia Society Policy Institute senior fellow Richard Maude said. “Like the recently announced plan to acquire long-range anti-ship missiles, this move is intended to deter hostile maritime forces from approaching Australia. China is currently the only country that could pose that kind of threat to Australia," Macquarie University's head of Asia-Pacific Security Studies Bates Gill told Reuters.
September 16, 2021
The European Union is seeking a trade deal with Taiwan and deploy more ships to boost its presence in the Indo-Pacific region as China continues its expansionism in the South China Sea. EU’s chairman Charles Michel said the partnership between Australia, the US, and Britain “further demonstrates the need for a common EU approach in a region of strategic interest.” The initial plan of EU in April would allow increased European personnel, investment, and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
September 16, 2021
Indonesia has increased patrols in the North Natuna Sea after Chinese and US vessels were spotted, although no disturbance from the vessels was reported. The North Natuna Sea was the new name given to the northern part of Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone in 2017, in response to China’s ambitions in the South China Sea.
September 16, 2021
Australia has announced increased military cooperation with the US as Washington plans for rotational deployment of all types of military aircraft to Australia. Peter Dutton, defence minister of Australia, said they have “established combined logistics sustainment and capability for maintenance to support our enhanced activities, including logistics and sustainment capability for our submarines and surface combatants in Australia.”
The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson (left), Australia's Scott Morrison (centre) and the US president, Joe Biden, at a joint press conference. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPA
September 17, 2021
China has criticised the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the US, and Britain, arguing it will result in an intensified arms race in the region and will damage global efforts against the use of nuclear weapons and technology. The partnership, dubbed AUKUS, will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. In conjunction with Australia joining the partnership, it also rejected its $40B deal in 2016 to build submarines with French technology, leading to France accusing US President Joe Biden of acting like his predecessor. The EU and France have reported they were not informed nor consulted about AUKUS prior to media coverage, although White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said France was “aware in advance” of the deal.
September 17, 2021
Indonesia has expressed concern about a potential arms race in the region following the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the US, and Britain that will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. The foreign ministry urged Australia to maintain its commitment to regional peace and stability and respect international law.
September 18, 2021
Malaysia has expressed concern about a potential arms race in the region following the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the US, and Britain that will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. “It will provoke other powers to also act more aggressively in the region, especially in the South China Sea,” Malaysia’s Prime Minister Office said.
September 18, 2021
French Ambassador Jean-Pierre Thebault said Australia made a diplomatic error after rejecting a $40B submarine deal with France in favour of a trilateral security partnership with the US and Britain. The partnership, dubbed AUKUS, will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. Ambassador Thebault has reiterated how AUKUS will damage relations between the US, Australia, and France.
September 21, 2021
The Philippines has expressed support for the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the US, and Britain dubbed “AUKUS.” Philippines’ foreign minister said “the enhancement of a near-abroad ally's ability to project power should restore and keep the balance rather than destabilise it” and enhance “military capacity to respond to a threat to the region or challenge the status quo.” AUKUS will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines in response to China’s expansionism in the South China Sea. The foreign minister has noted that AUKUS will not violate a 1995 treaty restricting nuclear weapons.
September 22, 2021
Malaysia is planning a trip to China to discuss Australia’s nuclear submarine deal with the US and Britain. China has denounced the trilateral security pact dubbed AUKUS, arguing it will result in an intensified arms race in the region and will damage global efforts against the use of nuclear weapons and technology.
September 27, 2021
China has denounced Britain for deploying the HMS Richmond through Taiwan Strait on its way to Vietnam, claiming that "this behaviour harbours evil intentions and damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait." The HMS Richmond had recently taken part in UN sanctions enforcement operations against North Korea in the East China Sea.
September 27, 2021
US Ambassador to Australia Sung Kim has affirmed that AUKUS, Australia’s nuclear submarine deal with the US and Britain, will not threaten stability in the Indo-Pacific region after Indonesia expressed concern over the trilateral security.
September 30, 2021
Philippines’ defence chief has revealed they were urged by a former Chinese diplomat in 2018 to discontinue plans to revise a 1951 treaty with the US, which enables Washington to come to Manila’s aid should it be under attack.
September 30, 2021
China has displayed its high-end military technology and commercial aircraft during the annual Airshow China, showing off its J-20 fighter jets, the J-16D electronic warfare fighter, and a model for a “loyal wingman” drone, the Feihong FH-97, that will protect fighter jets.
October 01-02, 2021
Taiwan has denounced China’s latest military activity into its air defence zone near Pratas Island and Bashi Channel as part of its celebration of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, with a fleet comprised of 28 J-16 and four Su-30 fighter jets, four nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, an anti-submarine aircraft, and an early warning aircraft. Another fleet of 18 fighters and two anti-submarine aircraft was also spotted.
October 04, 2021
Over the course of four days, China has deployed almost 150 aircraft into Taiwan’s air defence zone as part of its celebration of the National Day of the People's Republic of China, with the latest fleet comprised of 34 J-16 fighters and 12 nuclear-capable H-6 bombers flying near Pratas Island.
October 05, 2021
Malaysia has protested the presence of Chinese military vessels and a survey vessel within its exclusive economic zone, near Sabah and Sarawak.
October 07, 2021
The US reassured Taiwan of its commitment to assist in its defences after President Joe Biden, in reference to a call with President Xi Jinping, agreed to “abide by the Taiwan agreement.” Washington’s policy is to officially recognise Beijing and have non-diplomatic relations with Taipei, as Taiwan maintains it is an independent country while China insists on upholding its One China policy that claims Taiwan as its own.
October 08, 2021
The US Central Intelligence Agency has announced the creation of its China Mission Center which aims to monitor the threat posed by the Chinese government. An anonymous senior CIA official compared it to the agency’s actions against Russia during the Cold War and counter-terrorism operations after 9/11.
October 08, 2021
A US Navy submarine has hit an undisclosed object in the South China Sea, with no casualties or impact to the vessel according to the Navy. It is currently on its way to Guam.
October 11, 2021
The People's Liberation Army of China has reported their recent conduct of beach landing and assault drills in the Fujian province across Taiwan. There was no mention of the existing military tension between the two countries, but Taiwan reiterated it will defend itself “to ensure that nobody can force Taiwan to take the path China has laid out for us.”
October 12, 2021
The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has docked in Singapore after it led a carrier strike group during recent air and naval exercises with Singapore’s military. The UK has been moving to boost its presence in Asia as the region faces China’s expansionism in the South China Sea.
October 12, 2021
Malaysia has expressed hope that Southeast Asian countries will reach a consensus on its stance regarding Australia’s nuclear submarine deal with the US and Britain dubbed AUKUS. Philippines has supported the trilateral security partnership while Indonesia and Malaysia warned it could foment an arms race in the region.
October 15, 2021
The European Union has announced it will hold a summit with China soon to “reinforce dialogue,” as both EU and Beijing imposed sanctions on each other over human rights abuses that China denied. An EU official noted that China’s claims in the South China Sea and recent Chinese military activities in Taiwan were concerns expressed during a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
October 20, 2021
The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest after Chinese vessels have been reportedly provoking Manila’s ships with sirens, horns, and in radio communication while the latter was patrolling the South China Sea.
October 21, 2021
The United Kingdom’s Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said that Australia’s nuclear submarine deal with the US and Britain dubbed AUKUS has been “overhyped,” arguing the trilateral security partnership is not meant to challenge other countries.
October 25, 2021
Chinese President Xi Jinping has promised that Beijing will be a “builder of world peace” and a “protector of international order,” despite its illegal claim to the entire South China Sea. Xi delivered the speech during the 50th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China’s return to the United Nations as China’s sole representative, effectively displacing Taiwan in 1971.
October 26, 2021
US President Joe Biden has attended the US-ASEAN Summit, joining Southeast Asian leaders in a virtual meeting and maintained that Washington’s presence in the region is “essential to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.” Biden is expected to announce a $102M plan to expand US partnership with ASEAN through health, climate, economic, and education programs. In another virtual meeting attended by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Biden also announced future discussions to develop a regional economic framework.
November 08, 2021
China has built replicas of US Navy aircraft carriers in Xinjiang as potential training targets, with a full-scale outline of a US carrier and two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers being sighted in the Taklamakan Desert where a new target range complex has been established. According to Chinese tabloid Global Times, “China should just ignore all kinds of hype from the US” and “The US military has often taken mock-ups of combat aircraft of the PLA air force and Chinese maritime items as imaginary targets.”
The National Security Council shared a video of Chinese ships blocking and using water cannon on Philippine vessels.
Also on Twitter: "Video showing China Coast Guard using water cannon on Philippine boats carrying out resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed in Ayungin/Second Thomas Shoal in the West PH Sea last Nov 16"
November 18, 2021
The Philippines' foreign affairs minister has denounced China after three of its coast guard vessels used a water cannon to impede resupply boats on its way to Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal). The Filipino ships were carrying food for military personnel aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated vessel marooned at Ayungin Shoal and turned into a military outpost in 1999. A crew member managed to take a blurry video of the 16 Nov aggression, and they had to abort mission. Last week, 19 vessels near Ayungin Shoal and 45 near Thitu Island (Pag-Asa Island) were spotted. Usually there are only two in Ayungin and less than 20 in Pag-asa.
China's foreign ministry accused the Filipino supply boats of trespassing into its waters. China's nine-dash line, which claims the entirety of the South China Sea and waters within the territory of Southeast Asian countries, is illegal. They said "Chinese coast guard vessels performed official duties in accordance with law and upheld China's territorial sovereignty and maritime order."
The US has reminded Beijing that provocations and an armed attack will invoke a defence treaty between Washington and Manila.
November 22, 2021
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has denounced China's 16 Nov aggression near Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) in the South China Sea, where three Chinese coast guard vessels shot a water cannon at Filipino resupply boats on their way to a military detachment. The president spoke during a virtual ASEAN-China summit, which was attended by Beijing's president Xi Jinping.
Duterte, for the most part, maintains a neutral position and prefers bilateral negotiations amid China's expansionism and the Hague ruling in favour of Manila. He mentions the 2016 ruling and asserts freedom of navigation sometimes.
November 22, 2021
Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured ASEAN leaders that China is not seeking hegemony in the region nor would it bully smaller countries, adding that "China was, is, and will always be a good neighbour, good friend, and good partner of ASEAN." The president spoke during a virtual ASEAN-China summit, which was attended by Southeast Asian leaders whose waters are being illegally claimed by Beijing.
November 25, 2021
The Philippines' defence chief has brushed off China's demand to remove a dilapidated Navy vessel marooned in the Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) after a 16 Nov incident, in which three Chinese coast guard vessels shot a water cannon at Filipino resupply boats on their way to a military detachment. The BRP Sierra Madre has been stuck on a reef at the Ayungin Shoal and turned into a military outpost in 1999 to assert sovereignty.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian claims the BRP Sierra Madre is an illegally grounded vessel and has demanded its removal. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana maintains Beijing's claims to the entire South China Sea have no basis.
November 26, 2021
Australia's defence minister has pointed out that China's militarisation of the South China Sea is contrary to its statements promoting peace and cooperation in the region. The Chinese embassy in Canberra said the minister was "fanning conflict and division between peoples and nations."
Australia has recently reported they are monitoring a Chinese intelligence ship sailing within its exclusive economic zone. "What it demonstrates is now no one can be complacent about the situation in the Indo-Pacific," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
November 26, 2021
China's military has conducted air and naval patrols within Taiwan Strait as a US Congressional delegation made a surprise visit to Taiwan to offer support. Taiwan has maintained it is an independent country while Beijing still asserts the One China Policy which claims Taiwan as its own.
November 30, 2021
The United States has finished the 10-day ANNUALEX military drill with Japan, Canada, Australia, and Germany in the Philippine Sea. The exercise was attended by 35 warships and dozens of aircraft led by the nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson carrier. The USS Carl Vinson was reportedly being shadowed by a Chinese navy ship.
December 01, 2021
China has reportedly demanded Indonesia to cease its oil and natural gas drilling operations at the Tuna Block in the South China Sea earlier this year, reiterating that it is being conducted within Chinese territory. An Indonesian lawmaker disclosed to Reuters their response, that they "are not going to stop the drilling because it is our sovereign right."
December 04, 2021
Russia has finished its first joint naval exercise with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Brunei near Sumatra Island. The exercise was attended by eight warships and four aircraft, and Russia hopes to conduct it next in Vladivostok.
December 13, 2021
Taiwan's Defence Ministry is confident that it would be difficult for Beijing if it continues with its plan to invade the independent country. In a report, the Ministry said China would be unable to land its forces all at once due to its limited transport capacity and military supplies can be easily cut off in the Taiwan Strait, a key waterway separating the two countries.
December 14, 2021
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has partially announced a US strategy to strengthen its ties with allies in the Indo-Pacific, in which they plan to boost defence and intelligence capabilities and commit to a new comprehensive regional economic framework that would increase US foreign direct investments. Blinken is on his first trip to Southeast Asia, and is currently in Indonesia.
A ceremony in the northern German port of Wilhelmshaven to mark the departure of the Bayern frigate on its maiden Indo-Pacific voyage on August 2. (Photo by Jens Kastner)
December 15, 2021
German frigate Bayern has sailed into the South China Sea on its way to Singapore. It is the first German warship to enter the South China Sea since 2002. The frigate is expected to stick to common trade routes and will not enter Taiwan Strait.
December 22, 2021
Typhoon Rai has damaged infrastructure on Philippine-claimed Thitu Island in the South China Sea. The Coast Guard has reported facilities were being upgraded when the typhoon hit, and they are planning to rebuild the coast guard station. Thitu Island has a population of 194 and establishes Philippine claim of sovereignty amid China’s expansionism. The typhoon is the strongest to hit Manila in 2021.
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