[Vnbiz] China reasserts claim on South China Sea islands, but says it's open to talks with Vietnam

Thu Jan 24 10:26:10 PST 2008

Sorry CACC,
   Many, many people will not like to read this, but this is my analysis 
of this issue.

   I believe China is playing the "time game" with regard to the Hoang 
Sa (Paracels). In English we say "Possession is nine tenths of the law". 
Rightly or wrongly, China now physically controls the Hoang Sa. China 
and Vietnam both know that Vietnam is not militarily strong enough to 
'retake/invade [depending on your view]' this island group. End result? 
Barring any unforeseen internal political event in either country, 
absolutely NO amount of talks, discussions, agreements to talk again, 
etc. will change this situation. Status quo. Bye bye Hoang Sa for Vietnam.

   The Truong Sa (Spratlys**) is an entirely different issue - that is 
EXACTLY why the Chinese do NOT include them in the current negotiations 
[See Note 1]. The Vietnamese side knows it does not have the resources 
to defend their claims against Chinese aggression, if that ever happens, 
while the Chinese side also understands that a 'bold military move' into 
this region of the South China Sea will likely bring Indonesia, the 
Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei Darusalaam and Taiwan into the 
equation! China does not want to engage ALL of these different countries 
of a single issue, least they find a "common enemy" and join forces!

   People should not delude themselves about what is on the table for 
negotiation at these talks. Vietnam and China are ONLY talking about the 
Northern Gulf of Tonkin, the "Vinh Bac Bo", based around Bach Long Vi as 
one of the major geographical reference points. These current 
discussions DO NOT include the Paracels or Spratlys, although a 
successful conclusion at these talks /may/ lead to extending the talks 
to focus on these two emotive issues.

END RESULT:
China will continue to control the Hoang Sa long into the predictable 
future.
Vietnam will continue to control its current possessions in the Truong 
Sa long into the predicable future.

The above is a "cold-hearted, hard-headed, unemotional" intelligence 
assessment of the situation at this point in history. It is in no way 
related to, or a reflection of what I personally think, feel or want. It 
is only my professional assessment of the situation.

-----------------------------------------------------------
** How many of my Bros & Sis have ever been to the Spratly Islands? 
While I have never actually set foot on any of the islands, cays or 
reefs, I have sailed through them 3 times - not a pleasant experience 
for an Australian Navy sailor when you know the Chinese garrison over 
there on your left AND the Vietnamese garrison over their on your right 
BOTH have their guns pointing at YOU!

NOTE 1:   While China may publicly profess to " ... posses indisputable 
sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and the adjoining 
waters...", they know as well as everybody else that this 'claim' will 
mean that the Chinese would 'own' the Philippines, eastern Malaysia and 
Brunei, parts of Indonesia, Singapore and all non-contiguous waters 
claimed by Vietnam, Taiwan and even Japan!

Shane
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Shane Wall
Managing Director

Trans Lingual Express
188/16 Nguyen Thuong Hien St,
P.1, Q. Go Vap, HCMC,
Vietnam

Mail: shane.wall at translingualexpress.com
Web: www.translingualexpress.com

Ph: +84 (8) 588 1701

Mbl: +84 (090) 9484 753 (English)
Mbl: +84 (090) 7885 375 (Vietnamese)

Tai Phan wrote:
> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
>   
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>   China reasserts claim on South China Sea islands, but says it's open
>   to talks with Vietnam
>
> AP
> Posted: 2008-01-24 06:51:34
> BEIJING (AP) - China reasserted its claim of ownership over disputed 
> islands in the South China Sea on Thursday, but said it willing to 
> negotiate territorial disputes with Vietnam.
>
> Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu's statement follows meetings 
> Wednesday at which the sides announced a consensus to "properly handle 
> their dispute over the South China Sea," but gave few details.
>
> "We posses indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands 
> and the adjoining waters," Jiang said at a regularly scheduled news 
> conference.
>
> "We have exchanged views with Vietnam on many occasions and agreed to 
> solve these disputes through negotiations and safeguard peace and 
> stability in the South China Sea as well as in China-Vietnam 
> relations," she said.
>
> The two countries' competing claims to two island groups, the Paracels 
> and Spratlys, have in the past led to military confrontation. Hanoi in 
> November protested Chinese military exercises in the Paracels, calling 
> them a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty.
>
> The dispute over the Paracels dates back decades, while the Spratlys 
> are also claimed by several other neighboring countries.
>
> Wednesday's talks were co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor Tang 
> Jiaxuan, a senior foreign policy adviser, and Vietnamese Foreign 
> Minister Pham Gia Khiem.
>
> Also Thursday, Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan met with Nguyen 
> Huy Hieu, Vietnamese deputy minister of defense, with both "vowing to 
> deepen ties between the two countries and the two armed forces," 
> according to China's official Xinhua News Agency.
>
>  
> Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the 
> AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise 
> distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated 
> Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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