Extra-military Emphasis in South China Sea
南海超軍事手段
2015/06/03
accessed June 3, 2016
中國超軍事手段再度發威。這次在南海。
China once again employs it extra military instrument to deal with a military threat.
This time the avenue to South China Sea and the contender is the US.
l 2016. 03. 08 拙作”漁船遊艇對軍艦”
On March 8, 2016, my oped in United Daily noticed that China was applying fishing boats and yachts to deal with U.S. warships in South China Sea.
l 2016. 04. 30 路透社報導中國訓練漁船民兵
On April 30, 2016, Reuters reported “China trains fishing militia to sail into Disputed Waters”.
l 2016. 05. 30 紐約時報報導中國在西沙永興島發展島礁婚紗旅遊，同時「中國日報」(英文官報)報導三沙市將成陸版馬爾地夫觀光勝地。
On May 30, 2016, International New York Times reported “Sand, surf and sun? China suggests a disputed island.”
At the same time, “China Daily” reported Sansha City will become China’s “Maldives”.
l 2016. 03. 08 拙作”漁船遊艇對軍艦”
On March 8, 2016, my oped in United Daily noticed that China was applying fishing boats and yachts to deal with U.S. warships in South China Sea.
「憂心與焦慮」（concern & angst）。這是美國第七艦隊副司令奧肯二月十五日在新加坡表示的心情。
去年十月和今年一月，美國兩次派軍艦穿越中國在南海建設的島礁附近水域，挑戰北京宣稱的十二浬領海。但奧肯說：尾隨美國軍艦的中國「非軍用船」（應指漁船和海巡船），進退有節，不像獨立作業。對常交流的解放軍軍艦，他放心。但怕這些「非專業船」，擔心它們和美國軍艦相撞。
他提到世界最大的海巡船是中方最近所造，而且第二艘巨無霸正在建造。此外，對於今年一月六日在南沙永暑礁新建跑道上試降成功的中國民航機，他說：「不知何時會有軍機降落」。屆時，他要在「國際法允許範圍內」派美國軍機到附近空域挑戰。
對北京謀劃的作為，奧肯已嗅出些許端倪，但他只見冰山一角，且誤判。因為對國際爭端，美國慣用「軍事手段優先」：先派兵再說。他以為中國也一樣，其實不然。中國從古至今，慣用「超軍事手段優先」。例如，戰場上對敵先用水淹、用火攻、用地道滲透等，最後才揮刀戰鬥。在國際上，先用謀略惑敵，再用外交制敵，不得已才用兵，下下策才攻城。
讓我們回顧南沙群島爭端。一五年五月十三日，美國國防部助理部長施大偉對國會作證時說：一九九六年越南在南沙有四個島礁，中國有九個。二○一五年越南增為四十八個，而中國減為八個。施大偉也說，他作證時中國在南沙尚無任何飛機跑道。
然而，從一九七六到二○○八，越南、菲律賓、馬來西亞和我國都已陸續造好南沙島礁的飛機跑道。去年秋天中國最後才進場，造好永暑礁機場。澳洲教授Greg Austin去年六月十八日在Diplomat 雜誌說：無怪中方號稱在南沙曾經「高度的自我克制」。
對美方軍艦戰機穿越中國在南海所控制的島礁附近海域，北京如何因應？以下是根據學生們提供的資訊，雖未證實，卻值得參考：
漁船陣：三沙市已動員漁船免費裝設北斗導航系統，補助漁業燃油，並鼓勵漁船前往美國拉森號軍艦去年十月已穿越的渚碧礁和美濟礁一帶捕魚。經由導航系統聯絡，漁船成了政府海上布局的棋子，聚散自如。萬一島礁周圍密布漁船，美國軍艦硬闖相撞，國際輿論如何反應？
旅遊潮：中國民航機試降永暑礁是中國發展高端旅遊的序幕，而非部署軍機的先聲。技術上兩者相去甚遠。中國已派團去馬來西亞有機場及三星旅館的彈丸礁視察。將來永暑礁是五星以上旅館和豪華遊艇的熱點。美國軍艦又如何硬闖附近海域？
心理戰：中國戰略傳統講究虛實並用、奇正相生的「二元整合」。軟的更軟，硬的更硬。漁船遊艇是軟的，今年二月中，西沙永興島部署紅旗九防空飛彈是硬的。那該是回應去年十一月中，美國派B-52轟炸機穿越中方的美濟礁空域。同月，常貼土耳其國界航行的俄羅斯軍機被土軍擊落。此事不用北京提醒，自然對再來南海中方島礁空域穿越的美國軍機造成壓力，而且與時俱增。（作者為前華府喬治大學外交學院講座教授，曾任國防部副部長）
l 2016. 04. 30 路透社報導中國訓練漁船民兵
On April 30, 2016, Reuters reported “China trains fishing militia to sail into Disputed Waters”.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-china-fishingboats-idUSKCN0XS0RS
The fishing fleet based in this tiny port town on Hainan island is getting everything from military training and subsidies to even fuel and ice as China creates an increasingly sophisticated fishing militia to sail into the disputed South China Sea.
The training and support includes exercises at sea and requests to fishermen to gather information on foreign vessels, provincial government officials, regional diplomats and fishing company executives said in recent interviews.
"The maritime militia is expanding because of the country's need for it, and because of the desire of the fishermen to engage in national service, protecting our country's interests," said an advisor to the Hainan government who did not want to be named.
But the fishing militia also raises the risk of conflict with foreign navies in the strategic waterway through which $5 trillion of trade passes each year, diplomats and naval experts say.
The United States has been conducting sea and air patrols near artificial islands China is building in the disputed Spratlys archipelago, including by two B-52 strategic bombers in November. Washington said in February it would increase the "freedom of navigation" sail-bys around the disputed sea.
BASIC MILITARY TRAINING
The city-level branches of the People's Armed Forces Department provide basic military training to fishermen, said the Hainan government advisor. The branches are overseen by both the military and local Communist Party authorities in charge of militia operations nationwide.
The training encompasses search and rescue operations, contending with disasters at sea, and "safeguarding Chinese sovereignty", said the advisor who focuses on the South China Sea.
The training, which includes exercises at sea, takes place between May and August and the government pays fishermen for participating, he said.
Government subsidies encourage fishermen to use heavier vessels with steel - as opposed to wooden - hulls.
The government has also provided Global Positioning Satellite equipment for at least 50,000 vessels, enabling them to contact the Chinese Coast Guard in maritime emergencies, including encounters with foreign ships, industry executives said.
Several Hainan fishermen and diplomats told Reuters some vessels have small arms.
When "a particular mission in safeguarding sovereignty", comes up government authorities will coordinate with the fishing militia, the advisor said, asking them to gather information on the activities of foreign vessels at sea.
ROW WITH INDONESIA
That coordination was evident in March, when Indonesia attempted to detain a Chinese fishing vessel for fishing near its Natuna Islands in the South China Sea. A Chinese coast guard vessel quickly intervened to prevent the Indonesian Navy from towing away the fishing boat, setting off a diplomatic row. Beijing does not claim the Natunas but said the boats were in "traditional Chinese fishing grounds".
China claims almost all of the South China Sea. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei also have conflicting claims over the islets and atolls that constitute the Spratly Archipelago and its rich fishing grounds.
State-controlled fishing companies dominate the fleets that go regularly to the Spratlys and are recipients of much of the militia training and subsidies, industry sources said.
China has by far the world's biggest fish industry, but depleted fishery resources close to China's shores have made fishing in disputed waters an economic necessity, fishermen and industry executives say.
State-owned Hainan South China Sea Modern Fishery Group Company says on its website it is "both military and commercial, both soldiers and civilians". One of its aims, the company says, is to let the "Chinese flag fly" over the Spratlys.
"Defending sovereignty is primarily the government's concern," said Ye Ning, the company's general manager, in an interview at his office in Haikou. "But of course, regular folks being able to fish in their own countries' waters should be the norm. That goes for us too."
The company provides fishermen who sail to the Spratlys with fuel, water, and ice, and then purchases fish from them when they returned, according to a written introduction to the company's work executives provided to Reuters.
'LOT MORE RISKY'
"It's gotten a lot more risky to do this with all kinds of foreign boats out there," said Huang Jing, a local fisherman in the sleepy port town of Baimajing, where a line of massive steel-hulled fishing trawlers stretches as far as the eye can see.
"But China is strong now," he said. "I trust the government to protect us."
Chen Rishen, chairman of Hainan Jianghai Group Co. Ltd, says his private but state subsidized company dispatches large fleets of steel-hulled trawlers weighing hundreds of tonnes to fish near the Spratly Islands. They usually go for months at a time, primarily for commercial reasons, he said.
"If some foreign fishing boats infringe on our territory and try to prevent us from fishing there ... Then we're put in the role of safeguarding sovereignty," he said in an interview in Haikou, the provincial capital of Hainan.
China does not use its fishing fleet to help establish sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said: “This kind of situation does not exist.”
China had taken measures to ensure the fishing fleets conduct business legally, he told a ministry press briefing last month.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Chen said his fishermen stop at Woody Island in the Paracel islands, where China recently installed surface-to-air missiles, to refuel and communicate with Chinese Coast Guard vessels.
They look forward to using similar facilities China is developing in the Spratly Islands, he said.
China has been pouring sand from the seabed onto seven reefs to create artificial islands in the Spratlys. So far, it has built one airstrip with two more under construction on them, with re-fuelling and storage facilities.
"This all points to the need for establishing agreed protocols for ensuring clear and effective communications between civilian and maritime law enforcement vessels of different countries operating in the area," said Michael Vatikiotis, Asia Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, which is helping claimant states design such confidence building measures.
A regional agreement on communications and procedures when rival navies meet at sea applies only to naval ships and other military vessels, he said.
(Additional reporting by Greg Torode in HONG KONG. Editing by Bill Tarrant)
l 2016. 05. 30 紐約時報報導中國在西沙永興島發展島礁婚紗旅遊，同時「中國日報」(英文官報)報導三沙市將成陸版馬爾地夫觀光勝地。
On May 30, 2016, International New York Times reported “Sand, surf and sun? China suggests a disputed island.”
At the same time, “China Daily” reported Sansha City will become China’s “Maldives”.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/29/world/asia/south-china-sea-tourism.html
Tropical islands in the South China Sea have become a major strategic headache between China and the United States. As tensions escalate over China’s construction of military installations on disputed islands, the United States Navy has sent extra warships to the waterway. A Chinese fighter jet recently flew so close to an American surveillance plane that there was nearly a collision.
Now, China appears to be taking a softer approach to its claims.
Want a wedding on a remote island? Come to the Paracels, says Xiao Jie, who administers that group of islands. If you crave diving and windsurfing, he adds, we have just the spot for you.
The Paracels, a cluster of islands on the western edge of the South China Sea where Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims, are perfect for tourism, water sports and romantic weddings, Mr. Xiao told China Daily, a state-run English-language newspaper, in an article published Friday.
“We will develop some islands and reefs to accommodate a select number of tourists,” Mr. Xiao said.
As mayor of Sansha City on Woody Island, the biggest of the Paracels, Mr. Xiao oversees a community of 1,500 residents complete with a school, a police station and a court. But the mayor also has jurisdiction over other islands in the Paracel chain, as well as the Spratlys.
Some tourism has already started on three tiny islands in the Paracels, Mr. Xiao said.
A five-day cruise aboard a 10,000-ton boat that stops at those tiny flecks in the sea — Yinyu Island, Quanfu Island and Yagong Island — is now popular with couples who want tropical-themed wedding photographs but cannot afford Bali or Hawaii, said Liu Shibiao, an agent at Hainan Tourism International Travel Agency in Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province.
The three islands’ beaches are more pristine than the litter-strewn, overbuilt coastline of southern China, Mr. Liu said. “On the beaches, the seawater is much cleaner than in any other places in China, and they are very romantic,” he said. “It is cheaper than Hawaii and Bali.
“It also bears a special meaning to get married here in Xisha,” he continued, using the Chinese name for the Paracels. “These are our lands.”
Under President Xi Jinping, China has been challenging America’s post-World War II dominance in the Western Pacific by fortifying islands it claims in the South China Sea with weaponry, runways and deepwater berths. Artificial islands in the Spratly chain, created by dredging massive amounts of sand onto tiny rocks, now have Chinese soldiers and construction workers bustling about.
Surface-to-air missile batteries and powerful radar facilities have been installed on Woody Island, and tourism there is more limited. Tourists must fly in and fly out on the same day.
The cruises to the Paracels serve islands that do not have military installations, Mr. Xiao said. But there is a patriotic element to the tours, which are open only to Chinese passport holders.
An online advertisement by Mr. Liu’s agency for travel to the three islands says tourists will enjoy “patriotic events” including a “national flag raising ceremony.” Tourists are required to take an oath before the Chinese flag, the advertisement says.
The cruise ship, the Star of the Gulf of Tonkin, sails from Sanya, a port in Hainan, and then stops at Yinyu Island, Quanfu Island and Yagong Island over five days. Time spent on the islands is brief because there are no hotels or restaurants, but tourists are encouraged to socialize with local fishermen. The islands do not have the capacity to handle wedding ceremonies for now, Mr. Liu said.
Passengers sleep on the ship and spend much of their time drinking and watching movies, he said.
Are there plans for cruises to the new artificial islands in the Spratlys, near the Philippines, which now have military runways and deep ports?
“Sure, we want to organize trips there. Who doesn’t?” Mr. Liu said. “But it is not our call. We need approval from the government and, more so, the military.”
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