Friday, September 14, 2012

China Being The Bully Once Again: South China Sea

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2012/s3590728.htm

China inflames tensions over disputed islands

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Broadcast: 14/09/2012
Reporter: Emma Alberici
Six Chinese surveillance ships have entered waters near disputed islands claimed by both Japan and China, bringing tensions between the two countries to a new high.

Transcript

EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: Six Chinese surveillance ships have entered waters near disputed islands claimed by both Japan and China, bringing tensions between the two countries to a new high.

Tokyo dubbed the move as unprecedented after it nationalised the islands last week, but China hit back, saying the boats were patrolling its sovereign territory.

The islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, are near massive gas and oil reserves. Analysts say this dispute is also part of a bigger strategic battle.

MICHAEL WESLEY, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY: This is the beginning of a long campaign to exclude the US Navy and navys of its allies from the Western Pacific and establish a bubble - a security bubble around China’s coast.

EMMA ALBERICI: This incident follows a similar dispute between China and the Philippines over the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea

China to conduct routine Diaoyu Islands patrols

Updated: 2012-09-13 21:43

(Xinhua)


BEIJING - China will conduct routine patrols near the Diaoyu Islands to assert the country's sovereignty and protect fishermen, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture said on Thursday.
The Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets have been China's inherent territory since ancient times, and their surrounding waters are China's traditional fishing grounds, according to the ministry.
Data showed that over 1,000 Chinese fishing boats enter the waters of the Diaoyu Islands each year, with their total catch exceeding 150,000 tonnes.
However, increasing harassment from Japanese ships in recent years has severely affected China's fishing activities, triggering widespread protest and condemnation of Japan.
In order to safeguard the interests of China's oceanic fishing industry and ensure safety for Chinese fishermen, the ministry has asked fishery authorities in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces to include areas surrounding the Diaoyu Islands in their regular patrol scopes, the official said.

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