Shangri-La Dialogue: China hits back at South China Sea comments by Philippines’ defence chief

Key Concepts:

• South China Sea territorial disputes
• China-Philippines relations
• US-China strategic competition
• Nine/Ten/Eleven-Dash Line
• ASEAN sovereignty
• Proxy war concerns
• Shangri-La Dialogue

1. China's Response to Philippine Defense Secretary's Comments:

• The Chinese embassy in Singapore reiterated that China has a "full historical and legal basis" to uphold its territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea.
• China claims it has been exercising a "high degree of restraint" in the disputed waterway.
• This response was triggered by comments made by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

2. Philippine Position on the West Philippine Sea:

• Secretary Teodoro stated that the Philippine position on the West Philippine Sea is not solely a function of the US-China strategic rivalry.
• He attributed the issue to the "overreach of the Chinese Communist Party," specifically citing the "9, 10, or 11-dash line" which he claims has "absolutely no basis in international law."
• Manila has accused Beijing of "aggressive behavior" and building "artificial islands" in the disputed waters.

3. China's Concerns:

• China is angered by joint military drills between the US and the Philippines.
• China is also concerned about the deployment of American military systems in the Philippines.

4. Exchange Between Delegates:

• A delegate questioned why the Philippines couldn't manage its differences with China like Vietnam and Malaysia.
• Secretary Teodoro responded by emphasizing that the Philippines, like other ASEAN members, is a "sovereign country" with its own "territorial integrity and sovereignty."
• He implied that other ASEAN countries would react differently if subjected to the same actions China is taking against the Philippines.

5. Chinese Delegation's Reaction:

• The Chinese delegation told CNA that it was "unsatisfied" with Secretary Teodoro's reply.

6. Absence of Chinese Defense Minister and Shift in Delegation Structure:

• China's Defense Minister Dong Jun was absent from this year's Shangri-La Dialogue.
• The Chinese delegation was led by Vice President Rear Admiral Hu Gangfong of the military's National Defense University, a lower-level representation compared to previous years.
• Unlike previous years, there was no plenary session helmed by the Chinese defense minister.
• The head of the Chinese delegation spoke at a smaller session on maritime security.

7. Changes in Chinese Press Engagement:

• There was a lack of press briefings by the Chinese delegation compared to the previous year.
• In the past, China had used these briefings to rebut criticism and lay out its position on security issues.
• The Chinese delegation stated that this was a "normal working arrangement" and would not affect its ability to express its views on security issues.

8. Singapore's Perspective:

• Singapore's Defense Minister Chan Singh stated that it was "incumbent on other countries to reach out to China to build bridges" to avoid misinterpreting each other's positions.

9. Proxy War Concerns:

• The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Russian Ukraine war is a proxy war between nuclear powers and needs to be ended.
• The delegate questioned whether a proxy war in Asia might be launched, given the US is selling more arms to this region and setting up more military bases in the Philippines.

10. Key Concepts Explained:

• Nine/Ten/Eleven-Dash Line: A demarcation line used by China to claim the majority of the South China Sea, which is contested by other countries in the region.
• ASEAN: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a political and economic organization of ten Southeast Asian countries.
• Shangri-La Dialogue: An annual security forum held in Singapore, attended by defense ministers and other high-ranking officials from around the world.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The Shangri-La Dialogue highlighted the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, particularly between China and the Philippines. The Philippine Defense Secretary directly challenged China's claims and actions, leading to a heated exchange. The absence of the Chinese Defense Minister and changes in the delegation's press engagement suggest a shift in China's approach to the dialogue. Concerns about the potential for a proxy war in Asia were also raised. Singapore's call for countries to build bridges with China underscores the need for dialogue and de-escalation in the region.