CHINA LED AND FINANCED EXPEDITION WILL EXPLORE THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FOR OIL AND GAS WITH AN AMERICAN DRILL SHIP, AN INTERNATIONAL ASSORTMENT OF SCIENTISTS, AND ACTUAL PERMISSION OF THE ADJACENT COASTAL STATES IN CONTESTED AREAS.
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| M/V JOIDES RESOLUTION Photo by William Crawford, IODP/TAMU |
This in from the South China Morning Post. In an article by Andrea Chen we learn that China has financed a scientific expedition into the South China Sea that will drill core samples including in areas of disputed control. China claims to have actual permission from the adjacent coastal states including the ones that China is in dispute with for the voyage and the drilling. The drilling vessel is owned by non profit American interests, the on board scientists represent about 10 nations, one is from Taiwan. Today we carry one story of Chinese naval craft literally invading Malaysian EEZ waters and firing weapons in a ceremony designed to offend, and the very next morning we are reading a story of a Chinese financed expedition that will enter pretty much the same area with permission to drill. Of course the story comes from a Chinese source but we know the M/V JOIDES RESOLUTION is an American scientific drill ship and that it was in Hong Kong over the week end. Supposedly it leaves tomorrow for a 62 day expedition into the troubled waters of the South China Sea. Supposedly there will even be Philippine observers on board. And yes we can confirm the ship's American origin.
HERE IS A LEAD IN TO THE STORY AND A LINK SO THAT YOU MAY READ THE ENTIRE STORY YOURSELF:
"The first scientific ocean drilling expedition led and sponsored by China sails from Hong Kong tomorrow into the South China Sea - the subject of territorial disputes between Beijing and neighbouring countries. Thirty-one geologists will drill at three sites for sediment and rock cores during the 62-day international expedition aboard the American scientific drill ship Joides Resolution.
HERE IS A LEAD IN TO THE STORY AND A LINK SO THAT YOU MAY READ THE ENTIRE STORY YOURSELF:
"The first scientific ocean drilling expedition led and sponsored by China sails from Hong Kong tomorrow into the South China Sea - the subject of territorial disputes between Beijing and neighbouring countries. Thirty-one geologists will drill at three sites for sediment and rock cores during the 62-day international expedition aboard the American scientific drill ship Joides Resolution.
Scientists said the samples would reveal the tectonic evolution of the South China Sea, and pave the way to map oil and natural gas fields." .....
"Proposed by Chinese scientists in 2008, the trip marks the first sailing of the 2013-2023 International Ocean Discovery Programme (IODP), an international scientific research effort established by the United States in the 1960s."
To read the entire story click here: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1414557/chinese-led-international-mission-explore-south-china-sea-oil
OUR ANALYSIS:
Previously we carried news of China's internal debate on how to approach its demand for sovereignty over the entire South and East China seas right to the beach line of its neighbors. We observed that there are only two schools of thought on the issue of the China Seas and neither one allows anyone else to have an EEZ or for international waters to exist. As we summarized:
" In their own words here are the extremes of the internal Chinese Communist Party debate: (1) "sovereignty remains ours; shelve disputes; pursue joint development.” and the "opposing argument" (2) "sovereignty of course is ours; maintain the dispute stage; seize the initiative to pursue development; strengthen crisis management and control”.
We think both of the recent events covered by us this week end are clearly part of policy position number 2 above. The invasion and show of force off of Malaysia clearly indicate the actions of a nation that has convinced itself that it is sovereign over the area invaded, the action "maintains the dispute stage" while the follow up international scientific expedition seizes the initiative to pursue development. Not only that but, the Dragon will be able to use some of the scientific data to try and support its arguments for vast extensions of its EEZ seaward of the normal EEZ limits based on extension of the continental shelf arguments. Three widely spaced bore holes will not define the geological history of the entire basin. But Communist led China, is the master of the "big lie". The Dragon is free to cite highly selective data and exaggerate the meaning and harp on the fact that it came from an international expedition with scientists and observers aboard from the very nations whose maritime patrimony the Dragon intends to steal. Meanwhile announcement of the international scientific expedition seems to put the velvet glove back on the mailed fist. China hopes the expedition will have a dampening effect on its neighbors naval rearmament. Free people hate war and long for peace and normalcy. Free people are far too willing to hope where there is none. Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Brueni, Vietnam, et al. This Dragon fully intends to eat you at its earliest convince.
" In their own words here are the extremes of the internal Chinese Communist Party debate: (1) "sovereignty remains ours; shelve disputes; pursue joint development.” and the "opposing argument" (2) "sovereignty of course is ours; maintain the dispute stage; seize the initiative to pursue development; strengthen crisis management and control”.
We think both of the recent events covered by us this week end are clearly part of policy position number 2 above. The invasion and show of force off of Malaysia clearly indicate the actions of a nation that has convinced itself that it is sovereign over the area invaded, the action "maintains the dispute stage" while the follow up international scientific expedition seizes the initiative to pursue development. Not only that but, the Dragon will be able to use some of the scientific data to try and support its arguments for vast extensions of its EEZ seaward of the normal EEZ limits based on extension of the continental shelf arguments. Three widely spaced bore holes will not define the geological history of the entire basin. But Communist led China, is the master of the "big lie". The Dragon is free to cite highly selective data and exaggerate the meaning and harp on the fact that it came from an international expedition with scientists and observers aboard from the very nations whose maritime patrimony the Dragon intends to steal. Meanwhile announcement of the international scientific expedition seems to put the velvet glove back on the mailed fist. China hopes the expedition will have a dampening effect on its neighbors naval rearmament. Free people hate war and long for peace and normalcy. Free people are far too willing to hope where there is none. Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Brueni, Vietnam, et al. This Dragon fully intends to eat you at its earliest convince.
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