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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| South China Sea dispute: Beijing places missile launchers on island – live | South China Sea dispute: Beijing places missile launchers on island – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.24am GMT | |
| 04:24 | |
| Taiwan and China are the first to begin trading strong language over the incident. In a statement provided to media, Taipei said its military was “closely monitoring further development of the situation”. | |
| “Regarding China’s military deployment in the region, the Taiwanese Defense calls on cooperation from all parties to safeguard the South China Sea’s peace and stability, and avoid any unilateral action that will escalate tension,” the statement continued. | |
| The Chinese government responded, maintaining that its actions were peaceful and actually for the benefit of the international community. | |
| “We’ve repeatedly stated our stance; the constructions on relevant islands by China are mainly to provide more public service to the international community as well as to facilitate rescue, fishery and medical operations,” foreign ministry spokesman Honglei said in a scheduled press conference. | |
| “The relevant facilities will be used by the international community when needed. At the same time, we want to emphasize that the installation of military facilities is for self-defense, a right that China has in accordance with international law. It will not affect the freedom of navigation and overflight that all other countries are entitled to under international law.” | |
| 4.12am GMT | |
| 04:12 | |
| Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, is right now meeting with Wang Yi, her Chinese counterpart. | |
| Bishop had earlier said she intended to raise the South China Sea dispute with Wang Yi. The idea drew a sharp rebuke from China’s foreign ministry telling Australia to essentially stay out of it, and that was before the news of the missile deployment broke. | |
| To be a fly on the wall right now... | |
| @JulieBishopMP meets with China's Wang Yi as reports emerge that China deployed missiles in #SouthChinaSea @abcnews pic.twitter.com/CX2zzrkMNS | |
| 4.02am GMT | |
| 04:02 | |
| The official joint statement from government leaders after the weekend’s US and Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) summit did not specifically mention the South China Sea dispute, but instead made several references to non-militarisation of maritime regions. | |
| However in a post-summit news conference US president Barack Obama said the leaders had discussed “the need for tangible steps in the South China Sea to lower tensions including a halt to further reclamation, new construction and militarisation of disputed areas”. | |
| The relevant sections of the joint statement are below: | |
| 7. Shared commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); | |
| 8. Shared commitment to maintain peace, security and stability in the region, ensuring maritime security and safety, including the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas, and unimpeded lawful maritime commerce as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of activities; | |
| At ASEAN-US Summit in Sunnylands, the Leaders reaffirmed key principles for cooperation. https://t.co/5HuCQq71VT pic.twitter.com/GxHLaPdnhw | |
| 3.35am GMT | 3.35am GMT |
| 03:35 | 03:35 |
| A spokesperson for the US state department, Pooja Jhunjhunwala, told the Guardian they were watching matters “very closely” but could not comment on matters related to intelligence. | A spokesperson for the US state department, Pooja Jhunjhunwala, told the Guardian they were watching matters “very closely” but could not comment on matters related to intelligence. |
| “The United Sates continues to call on all claimants to halt land reclamation, construction, and militarization of features in the South China Sea,” said Jhunjhunwala. | “The United Sates continues to call on all claimants to halt land reclamation, construction, and militarization of features in the South China Sea,” said Jhunjhunwala. |
| 3.31am GMT | 3.31am GMT |
| 03:31 | 03:31 |
| It wouldn’t be the first time China had sent weapons to the Paracels, according to Mira Rapp-Hooper, a South China Sea expert from US national security think tank, the Center for a New American Security. | It wouldn’t be the first time China had sent weapons to the Paracels, according to Mira Rapp-Hooper, a South China Sea expert from US national security think tank, the Center for a New American Security. |
| The islands have been under Chinese control since 1974, but surface to air missiles are “a considerable development,” Rapp-Hooper told Reuters. | The islands have been under Chinese control since 1974, but surface to air missiles are “a considerable development,” Rapp-Hooper told Reuters. |
| “If they have been deployed they are probably China’s effort to signal a response to freedom-of navigation operations, but I don’t think it is a totally unprecedented deployment,” she said. | “If they have been deployed they are probably China’s effort to signal a response to freedom-of navigation operations, but I don’t think it is a totally unprecedented deployment,” she said. |
| Ni Lexiong, a naval expert at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law said Woody Island belonged to China, and the deployment of missiles on Chinese territory was “completely within the scope of our sovereign rights”. | Ni Lexiong, a naval expert at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law said Woody Island belonged to China, and the deployment of missiles on Chinese territory was “completely within the scope of our sovereign rights”. |
| “We have sovereignty there, so we can choose whether to militarize it.” | “We have sovereignty there, so we can choose whether to militarize it.” |
| 3.21am GMT | 3.21am GMT |
| 03:21 | 03:21 |
| In China, so far there appears to be no mention of the missile deployment in the state media. However there are some translations of the Fox story on Weibo. | In China, so far there appears to be no mention of the missile deployment in the state media. However there are some translations of the Fox story on Weibo. |
| We are trying to reach the Taiwan Ministry of Defense to see if they will say anything more than they have on confirming the missile deployment. | We are trying to reach the Taiwan Ministry of Defense to see if they will say anything more than they have on confirming the missile deployment. |
| 3.15am GMT | 3.15am GMT |
| 03:15 | 03:15 |
| Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, yesterday indicated she would raise the dispute with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi in an upcoming annual dialogue co-chaired by the two foreign ministers. | Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, yesterday indicated she would raise the dispute with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi in an upcoming annual dialogue co-chaired by the two foreign ministers. |
| You can read a full report in it here from my colleague Daniel Hurst in Canberra, but below are Bishop’s comments as well as the reaction from a spokesman for Wang Yi. | You can read a full report in it here from my colleague Daniel Hurst in Canberra, but below are Bishop’s comments as well as the reaction from a spokesman for Wang Yi. |
| Bishop: | Bishop: |
| “I note that President Xi [Jinping] said in Washington that China did not intend to militarise the islands and therefore I will be seeking further details from China as to what it proposes to do with the reclamation and construction work that it has undertaken.” | “I note that President Xi [Jinping] said in Washington that China did not intend to militarise the islands and therefore I will be seeking further details from China as to what it proposes to do with the reclamation and construction work that it has undertaken.” |
| China has said in the past that these would be ‘public goods’. Well, I wish to know how other countries can access these ‘public goods’.” | China has said in the past that these would be ‘public goods’. Well, I wish to know how other countries can access these ‘public goods’.” |
| China’s foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, said Australia “should not selectively evade” the facts, which included that the Philippines had launched its “unilateral” arbitration case contrary to international law and the previous consensus between the countries. | China’s foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, said Australia “should not selectively evade” the facts, which included that the Philippines had launched its “unilateral” arbitration case contrary to international law and the previous consensus between the countries. |
| “The Australian side should adopt an objective and unbiased attitude and refrain from doing anything that undermines regional peace and stability.” | “The Australian side should adopt an objective and unbiased attitude and refrain from doing anything that undermines regional peace and stability.” |
| 3.13am GMT | 3.13am GMT |
| 03:13 | 03:13 |
| The Guardian has been told the following by a US state department official: | The Guardian has been told the following by a US state department official: |
| The United States continues to call on all claimants to halt land reclamation, construction, and militarisation of features in the South China Sea. | The United States continues to call on all claimants to halt land reclamation, construction, and militarisation of features in the South China Sea. |
| Our position has not changed. We remain committed to preserving and strengthening a principled regional order that upholds international law, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. | Our position has not changed. We remain committed to preserving and strengthening a principled regional order that upholds international law, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. |
| As part of the rebalance, we are executing a multifaceted strategy to uphold the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific.” | As part of the rebalance, we are executing a multifaceted strategy to uphold the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific.” |
| 3.00am GMT | 3.00am GMT |
| 03:00 | 03:00 |
| Taiwan defence ministry spokesman Major General David Lo has confirmed the deployment, and said the ministry will “closely watch subsequent developments”. | Taiwan defence ministry spokesman Major General David Lo has confirmed the deployment, and said the ministry will “closely watch subsequent developments”. |
| “Interested parties should work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region and refrain from taking any unilateral measures that would increase tensions,” he told Reuters. | “Interested parties should work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region and refrain from taking any unilateral measures that would increase tensions,” he told Reuters. |
| 2.56am GMT | 2.56am GMT |
| 02:56 | 02:56 |
| Stuart Leavenworth, in Beijing for the Guardian, is seeking comment from the Chinese foreign ministry. He reports that as recently as yesterday ministry spokesman Hong Lei defended China’s right to build defence facilities. | Stuart Leavenworth, in Beijing for the Guardian, is seeking comment from the Chinese foreign ministry. He reports that as recently as yesterday ministry spokesman Hong Lei defended China’s right to build defence facilities. |
| “Deploying necessary national defence facilities on its own territory is China’s exercise of self-preservation and defence, a right granted by international law to sovereign states,” Hong Lei said at the Tuesday press conference. | “Deploying necessary national defence facilities on its own territory is China’s exercise of self-preservation and defence, a right granted by international law to sovereign states,” Hong Lei said at the Tuesday press conference. |
| “It does not impede freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea that all countries are entitled to under international law.” | “It does not impede freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea that all countries are entitled to under international law.” |
| 2.49am GMT | 2.49am GMT |
| 02:49 | 02:49 |
| We are seeking comment from everyone involved and will bring you news as we get it, but in the meantime here is an explainer on exactly what the issues are in the South China Sea. | We are seeking comment from everyone involved and will bring you news as we get it, but in the meantime here is an explainer on exactly what the issues are in the South China Sea. |
| Four countries currently lay claim to the region, and the US is increasingly involved in escalating tensions. | Four countries currently lay claim to the region, and the US is increasingly involved in escalating tensions. |
| The explainer, from Julian Borger and Tom Phillips also outlines the evidence of China’s efforts to artificially increase land mass including extending coastlines and building on top of reefs. | The explainer, from Julian Borger and Tom Phillips also outlines the evidence of China’s efforts to artificially increase land mass including extending coastlines and building on top of reefs. |
| Related: How China's artificial islands led to tension in the South China Sea | Related: How China's artificial islands led to tension in the South China Sea |
| 2.37am GMT | 2.37am GMT |
| 02:37 | 02:37 |
| China has placed surface-to-air missiles on one of the disputed islands in the South China Sea, according to multiple reports. The two batteries of eight missiles as well as radar equipment were installed on Woody Island some time in the last week. | China has placed surface-to-air missiles on one of the disputed islands in the South China Sea, according to multiple reports. The two batteries of eight missiles as well as radar equipment were installed on Woody Island some time in the last week. |
| The region is subject to competing claims from China, Vietnam and Taiwan. The US has raised objections to any “militarisation” of the islands. | The region is subject to competing claims from China, Vietnam and Taiwan. The US has raised objections to any “militarisation” of the islands. |
| A spokesman for the US Department of Defence told the Guardian he could not comment on matters related to intelligence, but that they were watching the situation closely. | A spokesman for the US Department of Defence told the Guardian he could not comment on matters related to intelligence, but that they were watching the situation closely. |
| “The United Sates continues to call on all claimants to halt land reclamation, construction, and militarisation of features in the South China Sea,” he said. | “The United Sates continues to call on all claimants to halt land reclamation, construction, and militarisation of features in the South China Sea,” he said. |
| After a US naval Destroyer sailed close to Paracel island last month, China accused the US of being “the biggest cause of militarisation in the South China Sea.” | After a US naval Destroyer sailed close to Paracel island last month, China accused the US of being “the biggest cause of militarisation in the South China Sea.” |
| We’ll be bringing you updates throughout the day as information comes to hand, as well as international reaction. Stay tuned. | We’ll be bringing you updates throughout the day as information comes to hand, as well as international reaction. Stay tuned. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.41am GMT | at 2.41am GMT |