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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)
5.34am GMT
05:34
The foreign ministers have spoken on the Philippines arbitration hearing. Bishop said the Philippines was simply seeking a clarification of international law, “not a determination on the merits of respective maritime claims” she said.
Wang countered that China was following the law by not accepting arbitration with the Philippines because China had issued a declaration excluding it from compulsory settlement measures in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“Let me also point out china is not the only country to issue such declarations” citing “30 to 40” other countries, including Australia.
He said the Philippines pursuit was illegitimate, and the arbitration sought was not consistent with international practice because it did not ask for china’s consent or consult with them, he said.
He questioned if there was a hidden political agenda.
5.33am GMT
05:33
Wang Yi: "Non-militarisation is certainly in the interest of all parties but non-militarisation should not be just about one single country"
5.25am GMT
05:25
Australian minister Bishop welcomed Wang’s statement that China did not intend to militarise the islands.
She said the pair had “a forthright and candid discussion” about recent events in the South China Sea, and that their public and private position is consistent. “We do not take sides on competing claims in the South China Sea,” she said.
“We urge restraint and we urge that all parties settle their differences peacefully.”
5.23am GMT
05:23
Minister Wang also noted meteorological facilities and facilities for shelter and rescue built by China in the South China Sea. He said they were all actions undertaken by China “for the public good” of the international community.
“As for the limited and necessary self defence facilities China has built on islands and reefs stationed by Chinese personnel, that is consistent with the self defence and self preservation China is entitled to under international law.”
5.20am GMT
05:20
Missile reports "created by certain Western media" suggests Wang Yi
The ministerial statements have been delivered and questions from the floor have begun.
Minister Wang and Bishop have been asked by an ABC journalist about the missile deployment reports.
Wang said he was only told of the reports several minutes ago and suggested it was an attempt by “certain western media to create news stories.”
“I also hope the media everywhere… will turn your attention more to the lighthouse we have built on some of the islands... which are in operation now and have been very useful in assuring the safety of passing ships.”
5.13am GMT
05:13
Julie Bishop says she and Wang Yi discussed regional security issues including North Korea and South China Sea. “We had a candid exchange of views on these issues. China and Australia share a common interest in the maintenance of peace and security in our region.”
5.11am GMT
05:11
The press conference between Julie Bishop and Wang Yi is still going - it’s still largely about the strong relationship between the two nations.
In the meantime, in Vietnam - another country which claims sovereignty of Woody Island - the news of the Chinese missile move is being covered on news sites but mostly through aggregations of news from US sources.
But one editor at a state-owned newspaper told the Guardian that everyone’s awaiting the Foreign Ministry’s announcement, which is expected at the end of the day.
The editor, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “There is some cause for concern. These missiles supposedly have a range of 200 kilometers and that means they could hit Vietnamese Air Force jets just as they’re taking off.”
4.55am GMT4.55am GMT
04:5504:55
China’s foreign minister Wang Yi is currently addressing media after meeting with Australia’s Julie Bishop.China’s foreign minister Wang Yi is currently addressing media after meeting with Australia’s Julie Bishop.
So far it’s been mainly about the business and trade relationship between the two nations, with no mention of the South China Sea or missiles.So far it’s been mainly about the business and trade relationship between the two nations, with no mention of the South China Sea or missiles.
4.53am GMT4.53am GMT
04:5304:53
Vietnam is yet to speak publicly on the news of the missile deployment, but premier Nguyen Tan Dung on Monday called for the US to play a larger role in de-militarisation of the South China Sea and have a “stronger voice”, Reuters reported.Vietnam is yet to speak publicly on the news of the missile deployment, but premier Nguyen Tan Dung on Monday called for the US to play a larger role in de-militarisation of the South China Sea and have a “stronger voice”, Reuters reported.
“Prime Minister Dung suggested the United States has a stronger voice and more practical and more efficient actions requesting termination of all activities changing the status quo,” the government said.“Prime Minister Dung suggested the United States has a stronger voice and more practical and more efficient actions requesting termination of all activities changing the status quo,” the government said.
The premier made the comments during the Asean summit in California.The premier made the comments during the Asean summit in California.
4.24am GMT4.24am GMT
04:2404:24
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”.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.“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.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.“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.”“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 GMT4.12am GMT
04:1204:12
Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, is right now meeting with Wang Yi, her Chinese counterpart.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.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...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@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
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.
“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
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.
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.
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.”
3.21am GMT
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.
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
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.
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:
“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’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.”
3.13am GMT
03:13
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.
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.”
3.00am GMT
03:00
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.
2.56am GMT
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.
“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.”
2.49am GMT
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.
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.
Related: How China's artificial islands led to tension in the South China Sea
2.37am GMT
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.
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.
“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.”
We’ll be bringing you updates throughout the day as information comes to hand, as well as international reaction. Stay tuned.
Updated
at 2.41am GMT