SCS row: China for ‘people’s war at sea’

In this Monday photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a missile is launched from a Navy ship during a live ammunition drill in the East China Sea. (Photo: AP)

Raising its pitch over tensions on the disputed South China Sea, China on Tuesday called for preparations for a “people’s war at sea” to counter offshore security threats while its top court warned foreigners of criminal liability for violations of its maritime rights.

Chinese defence minister General Chang Wanquan has warned of offshore security threats and called for substantial preparation for a “people’s war at sea” to safeguard sovereignty.

Speaking during an inspection of national defence work in coastal regions of east China’s Zhejiang Province, General Chang called for recognition of the seriousness of the national security situation, especially the threat from the sea, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. General Chang said the military, police and people should prepare for mobilisation to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

His comments followed verdict of international tribunal on July 12 that struck down China’s claims over the South China Sea and raised tensions between China and Japan over the disputed islands in the East China Sea.

Two days ago while addressing a reception to celebrate 89th founding anniversary of the 2.3 million-strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China said it will “staunchly” protect the country’s maritime rights and interests and is “fully confident and capable of addressing various security threats and provocations”.

The PLA will “unswervingly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests including territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests,” General Chang had said. “It will always stand ready to be called upon and be able to fight and win,” he said. Meanwhile, Japan in an annual security assessment on Tuesday said that China risks triggering unintended conflict with Asian rivals through its aggressive stance in maritime disputes. The region’s superpower “continues to act in an assertive manner” and its actions “include dangerous acts that could cause unintended consequences”, Tokyo said in a defence white paper.

The white paper said China was “poised to fulfil its unilateral demands without compromise” including efforts “to turn these coercive changes to the status quo into a fait accompli”. And it again called on Beijing to abide by the ruling of the tribunal, which China has denounced as a fraud. Japan also expressed concern over increased activity in the East China Sea, where the two countries have competing claims to a group of small uninhabited islets called the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyus in China.

“Recently, China has been intensifying activities near the Senkaku Islands, such as its military aircraft flying southward closer to the islands,” it said. In the year to March 2016, Japan’s air force scrambled jets 571 times against Chinese planes flying near Japanese airspace, an increase of 107 from the previous year, it added.