The China confirms that a fleet of ships from the China Coast Guard (CCG) recently patrolled the country's territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands; Beijing rejects Japanese protest over Diaoyu patrol; China expels former senior official from the
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    • (JULY 29-AUGUST 11)

    According to reports, The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on August 8 that a fleet of ships from the China Coast Guard (CCG) recently patrolled the country's territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands. "The Diaoyu Island and their affiliated islets are an integral part of Chinese territory and have been since ancient times," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, adding that the patrols are designed to exercise China's inherent sovereignty. 1 However, Japan protested against the patrolling of the waters by the Chinese ships. Japan said three Chinese coast guard vessels entered the waters on August 7 morning and another joined them in the evening. However Beijing rejected these protests from Tokyo. 2
    In another development, according to reports, The former vice-minister of the National Development and Reform Commission has been expelled from the Party and handed over to judicial authorities for further investigation, the Party's graft-fighting watchdog announced on August 8. Liu Tienan, who was also former head of the National Energy Administration, was found to be taking advantage of his post to seek gains, and accepting bribes, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China. 3
    Reports noted that Vietnamese General Secretary of the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in hanoi on August 5. Nguyen said Vietnam and China are both socialist countries and also friendly neighbors, and the two have brotherly and comradely traditional friendship. Fostering the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China is a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy, he added. 4
    Reports noted that the China-Russia joint drill, code-named Peace Mission-2013, enters the phase of battle planning August 3 as China's last troops arrived at the designated area. Peace Mission-2013, which takes place in Chelyabinsk in Russia's Ural Mountainous region from July 27 to August 15, has three phases -- troop deployment, battle planning and simulated combat. 5
    Reports noted that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on August 2 called on ASEAN countries to join hands with China to further deepen and enrich their cooperation following 10 years of strategic partnership. He made the remark at the opening ceremony of the High-Level Forum on the 10th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership held in Bangkok. Relations with ASEAN have always topped China's diplomatic agenda and the relationship now stands at a key stage of building on past achievement to make new progress, he said. 6
    According to reports, China "strongly" opposes a US Senate resolution on disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on August 1. Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the resolution places blame on the Chinese side without regard for history and fact, "sending the wrong message." The US Senate approved the resolution on August 1, "reaffirming the strong support of the United States for the peaceful resolution of territorial, sovereignty and jurisdictional disputes in the Asia-Pacific maritime domains." The resolution puts pressure on China in regards to territorial disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea. 7
    In other developments, according to reports, China's top political advisor, Yu Zhengsheng, met with Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore on July 31. Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), hailed the political mutual trust and extensive cooperation between the two countries. The two sides should further advance the bilateral relationship featuring equality, reciprocity and mutual complementarity to enrich and deepen their strategic partnership in a sustained way, Yu said. 8
    Reports noted that the Foreign Ministry said on July 30 that Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki visited China from July 29 to 30. The ministry said in an online statement that during Akitaka Saiki's China visit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a short meeting with Japanese vice foreign minister and Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin exchanged views with his Japanese counterpart. The two sides exchanged views candidly and the Chinese side clarified its position on problems facing bilateral relations, the statement said. 9
    Reports noted that China and Britain share the desire to advance military ties and build mutual trust, high-ranking officials from both countries said in London on July 29. The officials made the remarks at a grand reception held by the Chinese embassy to mark the upcoming 86th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). 10

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