South China Sea Brief: October 25, 2021

In another development, a Chinese drilling rig of China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL) is being towed to the Natuna Sea.

1. China's survey vessels

After visiting Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands for about two days, China's survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 10 left the feature on October 24. The ship is sailing back to Guangzhou, according to ship-tracking data.

That means its operation in Indonesian waters has finally come to an end. But China Coast Guard 6305 still lingers near the Clyde Boudreaux drilling rig. The appraisal drilling is scheduled to finish at the end of October.

Indonesian officials appear to have kept their responses to the incursion low-profile when trying to solve the crisis through diplomatic channels. So I expect that they can finally give some public comments after the episode ends.

In another development, a Chinese drilling rig of China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL) is being towed to the Natuna Sea.

But it is not an incursion this time. The semi-submersible drilling rig Deepblue Explorer (Shen Lan Tan Suo) is chartered by Medco Energi for a drilling campaign in Natuna Sea Block B, according to a deal signed in June.

Is it strange? I don’t know.

2. Military movements

USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier has entered the South China Sea again after Malabar Exercise and Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) 2021 in the Bay of Bengal.

SOUTH CHINA SEA - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Izumo-class helicopter destroyer JS Kaga (DDH 184) and U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 are conducting bilateral operations in the South China Sea for the first time since Vinson Carrier Strike Group (VINCSG) deployed this summer.

While in the South China Sea, Japan and U.S. Navy units are conducting maritime security operations, to include flight operations, coordinated tactical training between surface and air units, refueling-at-sea evolutions, and maritime strike exercises.

There have been a lot of joint exercises between Japan and the U.S in the South China Sea in recent days.

October 19 to 23, JS AKIZUKI, which is on its way back to Japan after completing intelligence-gathering activities in the Middle East, conducted joint training with USS Milius in the South China Sea.

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October 19 to 24, IPD21 unit JS SHIRANUI conducted joint training with USS Higgins in the South China Sea.

Pictures released by JMSDF also show that the four warships conducted a PHOTO EX together.

3. Others

There and back again: Chinese militia at Iroquois reef and Union Banks - AMTI

An examination of satellite imagery reveals that Chinese militia vessels began gathering at Iroquois in April, just after the dispersal of the nearly 200 vessels that had been gathered at Whitsun Reef within the Union Banks earlier in 2021. Recent imagery shows that the number of ships at Iroquois has fallen since the Philippine protest, but it also suggests that many of those vessels likely headed back to Union Banks, where numbers are now reaching the levels seen in March. This is evidence of the Chinese militia’s shell game in the Spratly Islands. When international outcry or patrols by other claimants convince them to leave a disputed feature, they disperse to nearby reefs for a time. But their overall numbers in the Spratlys remain consistent.

Chinese radio challenges in West Philippine Sea ease up - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — China’s radio challenges in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) appear to have stopped or have at least eased up following last week’s filing of another diplomatic protest by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) questioning the same.

Vice Admiral Ramil Roberto Enriquez, commander of the military’s Western Command (WesCom) and the Area Task Force West, said Philippine patrols will continue in the area to assert the country’s rights over its territorial waters.

Enriquez said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other government agencies will also continue to monitor the situation.

Vietnam land-filling on disputed reef in Spratlys, imagery shows - RFA

China’s largest, most advanced civilian patrol boat ‘could be used to support South China Sea claims’ - SCMP

China strengthens land border protection with new law - Reuters

Chinese legislators adjust national defense mobilization laws amid tense China-US ties - Global Times