China-Asean Relations July 2016 to September 2016: Chronology of Events

As a research institute based in Singapore, the EAI monitors developments in relations and interactions between China and the individual countries of Southeast Asia as well as the ASEAN grouping as a whole. This material is presented in the form of (1) a chronology of events, and (2) important documents.

—the Editors

JULY 2016

5th–6th	Qingdao city holds the Civil Society 20 China 2016 (C20) where an engagement group of the G20 Summit exchange views among the non-government organisations, international and regional institutions on the theme of “Poverty Eradication, Green Development and Innovation: Role of Civil Society”. Top leaders of China express their close attention to the voice of civil society organisations (CSOs). Chinese President Xi Jinping sends a message of congratulations to the C20. State Councillor Yang Jiechi graces the event. ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for Socio-Cultural Community Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee delivers the keynote speech and states that the establishment of the ASEAN Community will enable CSOs to play an increasingly critical role to support the realisation of the ASEAN Vision 2025 and contribute to the achievement of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development.
12th	The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague delivers a rebuke of China’s behaviour in the South China Sea, including its construction of artificial islands, and stipulates that China’s expansive claim to sovereignty over the waters has no legal basis. China did not participate in and has refused to accept the ruling, for which US ally, the Philippines, won an emphatic legal victory. In a meeting in the Laos capital of Vientiane, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi asked US Secretary of State John Kerry to lend his support for bilateral talks to restart between Manila and Beijing. High-level representatives from ASEAN and China attend the Second High-level Forum on China–ASEAN Production Capacity, held in Jakarta, to enhance cooperation in production capacity between ASEAN and China. The forum provides a venue for ASEAN and China to explore further cooperation in production capacity in priority areas such as electric power, automobiles, chemical industry, metallurgy, building materials, light textiles, information communications, engineering, machinery, rail transportation, equipment manufacturing and agriculture. This event is part of a series of commemorative activities held in ASEAN and China in 2016 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN– China Dialogue Relations.
28th	Border guard command of Vietnam’s northern Ha Giang province and border police detachment in China’s south-west Yunnan province’s Wenshan hold a joint anti-terror exercise. The Thien Thanh 2016 (Tianqiang 2016) drill, with participation of representatives from Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence, Command of Border Guard, Ha Giang People’s Committee, takes place at Thanh Thuy International Border Gate in the China-bordering Ha Giang province, some 220 kilometres north of Hanoi. The drill is a manifestation of mutual trust between Chinese and Vietnamese armed forces. This has laid the foundation for relevant authorities to build a legal framework on law enforcement cooperation between border forces in response to emergency situations and coordination in dealing with cross-border cases.

AUGUST 2016

2nd	Cambodian Public Works and Transport Minister Sun Chanthol requests for financial support from China to build a new airport, new railroads and an expressway at a bilateral meeting with visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng. Chanthol suggests that China provide a concessional loan to the China Road and Bridge Cooperation for the expressway construction from Phnom Penh to the seaport in Preah Sihanouk province. Gao responds positively to these proposals. Both parties agree to strengthen China–Cambodia strategic matchmaking of “Belt and Road”, and strengthen cooperation in infrastructure construction like transportation and tourism.
11th	Chairman of the China Road and Bridge Corporation Wen Gang meets with the Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh about the proposed Chinese-built highway linking Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. Hun Sen urges the Chinese firm to work closely with state organisations and relevant ministries to implement these projects soon.
16th	The 13th ASEAN–China Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the...