Shangri-La Dialogue leaves China still isolated on #SouthChinaSea:
There is no rule in international law that specifically prohibits reclamation at sea. But between December 2013 and August 2015, China reclaimed 17 times more than other claimants have done in the past 40 years. And its growing network of ports, military buildings, gunnery and air bases has cast doubt on statements by President Xi Jinping (習近平) that China would not militarise reclaimed land. Nevertheless, Beijing has suggested that the trigger for the “necessary defence” of its artificial islands is continued US freedom of navigation operations and military overflight near its newly built bases in the South China Sea.
Ultimately, China’s ambiguity over its “nine-dash line” claim to the South China Sea, and its lack of clarity over its intentions for the strategic waterway, is pushing many smaller countries in and outside the region to engage in more military cooperation with the US.
(SCMP)
Indonesia sees opportunity in abandonment of Malacca Strait...
Ships from the Indian ocean could cross to the Pacific via Lombok strait and Makassar strait and the Bitung sea in the north before entering the Philippines waters.
The lane is safer for large vessels as the two straits are wider and deeper, Ramli said.
"The lane is deeper and wider that there would be less risk of sea accidents and damage to the environment from oil spill," he said.
He said in fact many large ships and tankers already chose to take the lane via Lombok strait.
"We want to encourage more ships to take the lane," he said, adding the country would benefit if more ships would pass through the strait.
...Yet Missteps on Maritime Defense
Instead of elaborating the maritime defense pillar of PMD, the DWP centers most of its attention on the “Total Defense System” (Sishanta) concept. Apart from the usual superficiality in emphasizing the ideal-normative aspect of the concept, the 2015 DWP fails to define and elaborate its maritime applicability. Indeed, the references to “maritime defense” are cosmetic and stop short of illuminating how the PMD would affect the implementation of concepts and programs associated with Sishanta, including “active defense”, “layered defense” and the future military posture under the minimum essential force (MEF) modernization plan.
Strangely, an entire chapter is devoted exclusively to the “State Defense” (bela negara) program to “instil the stance and attitudes of citizens to love the country” by creating 100 million state defense members in the next 10 years. While the previous two DWPs also made brief references to it, the 2015 DWP conceives the concept in a radically preposterous manner.
Sri Lanka: Lessons Learned from Cyclone Roanu
Reconstruction efforts in the capital, the economic hub of the country, have now begun and the government is looking at new policies to prevent current challenges from recurring. For instance, a new nationwide building code took effect on 1 June 2016 to protect drainage areas and prevent construction in areas susceptible to landslides.
While this is a good move, enforcement of earlier similar requirements was weak. Moving forward, it is imperative that relevant organizations are equipped with both resources and relevant enforcement powers to administer these laws.
Priority at this stage should be accorded to assistance in rebuilding of disaster-affected communities. Many flood-affected victims have returned to their hometowns as temporary shelters close, only to find themselves homeless as their houses are inundated by mud and floodwaters. Many of these properties have been constructed on bank loans or spending their entire savings. It is important to continue placing people at the heart of the crisis, and to empower them to rebuild their lives.
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