Chronologies
China - Southeast Asia
Chronology from Oct 2010 to Dec 2010
: The newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Li Junhua meets Chairperson of Myanmar’s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Gen. Than Shwe. Li remarks that China will uphold its longstanding policy of promoting friendly and cooperative ties and deepening economic ties with Myanmar.
: Xinhua reports the fifth meeting of a China-ASEAN joint working group on the implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea was held on Dec. 21-23 in Kunming, China.
: Philippine press reports that Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao expressed strong dissatisfaction at a forum held at the Chinese Embassy in Manila regarding the US role in the South China Sea dispute, emphasizing that involvement should only be limited to claimant countries in the region.
: Defense Minister and State Councilor Liang Guanglie meets Singaporean Chief of Navy Chew Men Leong in Beijing. They agree to continue deepening bilateral cooperation between the two navies, including more frequent port visits, officer exchanges, and escort operation in the Gulf of Aden.
: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen visits China and meets President Hu Jintao and other senior Chinese officials. The two sides agree to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation and sign a number of deals to strengthen bilateral cooperation in energy security, infrastructure development, finance, and consular affairs.
: South China Morning Post reports that Chinese and Vietnamese officials have been holding negotiations to help resolve the South China Sea disputes, but Chinese officials reportedly refuse to yield on discussions related to the Paracel Islands. So far, there have been four rounds of bilateral dialogue, all of which focus on the Spratly Island disputes.
: Chief of the General Staff of the PLA Chen Bide meets Chief of Staff of the Philippine Armed Forces Ricardo David in Beijing. They agree to contribute to regional stability through further exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries. David also meets Defense Minister Liang.
: The Chinese frigate Xiangfan arrives in Danang, Vietnam following a joint naval patrol in the Beibu Gulf. The five-day port visit is intended to help enhance mutual trust between the two navies.
: Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the PLA Ma visits Bangkok and meets Thai Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan for the 9th Defense and Security Consultation. They review bilateral military affairs and agree to increase exchanges and joint training.
: Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the PLA Ma Xiaotian meets Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tri Vinh in Hanoi for the fourth round of bilateral defense and security consultation. They agree to strengthen exchanges and coordination in regional security affairs.
: Chinese Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu and his Laotian counterpart Thongbanh Seng Aphone sign a security cooperation agreement to tackle cross-border crimes and increase patrol in the border areas between the two countries.
: Deputy Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Central Commission for Discipline Inspection He Yong meets his Vietnamese counterpart in Beijing to discuss strengthening bilateral exchanges and cooperation to tackle corruption.
: The Chinese PLA and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) hold a joint exercise in Singapore. It is the first time a PLA chemical defense regiment participates in a training exercise with the SAF and involves around 150 personnel from both sides participating in a series of seminars, planning exercises, and response drills.
: Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visits Singapore and holds talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. They agree to strengthen bilateral ties through further cooperation in counterterrorism activities, transnational crimes, maritime security, and other nontraditional security issues. They also sign a Memorandum of Understanding to further boost educational and cultural exchanges between China and Singapore.
: Wu Bangguo, chairperson of China’s NPC Standing Committee, visits Jakarta and meets Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. They agree to deepen and expand bilateral business, trade, and economic ties, and to increase agricultural cooperation.
: China’s Marine Corps holds a major naval exercise in the South China Sea. The live-fire exercises, codenamed Jiaolong 2010, include more than 1,800 troops and over 100 ships, submarines, and aircraft.
: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visits Hanoi for the 13th annual summit between China and ASEAN; the 13th summit among ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN Plus 3); and the fifth East Asia Summit.
: China and Thailand conduct a joint military exercise at Sattahip Naval Base in the Gulf of Thailand. The Washington Times reports the Blue Assault 2010 exercise is the first time Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) marines are training with foreign troops. The drill focuses on counterterrorism, involving more than 100 marines from each side.
: The China-ASEAN Expo opens in Nanning, with an emphasis on expanding regional cooperation in agriculture, trade, and investment.
: China’s Defense Minister Liang Guanglie announces that China and Vietnam will co-chair an expert working group to strengthen regional capacity to respond to non-traditional security challenges such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security, counterterrorism, and peacekeeping operations. The working group is part of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus 8.
: Chinese and Vietnamese defense ministries issue a joint communiqué announcing agreement to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, continue the exchange of visits between the two armed forces and navies, and to resolve all territorial disputes in a peaceful manner.
: Wu Bangguo, chairperson of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets Thongsing Thammavong, president of the Laotian National Assembly, in Shanghai. They agree to increase high-level contacts, expand trade and economic cooperation, and strengthen exchanges between the ruling parties.