Chronologies
China - Southeast Asia
Chronology from May 2024 to Dec 2024
: The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, an ethnic minority army that is part of formidable rebel alliance fighting Myanmar’s junta, announces that it is ready to engage in a ceasefire and dialogue, acknowledging China’s help and mediation efforts.
: A China Coast Guard fleet heads to the Gulf of Tonkin to carry out a joint patrol with its Vietnamese counterpart. This marks the 28th joint patrol since 2006 between the two countries. The drills focus on maritime cooperation, including combating smuggling of illicit goods at sea and regulation of fishery operations.
: Reuters reports that Chinese funding for the $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal project in Cambodia that would connect the Mekong River to the Gulf of Thailand and reduce Cambodia’s shipping reliance on neighboring Vietnam is in doubt after Beijing expresses concerns and misgivings about the project’s feasibility.
: President Xi and President Biden meet at the G20 summit in Brazil and discuss issues involving the South China Sea among other matters.
: China and Indonesia sign deals worth $10 billion at a bilateral business forum following a summit meeting in Beijing between President Xi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
: In response to Marcos’ action, China’s Foreign Ministry releases baselines for territorial sea adjacent to Chinese occupied and Philippine claimed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
: Philippines President Marcos Jr. signs into law the Maritime Zones Act and the Philippines Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act that defy Chinese claims to Philippines claimed territories in the South China Sea.
: President Xi meets visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
: Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing visits China for the first time since he staged a coup in 2021, attending the Greater Mekong Subregion Summit of Leaders in Kunming.
: A report with new images released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative shows that Vietnam is laying a runway about 2.4 km long in the South China Sea with capacity to build two more airstrips.
: China and Thailand conduct “Strike-2024,” a joint counterterrorism exercise in Kunming, Yunnan province. In addition to troops, unmanned drones are also involved in this year’s joint exercise. The drills are conducted near the China-Myanmar border, serving as a platform for Thai and Chinese troops to address such nontraditional security threats as transborder crime, human trafficking, and arms smuggling.
: Chinese Premier Li Qiang visits Vietnam and signs deals that enhance customs and border procedures, highspeed rail links, and agricultural trade, among others.
: Chinese Premier Li Qiang represents China at the East Asian Summit and related ASEAN meetings in Laos. A key outcome is the decision to expedite final negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement that would deepen regional trade and cooperation in digital and green economies.
: The PLA organizes its army units and joint air-ground police patrols near China’s border with Myanmar in Ruili and Zhenkang to maintain security as fighting between the Myanmar’s junta forces and rebel groups has been escalating.
: Confrontations between Philippine supply ships attempting to reach a Philippines Coast Guard vessel anchored at Sabina Shoal in the disputed South China Sea and Chinese Coast Guard ships result in collisions damaging the Philippine vessels.
: Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Vietnamese counterpart, To Lam, in Beijing. This is the new Vietnamese party leader’s first official and foreign visit, and both sides agree to increase the comprehensive bilateral relationship.
: China welcomes Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction of the $1.7 billion 180-km China-backed Funan Techo Canal which will provide Cambodia direct access from the Mekong River to the South China Sea.
: During the ASEAN Regional Forum and related meetings in Laos, Chinese Politburo Member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets Secretary of State Antony Blinken and among other matters warns against US interference in the South China Sea disputes between China and the Philippines.
: Global Times reports that the Philippines used fishermen to smuggle construction equipment to the disputed outpost at Second Thomas Shoal for repair and reinforcement to make the outpost permanent.
: Visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang celebrates the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other Malaysian leaders.
: Tensions over the disputed Philippines-occupied South China Sea outpost at Second Thomas Shoal reach a highpoint in a melee of Chinese and Philippines security forces with knives and axes near the disputed outpost.
: Beijing strongly criticizes Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for using his keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to condemn China’s actions in the South China Sea.
: Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discuss differences over the South China Sea and other matters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
: Two Chinese PLA Navy warships dock in Sihanoukville as part of a two-week land and sea drill with Cambodia. The docking of the Chinese warships renews US concerns about China’s renovation of Ream, a Cambodian naval base that was originally built partly with US funds.
: Philippine officials confirm Manila sent a Coast Guard ship to stay at Sabina Shoal in the disputed South China Sea amid reports Beijing planned to occupy and develop the Philippine claimed territory as another South China Sea outpost.