CHINA-US: SOUTH CHINA SEA
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On May 16, China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, reiterated his government's firm stance on its activities in the South China Sea following a meeting with the visiting US secretary of state, John Kerry. He said "The determination of the Chinese side to safeguard our own sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as a rock, and it is unshakable." Meanwhile a commentary in the the Hong Kong-based magazine 'Yazhou Zhoukan' observed that the level of attention China is paying to the South China Sea is clear from its weapons deployment to the PLA Navy's South Sea Fleet in recent years. It disclosed that the PLA Navy's South Sea Fleet accounted for nine of the 19 new main warships added to the PLA Navy between 2010 and 2013. The South Sea Fleet also has seven Type 054A frigates compared to four each for the PLA's East and North Sea fleets, and it is also the only fleet with the Type 071 amphibious transport dock.
By comparison, however, the US Navy still holds a dominant position.
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