A U.S. South China Sea Perspective: Just Over the Horizon

home to the Jungle Warfare Training School for the British Army. Brunei also conducts CARAT
exercises each year with U.S. naval forces as part of its modernization and training program. In
2011 the U.S. Navy deployed a maritime patrol aircraft squadron and two destroyers to enhance
Brunei’s force readiness in Maritime Domain Awareness and Search and Rescue.
Brunei’s government has made few official statements regarding its South China Sea
maritime disputes. Since Brunei has not been as vocal as its neighbors in defending its claims, it
would be reasonable to assume that it would not take on any leadership capacity in attempting to
force China into negotiations. Brunei is scheduled to chair ASEAN in 2013.
Brunei’s small size may provide the best opportunity for starting the process to settle
maritime border disputes in the South China Sea. Brunei’s claim is the smallest of all parties and
may be China’s best chance of reaching a compromise in bilateral negotiations. Jia Qinglin,
chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference,
China's top political advisory body, visited Brunei in late April 2012 and urged the Sultan of
Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, to promote cooperation on South China Sea disputes, saying China
has always maintained that they should be solved through peaceful negotiations by countries
directly involved. 19
The Philippines
The Philippines has a long history with the Spratly Islands and within the last year has
replaced Vietnam as the main provocateur of China in this dispute. The Philippines occupies
nine rocks or small islands in the South China Sea, but it claims sovereignty over sixty based on
discovery, proximity, and occupation. 20 Philippines President Benigno Aquino III has been very
active in building stronger diplomatic ties with its Asian neighbors, specifically Vietnam, and in
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