INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUAD NEGOTIATIONS ON SOUTH CHINA SEA

Class will divide into five teams Philippines, China, Vietnam, USA, and
United Nations as facilitator.

Setting of negotiations:

Tokyo, Japan.

Agreements to be negotiated:

1. Agreement on respecting historic fishing rights, especially

on Scarborough Shoal.
2. Agreement on joint development of oil and mineral
resources in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the
Philippines, China, and Vietnam
3. Agreement on access of military and commercial vessels in
the South China Sea
4. Agreement to establish an International Marine Peace Park
in the South China Sea.

Starting positions:

For China: All of the South China Sea is Chinese territory. They are open
to granting fishing rights, joint development and access of vessels but
all the countries must acknowledge Chinese sovereignty over these
areas. They oppose an International Marine Peace Park but are willing
to declare portions of the South China Sea a national marine protected
area that can be managed with the assistance of international
partners. There is however a diversity of opinions among the Chinese
negotiators some are hawks and want full assertion of sovereignty
while others are more reconciliatory especially against the Philippines
who has now reached out through President Dutertes inclination
towards China.

For the Philippines: It asserts that parts of the SCS is its EEZ and
this can only be utilized by Filipinos. However, since it supports
the arbitral tribunal decision, it will allow Chinese and
Vietnamese fishermen to enter Scarborough and other areas
where they and Filipinos have historic fishing rights. The
Philippines is willing to hire Chinese, Vietnamese and American
companies to help it develop its oil and mineral resources in
the EEZ but there must be acknowledgement of Philippine
rights. Under the Philippine constitution, joint development is not
allowed within our EEZ. There should also be reciprocity in the EEZ
of other countries. It is willing to give access to vessels and
open to the international marine park concept. There is however
a debate between pro-US and pro-China officials within the delegation.

For Vietnam: Very similar stance as the Philippines and will reach out to
build an alliance. It asserts that parts of the SCS is its EEZ and this can
only be utilized by Vietnamese. It will allow Chinese and Filipino
fishermen to enter Scarborough and other areas where they have
historic fishing rights. Vietnam is willing to hire Chinese, Filipino and
American companies to help it develop its oil and mineral resources in
the EEZ but there must be acknowledgement that of Vietnamese
rights. There should also be reciprocity in the EEZ of other countries. It
is willing to give access to vessels and open to the international marine
park concept. The Vietnamese also want to ally with the USA as it is
very skeptical against the Chinese. It wants to bring the Philippines
back to a united front with Vietnam and the US against China.

For the United States: Its interest is mainly maintaining open access of
the SCS for is military and commercial vessels and to be able to
participate in joint development agreements. It is willing to provide
funding for the international marine park. The US is close to Vietnam
and used to be close to the Philippines, but lately President Duterte has
announced a pivot away from the UN to be nearer to China. There is
however tension within the US delegation to these negotiations
between the anti-China hawks vs the pro-China doves.

For the United Nations: It wants peace in the SCS sea region and is
willing to help the countries to arrive at an acceptable agreement. The
head of the United Nations team is the Foreign Minister of Japan.

Process

1. Each group should divide equally between the hawks and doves
identified above.

2. Each team should meet before the next class on January 20 to

decide strategy and what should be in the plenary statement of
their delegation head who will be their foreign minister.

3. Teams must come in their national costumes or in business

clothes.
4. Each foreign minister will deliver formal plenary speeches
outlining their positions, their demands, their expectations and
how they would like to see these negotiations end.

5. After the plenary, instructions on how to proceed will be

provided.