An overview of key developments in the South China Sea this week.
The News Lens
Date: 2016/07/03
By: Shuhei Omi
Indonesia this week announced plans to develop the Natuna Islands into a tourist destination. 
Simultaneously, the Indonesian Navy announced it will build a naval base on Natuna to maintain Indonesian sovereignty, the Global Indonesian Voices says.
Although Indonesia’s sovereignty over the islands is not disputed, its exclusive economic zone overlaps with China’s nine-dash line. An Indonesian warship and Chinese fishermen were involved in a skirmish on June 20 in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone, which prompted a visit by President Joko Widodo’s to Natuna on June 23.
On June 27, the state-run People’s Daily said China is fully capable of removing a Philippines military base on a disputed atoll in the South China Sea, but is exercising “high restraint.” Its commentary comes before an imminent ruling in the Court of Permanent Arbitration on territorial disputes between China and Philippines. The Philippines Navy deliberately grounded a ship on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in 1999, posting a dozen military personnel on the ship. China has repeatedly called for the ship to be removed. In 2014, the Chinese coast guard blocked access to Filipino supply ships, forcing the Philippines to airdrop provisions. [FULL STORY]