The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said it is verifying reports that China’s reclamation activity on a Philippine-claimed reef in the disputed South China Sea is already in its advanced stages.
Major international defense publication Jane’s reported that China has already transformed Fiery Cross Reef, known as Kagitingan Reef in the Philippines, into an artificial island equipped with an airstrip.
“We have to validate that,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said, adding the Philippine government received reports that construction in the area, 257 nautical miles off Palawan province, is ongoing.
China’s expansion moves demonstrates its resolve to assert claims over the resource-rich waters while ignoring calls from the international community against raising tensions in the area.
Philippine officials maintain that Kagitingan Reef is part of a group of Philippine-claimed islands facing the South China Sea, called the Kalayaan Island Group. Pag-asa Island, a 37-hectare island with an airstrip, commercial communications tower, and power generators, is the largest of these territories.
China, which claims the South China Sea nearly in its entirety, has also reclaimed two other rocky outcrops in the oil and gas-rich waters that are also claimed by the Philippines and Vietnam.
The simultaneous constructions have raised fears of an expanding Chinese military presence in the area and is seen to further fuel tensions with its smaller neighbors and claimants with lesser defense capability like the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan.
“In response to those actions, the Philippines is working very closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea or DOC and for the early conclusion of the code of conduct,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.
In 2002, China and the ASEAN, of which the Philippines and other claimants Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are members, signed a non-binding code of conduct to ease tensions in the area. Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are also part of the ASEAN.
The accord calls on all claimants to exercise restraint and stop new occupation of territories in the South China Sea. However, it lacks the power to sanction states that will violate its provisions.
China and ASEAN have yet to craft a code of conduct, which is envisioned as a legally-binding document.
"China is likely to withstand the international pressure and continue the construction, since it is completely legitimate and justifiable," he added. — RSJ/JST, GMA News with a report from Agence France-Presse
Continuing construction
Last Friday, Jane's said that satellite images showed that China is building an island on a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands large enough to accommodate what could be its first offshore airstrip in the South China Sea.
Days after the report, the US called on China to halt the project and for other governments to cease similar efforts.
"We urge China to stop its land reclamation programme, and engage in diplomatic initiatives to encourage all sides to restrain themselves in these sorts of activities," US military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Pool said.
Beijing on Monday fired back at the US criticism, with a top general defending it as "justifiable."
People's Liberation Army Major General Luo Yuan told the state-run Global Times newspaper that Beijing was building infrastructure on the reef and the US should stay out of the issue.
"The US is obviously biased considering that the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam have already set up military facilities," Luo was quoted as saying.
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