The Philippines yesterday said that it was “seriously concerned” over a report that China has started reclaiming several unoccupied land features in the South China Sea.
Bloomberg on Tuesday reported, citing satellite images from US officials, that new land formations have been photographed in the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島), which Taiwan claims, where a Chinese vessel with a hydraulic excavator has been seen operating.
“We are seriously concerned, as such activities contravene the Declaration of Conduct on the South China Sea’s undertaking on self-restraint and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late on Tuesday.
Photo: AFP / Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies
Other agencies have been asked to investigate the report, the ministry said.
The Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia and Vietnam also have claims in the region.
In the past few years, China has built artificial islands on reefs in the disputed waters, and it has also constructed military facilities and airstrips.
The Philippines has repeatedly accused Chinese coast guard and maritime militia of harassing and attacking fishing boats and other vessels.
In the Spratlys, China occupies at least seven islands and rocks, militarizing them with runways, ports and radar systems.
The Bloomberg report said that the fresh reclamations were taking place on Anda Reef (Eldad Reef, 安達礁), Whitsun Reef (牛軛礁), “Sandy Cay” and Lankiam Cay (Yangsin Sand, 楊信沙洲).
The latter is 13km northeast of Philippine-occupied Loaita Island (Nanyao Island, 南鑰島) and 53.3km from Chinese-held Subi Reef (Jhubi Reef, 渚碧礁).
About 450km to the east of Lankiam Cay is the Philippine island of Palawan, the nearest major landmass.
Reuters last week reported that Vietnam, which has infrastructure on “Sand Cay,” had expanded its footprint there.
In Beijing, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning (毛寧) called the Bloomberg report “completely groundless.”
“Not taking action on uninhabited islands and reefs of the South China Sea is a solemn consensus reached by China and ASEAN countries through actions and declarations by each party,” Mao said. “The development of China-Philippines relations currently has good momentum, and the two sides will continue to appropriately handle maritime issues through friendly consultation.”
Manila last week filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing after a Chinese coast guard vessel last month “forcefully” seized debris from a Chinese rocket that was retrieved by a Philippine navy vessel.
Denying the use of force, the Chinese embassy in Manila said the handover came after a “friendly consultation.”
The Philippine Ministry of Defense also last week expressed “great concern” over the reported swarming of Chinese vessels in Iroquois Reef in the Reed Bank (Lile Bank, 禮樂灘) and Sabina Shoal (Sianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙), which Manila claims as its territory.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s “directive to the department is clear — we will not give up a single square inch of Philippine territory,” Acting Philippine Secretary of Defense Jose Faustino said after the incident.
Marcos has insisted that he would not let China trample on the Philippines’ maritime rights.
The US Department of State spokesman this week expressed support to the Philippines on both incidents and called on China to “respect international law.”
The Chinese embassy on Tuesday accused Washington of using the dispute to “stir up troubles.”
It acknowledged “differences” with Manila, but did not address the alleged swarming incidents directly.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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