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
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
FOUR DESIGNATED AREAS: Notices were issued for live-fire exercises in waters south and northwest of Penghu, northeast of Keelung and west of Kaohsiung, they said The military is planning three major annual exercises across the army, navy and air force this month, with the navy’s “Hai Chiang” (海強, “Sea Strong”) drills running from today through Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. The Hai Chiang exercise, which is to take place in waters surrounding Taiwan, would feature P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and S-70C anti-submarine helicopters, the ministry said, adding that the drills aim to bolster the nation’s offshore defensive capabilities. China has intensified military and psychological pressure against Taiwan, repeatedly sending warplanes and vessels into areas near the nation’s air defense identification zone and across
A Chinese takeover of Taiwan would severely threaten the national security of the US, Japan, the Philippines and other nations, while global economic losses could reach US$10 trillion, National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) wrote in an article published yesterday in Foreign Affairs. “The future of Taiwan is not merely a regional concern; it is a test of whether the international order can withstand the pressure of authoritarian expansionism,” Lin wrote in the article titled “Taiwan’s Plan for Peace Through Strength — How Investments in Resilience Can Deter Beijing.” Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) intent to take Taiwan by force
RSS