The Philippines has filed a protest against Beijing’s test flights on an artificial island in the South China Sea, a Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said yesterday, describing the actions as “provocative” and a violation of an existing informal code.
Last week, Beijing landed three flights on Fiery Cross (Yongshu Reef, 永暑礁) in the disputed Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島), angering Vietnam and drawing criticism from the US, which expressed deep concern it would exacerbate tension in the region.
“We formally protested on Jan. 8 [Friday] the recent test flights by China to Kagitingan Reef,” Charles Jose said, adding that the ministry summoned China’s embassy official to hand over the protest.
Photo: AP
Jose said the test flights were “provocative actions” that would restrict the freedom of navigation and overflights in the South China Sea.
Every year, more than US$5 trillion of world trade is shipped through the South China Sea, believed to have huge deposits of oil and gas, which China claims almost entirely. Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have rival claims.
“These actions by China have elevated tensions and anxiety in the region and are in violation of the spirit and letter of the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea,” he added.
Since 2010, China and the 10-member ASEAN have been negtiating a legally binding code of conduct to replace the informal rules contained in a political declaration made in Phnom Penh in 2002.
In Washington, foreign and defense ministers of both the Philippines and the US held talks on trade and security issues, including the US Navy’s plan to hold more freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea.
US ships and planes are to have more time to patrol the disputed sea, because they were given access to Philippine naval and air bases under a new military deal, which the Philippine Supreme Court allowed in a decision made on Tuesday.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter welcomed the court’s decision as both the Philippine and US military began discussions on a dozen possible locations in its former colony where US ships and planes would have access.
The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement would also allow the US to build facilities to store equipment and supplies for humanitarian and maritime security operations.
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