The Philippines could “stir up trouble” at yet another “Chinese” island in the South China Sea, China’s state-backed Global Times reported late on Thursday, after what it said were Manila’s “provocative intrusions” into waters at two other reefs in the region.
The Philippines is expanding military infrastructure on Thitu Island (Jhongye Island, 中業島) in the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島), which Taiwan also claims, to potentially invite warships and warplanes from countries outside of the region such as the US and Japan, sabotaging peace and stability in the South China Sea, the newspaper reported, citing Chinese experts.
Thitu Island is “illegally occupied” by the Philippines, the Global Times reported.
Photo: Reuters
The Philippine National Security Council and the Philippine Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Philippines occupies nearly 10 locations in the South China Sea, including Thitu Island.
Manila will develop islands in the South China Sea that it considers part of its territory to make them more habitable for troops, Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner said in January.
In the latest clash between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, Manila and Beijing on Monday accused each other of ramming vessels and performing dangerous maritime maneuvers.
The Philippines said that two of its coast guard vessels “encountered unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” from Chinese vessels near Sabina Shoal (Sianbin Shoal, 仙濱礁) in the Spratlys while on their way to supply personnel stationed on two occupied islands.
The US condemned China’s actions.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said that Washington “stands with the Philippines in condemning the China Coast Guard’s dangerous maneuvers.”
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