China reclaming Mabini Reef since 2012, says DFA

From the Philippine News Agency (May 15): China reclaming Mabini Reef since 2012, says DFA

China has been expanding and reclaiming the Philippine-claimed Mabini Reef in the South China Sea since 2012, photos released by the Department of Foreign Affairs showed on Thursday.

The DFA released a series of photographs gathered from Philippine intelligence sources showing in stages the extensive reclamation by China on the reef, also known by its international name Johnson South Reef.

Chinese reclamation activities have been monitored by the Philippines from March 13, 2012 to March 11, 2014. Manila filed a protest in April but it was rejected by China, which said the reef is part of Chinese territory.

The DFA said Chinese activities in the reef, also jointly claimed by Vietnam, is a violation of international law and a declaration on South China Sea that Beijing signed with the Association of South East Asian Nations in 2002.

“These actions are considered destabilizing and in violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and international law,” the DFA said in a statement.

Mabini Reef, the DFA added, “is part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) which is part of Philippine territory.”

China claims almost 90 percent of the South China Sea – a major sea route where oil and gas deposits have been discovered in several areas. Manila adopted the name West Philippine Sea for areas in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone that is mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Analysts said the overlapping claims in the South China Sea by China, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, could spark major military confrontations.

China recently angered Vietnam for installing an oil rig in the Paracels, which is contested by both neighbors.

The DFA said it has included Mabini Reef in its written pleading or memorial that was submitted to The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration to “clarify” the reef’s “physical character.”

The Philippines filed a case against China in January 2013 to denigrate its far-reaching claims.

A declaration on the South China Sea was signed by China and the Association of South East Asian Nations in 2002 to prevent escalation of hostilities among claimants that include four ASEAN members – Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar are also part of the 10-member Asian bloc.

Although non-binding in nature, the document discourages claimants from occupying new territories and construction activities to avoid raising tensions.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=643873