Chinese construction in WPS, creating a lot of speculations - DND spokesperson

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 17): Chinese construction in WPS, creating a lot of speculations - DND spokesperson

While it still has to validate reports that China is about to complete the construction of its facilities at disputed portions of the West Philippine Sea, Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said that continued and aggressive action is creating a lot of speculations among nations having overlapping claims in the above-mentioned waterway.

"We have to validate that report (first), with regards to all these issues, let us not forget that the main issue here is that their 9-Line is very erroneous, number two (Chinese build-up in the West Philippine Sea) is contrary to the DOC (2002 Declaration of Conduct between ASEAN and China which prohibits parties from constructing new facilities in disputed areas) and number three, the constructions are really alarming as we don't know what they will be putting there," he added.

And it is creating speculations as all activities are not transparent and illegal if based on the DOC, Galvez pointed out.

China is conducting reclamation and building activities in seven locations in the West Philippine Sea.

And to ease down the tensions, the DND spokesperson said that China could stop all construction activities and dismantle all facilities it has set-up on the disputed areas.

"They (China) should comply with the DOC," Galvez added.

And to counter the Chinese claim that they will construct other facilities and other structures, the DND spokesperson said that the Philippines will continue with its advocacy of informing the international community to counter the former's claims.

"We have to make them realize that these are really without basis, (hopefully once pressure reaches a high point), they will heed the call of the international community for them to stop," he disclosed.

Earlier, member states of the European Union, G-7, the United States, Australia and Japan has called upon China to stop its reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=773497