WESCOM chief expresses concern over China’s reclamation in West Philippines Sea

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): WESCOM chief expresses concern over China’s reclamation in West Philippines Sea

Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (AFP-WESCOM) commander Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez expressed concern Thursday over the effect to the ecosystem of China’s massive reclamation activities in the disputed West Philippines Sea.

Speaking before the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) regular meeting, Lopez said the China’s “alarming” building of a series of man-made islands in the resource-rich waters has “changed the ecosystem in this part of the region.”

Over 300 hectares of coral reefs have been buried in the Philippine-claimed features, endangering the fisheries sector and food security for the entire region, according to the Philippine fisheries bureau.

“Well it’s massive, it’s open book,” Lopez quipped to the local media.

As for the Philippine government, Lopez said it doesn't initiate any development or constructions in the disputed areas unlike China’s that are nearly completion.

“We are working on the policy of the government that no development whatsoever, so that we can still maintain the moral high ground, and we do not want to weaken the case we have filed before the international court,” he said.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Spokesman Charles Jose said July 17 that China's reclamation and construction activities "purely intended to change the character and the status quo of features," and thus it has contravened the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea.

Manila is set to defend its historic case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands on July 7 to 13.

While Lopez believes the separate Philippine’s naval drills with Japan and the United States are deemed to increase interoperability among the three countries, he however cleared out it has nothing to do with the simmering territorial row.

“It has nothing to do with West Philippine Sea. It’s a training activity between our navy and the Japanese navy, [as well as with the US Navy],” he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=776365