President Aquino reveals China is reclaiming land in 2 more disputed reefs

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 5): President Aquino reveals China is reclaiming land in 2 more disputed reefs

President Benigno S. Aquino III disclosed on Thursday that there have been reported movements by Chinese ships in two reefs in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

He raised the issue in an interview after his speech at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Manila Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management held at the Diamond Hotel.

“The latest report we received is that, and we are again bothered, there seems to be developments in other areas within the disputed seas,” the President said.

“We’re not saying that they are exactly the same ships that were used in Mabini, but there seems to be similar ships at the very least in a feature… one is Gavin Reef, the other is Cuarteron Reef,” he added.

Gavin Reef and Cuarteron Reef are low-tide features in the Spratlys.

The President said he also received photographs of the ships.

“The pictures I saw were just ships that can be used for reclamation,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Aquino also commented on China's refusal to heed the arbitral tribunal’s order for it to comment and defend its claim versus the Philippine position.

“What is the obligation of each of us? As for them, if they (China) are responsible members of the international community, one would hope that they would conform to all the treaties, covenants, and agreements that they have entered into,” the President said.

This meant not just conforming with the Philippines but with so many other countries, especially signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=650604