Technical limitations hindering monitoring of disputed islands –AFP

From GMA News (Jan 7): Technical limitations hindering monitoring of disputed islands –AFP

The military on Thursday admitted that technical limitation is making it difficult for them to monitor the reported Chinese activities in the Kagitingan Reef (Fiery Cross Reef).

"To be honest about it, hindi pa tayo ganung capable. We don’t have that technical capability to really monitor, so we are relying on some other means of monitoring katulad ng nakita sa video," said Rear Admiral Alexander Lopez, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Command.

Lopez made the admission a day after China landed two test flights on the artificial island located in West Philippine Sea, a disputed part of the South China Sea being claimed by the Philippines.

The two flights are likely to spark further condemnation from Vietnam, which launched a formal diplomatic protest over the weekend, and the Philippines, which said it was planning to do the same.

A report on China's Xinhua news agency said the test flights proved that the airport had "the capacity to ensure the safe operation of large civilian aircraft," though it did not provide details on the type of aircraft that landed.

"All face value, they even say that they are civilian structures, but they also stated na they can be used for military purposes… They are for civilians but they can be used for military purposes," Lopez said.

The runway at the Kagitingan Reef is 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) long and is one of three China has been building for more than a year by dredging sand up onto reefs and atolls in the Spratly archipelago.

Lopez believes that completing their bases on Kagitingan Reef, Mischief Reef, and Subi Reef will embolden China to increase patrols in the area.

"We will protest, record them, monitor them and file the necessary protest before the proper courts or before the proper agencies, international agencies," he said. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/550398/news/nation/technical-limitations-hindering-monitoring-of-disputed-islands-afp