PH to file protest vs China over reef

From Malaysia Business Insight (Jan 9): PH to file protest vs China over reef

DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday said government will file a diplomatic protest against China for militarizing the Fiery Cross Reef or Kagitingan Reef, one of the disputed areas in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.

Lorenzana made the statement a few days after the Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television showed an aerial shot of the reef that appeared to have been transformed into a fortified airbase.

The Hong Kong-based Asia Times also reported that the reef features a 3,125-meter runway, radars, weapon systems, and other military facilities and a hospital. It said about 200 soldiers are stationed there.

“Our stand is we will register our protest, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), because I know for a fact the Chinese government said some time ago that they are not going to militarize those reclaimed islands,” said Lorenzana.

China has conducted land reclamation activities at Fiery Cross Reef and several other reefs in the South China. A Washington-based think tank earlier reported China was putting up naval and air bases in these reefs.

“According to them, they are not militarizing (these reefs) and it was for peaceful purposes such as tourism. If it is true and we can prove that they have been putting soldiers and even weapon systems, that will be a violation of what they said,” said Lorenzana.

“The DFA knows this so the DFA will protest. We have the West Philippine Sea Task Force under general (Hermogenes) Esperon and they are the ones communicating with the DFA,” said Lorenzana.

Lorenzana said the government has also received reports about harassment of Filipino fishermen by Chinese Coast Guard vessels and “we will also file protest.” He declined to give details of the harassment.

The incidents came amid supposed warming relations between the Philippines and China.

China has donated thousands of rifles to the Philippines, some of them used by soldiers in the fight against the terrorist Maute Group which attacked Marawi City in May last year. China has also vowed to assist the Philippines in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi City.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/ph-file-protest-vs-china-over-reef