Philippines defence minister says China arms on islands worrying

[webfact]

Philippines defence minister says China arms on islands worrying

REUTERS

 

An aerial photo taken though a glass window of a Philippine military plane shows the alleged on-going land reclamation by China on mischief reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, west of Palawan, Philippines, May 11, 2015. REUTERS/Ritchie B. Tongo/Pool/File Photo

 

MANILA (Reuters) - China's recent installation of weapons on artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea was "very troubling", the Philippines' defence minister said on Tuesday, after Manila quietly protested Beijing's activities.

 

The Philippine foreign ministry sent a note verbale to the Chinese embassy last month after confirming a report from the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies about China's arms buildup in the Spratlys.

 

"The actions of China in militarising those disputed features are very troubling," Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.

 

"They do not square with the Chinese government's rhetoric that its purpose is peaceful and friendly."

 

Lorenzana took a stronger line than Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, who on Tuesday refrained from criticising China but said the issue had to be handled carefully and the public should know "we are not sleeping on the job".

 

"When something happens that can pose us some kind of threats to our sovereignty rights we issue a note verbale so we can talk about it and make sure it is properly addressed," he told ANC television.

 

With billions of dollars of potential Chinese trade and investment at stake, the Philippines has a difficult balancing act in upholding its sovereignty claims while staying on the better terms that President Rodrigo Duterte has established with historic rival China.

 

Mischief Reef, one of the islands where China has modern weapons, is located within the Philippines' 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

 

For its part, the Philippines has decided to shelve planned upgrades to facilities on islands it controls, such as repairing an eroded runway, to avoid incurring China's wrath.

 

Lorenzana said a diplomatic protest was the correct procedure and despite warming relations with China, the government still had a duty to protect the national interest.

 

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion of goods passes anually. An international arbitration ruling last year invalidated those claims.

 

China's artificial islands became a hot issue last week when the U.S. nominee for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, told a Senate hearing that Beijing should be repelled from, and then denied access to, the controversial islets.

 

Yasay last week suggested the Philippines would play no part in that, and said of the United States, "Let them do it".

 

(Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Martin Petty & Simon Cameron-Moore)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-17

[JoePai]

Too bad, better get that moron who is suppose to run the country to talk to his mates in Beijing

[Ireland32]

Durty Duterte and The Trumpanzee, Buyers Regret??? 

[rijb]

3 minutes ago, Ireland32 said:

Durty Duterte and The Trumpanzee, Buyers Regret??? 

 

You're a little premature on Trump.  At least wait until he gets in office.  Then you can lord it over everybody.  

[elgordo38]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

China's recent installation of weapons on artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea was "very troubling", the Philippines' defence minister said on Tuesday, after Manila quietly protested Beijing's activities.

Better talk to Duterte. He and Mr. Xi are best buds. Don't step on Duterte's toes you could deemed to be a drug dealer and Sayonara. 

[spidermike007]

Well, the leader is doing a great job of making all the right overtures to the Chicoms, and allowing them whatever they want. And he is also doing a great job of alienating their best ally, and top investor, with the unbelievably ignorant statements he is constantly uttering. So, this defense minister has alot of work cut out for him. There is a moronic serial killer at the helm of the ship.