Gazmin: PH ‘lacks capability’ to monitor sea disputes
The DFA released photos Thursday of the Mabini Reef showing China’s reclamation activities on the disputed area. DFA
TARLAC, Philippines – After confirming that China built an airstrip in one of the shoals in the disputed Spratly Group of Islands, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin admitted on Thursday that the failure of the military to monitor situations like this was because it was “distracted” over other disputed islands.
On Wednesday, the Department of National Defense confirmed that China built an airstrip on Mabini Reef, or the Johnson South Reef, which lies on the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“We were distracted with the situation in Ayungin Shoal and Scarborough Shoal,” Gazmin said at Crow Valley Range here after the Balikatan exercises between the Filipino and American troops.
Gazmin added that apart from the airstrip, China also had a reclamation project in Mabini Reef.
“We lack the capability,” Gazmin said. “This (Balikatan) helps because of the exercises, and we could also address the gaps in monitoring.”
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