DFA spokesman Charles Jose: Peaceful way. AFP
MANILA, Philippines—Anything that involves the West Philippine Sea is our business.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose said this in response to Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hong Lei’s statement that China’s reclamation activities in the Spratly Group of Islands “has nothing to do with the Philippines.”
“Anything that impinges upon our sovereignty over territories that we claim is our business. Anything that affects our ability to exercise our sovereign rights and jurisdiction over maritime territories that we claim is our business,” Jose said in a press conference Monday.
“Anything that upsets the peace and stability in the region is our business. Anything that raises tensions in the region is our business,” he said.
President Benigno Aquino III previously said that new Chinese ships were seen around several reefs in the West Philippine Sea, specifically Cuarteron Reef and Gavin Reef, raising concerns that China will conduct further reclamation activities.
The DFA had released a series of aerial photographs of Mabini Reef showing its progression from a submerged maritime feature into an artificial island that is likely being prepared for the construction of concrete structures.
China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over the entire South China Sea, including parts of the Philippines 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Filipino fishermen have been repeatedly forced away by Chinese ships from maritime features in the Spratly Islands as well as in Scarborough Shoal located off the coast of Zambales.
A pending case in the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) filed by the Philippines seeks to clarify maritime entitlements in the disputed region. China however has repeatedly refused to take part in the proceedings.
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