PH wants proof of China’s halt of reclamation works

THE Department of National Defense has dared China to prove its claims that reclamation activities in the South China Sea have been stopped by pulling out their construction equipment.

“Although we welcome the announcement, it is better if you ask the Chinese government about that. Nonetheless, a stop in the reclamation doesn’t change the fact that they have violated the agreement among states, disrespected nations in the area and violated our maritime rights placing the region in crisis,” Defense spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said on Thursday.

“Furthermore, the region would be glad to see a genuine proof sincerity,” he added.

The violation Galvez was referring to was the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting in Malaysia that they have stopped their reclamation activities in the Spratlys, which are also claimed by other countries including the Philippines.

But Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said China had stopped because it had already finished building the artificial islands around the disputed waterway.

“The best proof would be the pull out of all the equipment as a clear and unequivocal manifestation of that announcement,” Galvez said.

The South China Sea dispute has been dominating the Asean meetings as four of the participating countries are also claimants.

Galvez said international pressure played significant role in China’s announcement that it had stopped its reclamation activities.

China’s reclamation activities in the seven reefs in the Spratlys have progressed rapidly in recent months. Nearly two months ago, China announced that its reclamation works were almost completed but construction activities will follow.

The reclamation works have raised alarm in the region, as well as countries like the United States and Japan.

Only this week, a report from a Washington-based think tank said that China may be planning to build a new airstrip in one of the seven reefs.

The Asean, US, China, Japan and other countries are expected to come out with a joint communique on South China Sea matters at the end of the joint meetings in Malaysia on Thursday.