DFA ‘seriously concerned’ over China’s ‘reclamation activities’ in Spratly’s unoccupied reefs

FILE PHOTO: This picture taken on April 21, 2017, shows an aerial view of a reef in the disputed Spratly islands. – The Department of Foreign Affairs says it is “seriously concerned” about China’s reported reclamation activities in the Spratly Islands’ unoccupied reefs in the South China Sea. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is “seriously concerned” about China’s reported reclamation activities in the Spratly Islands’ unoccupied reefs in the South China Sea.

A Bloomberg article published on Tuesday said that China is accused of building on unoccupied reefs in the disputed sea.

“We are seriously concerned as such activities contravene the Declaration of Conduct on the South China Sea’s undertaking on self-restraint and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA said in a statement on Tuesday night.

“We have asked relevant Philippine agencies to verify and validate the contents of this report,” it added.

In 2016, the Philippines won the arbitration case it lodged against China’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea.

READ: PH wins arbitration case over South China Sea

The United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim and ruled that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.

READ: China’s ‘nine-dash line, historic rights’ invalid – tribunal

Recently, the Department of National Defense likewise voiced its “great concern” on the reported swarming of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Based on latest DFA data, the Philippines filed 193 diplomatic protests against China this year.

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