The Philippines said Wednesday it was "seriously concerned" over a report that China has started reclaiming several unoccupied land features in the disputed South China Sea.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing satellite images from US officials, that new land formations have emerged around the contested Spratly Islands in the sea, where a Chinese vessel with a hydraulic excavator was seen operating over the years.

"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 Philippine foreign ministry said late Tuesday in response.

The ministry added that other agencies have been asked to investigate the report.

Beijing claims almost all of the resource-rich waterway, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually. Rival claimants are the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

China has ignored a 2012 ruling from a UN-backed tribunal that its claim is without basis.

In recent years it has built artificial islands on reefs in the disputed waters, and it has also constructed military facilities and airstrips.

The Philippines has repeatedly accused Chinese coast guard and maritime militia of harassing and attacking fishing boats and other vessels.

In the Spratlys, China occupies at least seven islands and rocks, militarising them with runways, ports, and radar systems.

The Bloomberg report said the fresh reclamations were taking place on Eldad Reef, Whitsun Reef, Sandy Cay, and Lankiam Cay.

The latter is 13 kilometres (eight miles) northeast of Philippine-occupied Loaita Island and 53.3 kilometres from Chinese-held Subi Reef.

About 450 kilometres to the east of Lankiam Cay is the Philippine island of Palawan, the nearest major landmass.

In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called the report "completely groundless".

"Not taking action on uninhabited islands and reefs of the South China Sea is a solemn consensus reached by China and ASEAN countries through actions and declarations by each party," she said, referring to the 10-member bloc.

"The development of China-Philippines relations currently has good momentum, and the two sides will continue to appropriately handle maritime issues through friendly consultation."

- 'Respect international law' -

Manila filed a diplomatic protest last week against Beijing after a Chinese coast guard vessel in November "forcefully" seized debris from the Chinese rocket that was retrieved by a Philippine navy vessel.

Denying the use of force, the Chinese embassy in Manila said the handover came after a "friendly consultation".

The Philippine defence ministry also last week expressed "great concern" over the reported swarming of Chinese vessels in Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal, which Manila claims as its territory.

"(President Ferdinand Marcos') directive to the department is clear -- we will not give up a single square inch of Philippine territory," acting defence secretary Jose Faustino said after the incident.

Marcos has insisted he will not let China trample on the Philippines' maritime rights -- in contrast to his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte who was reluctant to criticise the superpower.

The US State Department spokesman this week expressed support to the Philippines on both incidents and called on China to "respect international law".

The Chinese embassy hit back on Tuesday, accusing Washington of using the dispute to "stir up troubles".

It acknowledged "differences" with Manila but did not address the alleged swarming incidents directly.

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Turkey fumes at Sweden in NATO membership dispute
Istanbul (AFP) Dec 20, 2022
Turkey on Tuesday lashed out at Sweden's refusal to extradite a top reporter that Ankara has demanded in exchange for its ratification of Stockholm's NATO membership bid. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants Sweden to return dozens of people that he suspects either of involvement in a failed 2016 coup or of membership of a banned Kurdish militia that Washington and the European Union designate as "terrorists". But the now-closed Today's Zaman newspaper's editor-in-chief Bulent Kenes was the only ... read more