DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert F. del Rosario confirmed on Tuesday that the agency had filed a diplomatic note to China on Oct. 10, protesting the construction of structures in the Kagitingan Reef, which is included in the Philippines’ claim on the contested Spratly Islands.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Senate budget deliberations, Mr. del Rosario said in sending a “note verbale” to China dated Oct. 10, the agency was “protesting the activity” in the disputed features in the South China Sea.
Mr. del Rosario told reporters the previous day that the agency was still “validating” the reports claiming that China’s reclamation activities was in the advanced stage and that an airstrip is being built on the reef.
“We just checked,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “We looked at our records and discovered that a note verbale has already been sent.”
The Chinese-occupied reef -- called Fiery Cross Reef in English, Yongshu Jiao in Chinese -- is also claimed by the Philippines and Vietnam.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr. told reporters that the military was still “checking out” the facilities that have been erected in the reef and is currently confirming if an airstrip existed.
“As of now, the DFA has the lead role, so whatever the findings of the DFA [are], we [will] just await their instructions on what the AFP has to do,” Mr. Catapang said.
He added that Filipino troops were still able to maintain presence on the islands the country currently occupies “because nobody bothers them.” -- Vince Alvic Alexis F. Nonato
source: Businessworld
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