Philippines to file diplomatic protest vs China if it is confirmed there are structures in Kagitingan

January 9, 2018

The Philippine government will file a diplomatic protest if the reported militarization of features reclaimed by China in South China Sea is confirmed.

“Our stand we will be... registering our protest through the Department of Foreign Affairs because I know for a fact that the Chinese government said some time ago they are not going to militarize those reclaimed islands. Remember those are not islands before. They were only reefs,”Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday.

“According to them (China) they are not militarizing, and it was for peaceful purposes such as tourism. But if it is true that we can prove that they have been putting soldiers in , even any weapons defensive...that will be a violation of what they said,” he added.

An aerial shot of Kagitingan Reef, also known as Fiery Cross Reef which was in foreign media reports shows the reclaimed island has become an airbase with a hospital, military installations, warning radar and weapon system.

Lorenzana said the West Philippine Sea Task Force is communicating with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the matter.

“We have West Philippine Sea task force under  (National Security Adviser Hermogenes) Esperon and they are the ones communicating with the DFA,” he said.

“(Filing protest is ) part of the normal diplomatic processes if there are things you do not want happening in that area,” Lorenzana added. Robina Asido/DMS