‘China reclamation in disputed sea a ploy’

MANILA, Philippines - China is rushing reclamation in the West Philippine Sea to circumvent any favorable ruling on the Philippine arbitration case before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

The Philippines filed the case to peacefully resolve the maritime row following China’s “creeping invasion” in West Philippine Sea.

The refusal of China to participate in the arbitration process has caused tension in the disputed region where Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping territorial claims.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said China’s reclamation and infrastructure developments in the disputed region are 50 percent complete.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said China apparently wants to prove before the world body that the area it occupies could sustain human habitation and economic life to back its stand that its maritime claim is valid and binding to other states under ITLOS.

“In our assessment it’s part of their tactics,” he said.

The STAR obtained aerial photographs showing that China has completed its reclamation of Mabini Reef.

A man-made islet is now teeming with infrastructure development activities.

Security officials said it is just a matter of time before Mabini Reef would be ready for military and civilian occupancy.

These former obscure maritime features are part of Kalayaan Island Group based on Presidential Decree 1596 issued in 1978.

Massive construction developments in the form of buildings, port and helipad were also monitored over Burgos (Gaven) Reef, Kennar (Chigua) Reef and Calderon (Cuarteron) Reef.

China has transformed them into man-made islets.

Padilla said the military, for now, can only confine all its actions to monitoring the illegal Chinese activities in the disputed region because of the ITLOS case.

“We have case at ITLOS and once the body rules in our favor, we expect that this will restrain China from conducting any activities in the region or they will lose face before the international community,” he said.

The international body is expected to release its verdict in 2016.