Philippines could provoke China at 'another Chinese island', says Global Times
BEIJING, Aug 23 (Reuters) -The Philippines could "stir up trouble" at yet another "Chinese" island in the South China Sea, China's state-backed Global Times reported, after what it said were Manila's "provocative intrusions" into waters at two other reefs in the region.
The Philippines is expanding military infrastructure on Thitu Island, which Beijing calls Zhongye Dao, to potentially invite warships and warplanes from countries outside of the region such as the United States and Japan, sabotaging peace and stability in the South China Sea, the nationalist tabloid reported, citing Chinese experts.
Zhongye Dao is a part of Nansha Qundao, as the Spratly Islands are known in China, but "illegally occupied" by the Philippines, Global Times reported late on Thursday.
The Philippines national security council and defence ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
China claims sovereignty over nearly the whole South China Sea, deploying an armada of coast guard vessels to protect what it considers its territory. An international arbitral tribunal has said Beijing's claim has no basis under international law.
The Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei contest the claims.
The Philippines occupies nearly 10 locations in the South China Sea, including Thitu Island. Manila will develop islands in the South China Sea that it considers part of its territory to make them more habitable for troops, Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner said in January.
In the latest clash between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, Manila and Beijing accused each other on Monday of ramming vessels and performing dangerous maritime manoeuvres.
The Philippines said two of its coast guard vessels "encountered unlawful and aggressive manoeuvres" from Chinese vessels near Sabina Shoal while on their way to supply Filipino personnel stationed in two occupied islands.
Sabina Shoal is part of the Spratly Islands, which are claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The United States condemned China's actions. Its ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, said the U.S. "stands with the Philippines in condemning the China Coast Guard's dangerous manoeuvres".
The encounter came less than two weeks after an air incident between the Chinese and Philippines militaries in Scarborough Shoal, also in the South China Sea.
Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
