China has been carrying out reclamation at four previously unoccupied features in the Spratly Islands, including two that are claimed by the PH, in what “Western officials” said were efforts by Beijing to change the status quo in the South China Sea.
The report on Tuesday night said the fresh reclamations were taking place on Malvar Reef in the northern Spratlys, Julian Felipe Reef, Sandy Cay, and Panata Island.
The report, quoting unidentified Western officials, said “some sandbars and other formations in the area expanded more than 10 times in size in recent years.”“They warned that Beijing’s latest construction activity indicates an attempt to advance a new status quo, even though it’s too early to know whether China would seek to militarize them,” it said.
The nonbinding accord calls on the parties to refrain from “inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features” in the South China Sea. “The development of China-Philippines relations currently has good momentum, and the two sides will continue to appropriately handle maritime issues through friendly consultation,” she added.In Manila, the Chinese Embassy referred to SCSPI’s Twitter post which said that of the four reefs mentioned, there were “no signs of land reclamation” on three – Lankiam Cay, Eldad Reef, and Whitsun Reef.
On Panata Island, one feature “had been reinforced with a new perimeter wall over the course of just a couple of months last year.”
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