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Ph to tighten eye on shoals, reefs, islets
By J.Lo
"No one will guard these locations except us… our responsibility under international law to guard them and ensure environment there would not be damaged and that there won't be reclamation activities," National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya told regular television program Philippines would keep closer guard on reefs, shoals and islets in its exclusive economic zone in South China Sea, alarmed by reports of new reclamation activities by China, which Beijing denied.
Philippine Coast Guard had deployed ship to Sabina (Escoda) Shoal on Spratly archipelago, where it accused China of building artificial island, having documented what it said were piles of dead and crushed coral on sandbars.
Malaya said NSC chief Eduardo Año had ordered tighter guard at locations within Manila's 200-nautical-mile economic zone, as long-standing diplomatic row with Beijing intensifies.
China claims almost all South China Sea, including parts claimed by Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, and has carried out extensive land reclamation on some islands, building military facilities, causing concern in Washington and the region.
China's foreign ministry dismissed Manila's latest accusation as "groundless and pure rumor."
"Recently, Philippine side has repeatedly spread rumors, deliberately smeared China and attempted to mislead international community, which is futile," spokesman Wang Wenbin told regular briefing.
He urged Manila to "return to right track of properly settling maritime disputes through negotiation and consultation."
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said its presence at Escoda Shoal had deterred China from doing small-scale reclamation, but that scientists would have to determine whether piles of coral were natural or man-made.
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He said coast guard was committed to maintaining presence at the shoal, just over 120 nautical miles from Philippine province of Palawan.
To deter China's activities, PCG deployed 97-meter BRP Teresa Magbanua to Escoda Shoal and which has stayed in the area for 26 days as of Saturday.
Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 that Beijing's claims in South China Sea, vital waterway, had no basis under international law, decision China rejects.
Sabina Shoal, known locally as Escoda, is rendezvous point for vessels resupplying Filipino troops stationed on grounded warship at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, where Manila and China have had frequent run-ins.
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