FILE PHOTO: Filipino soldiers march in Philippine-occupied Thitu island in the disputed South China Sea, April 21, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro
MANILA — The Philippines’ defense ministry on Thursday ordered the military to strengthen its presence in the South China Sea after monitoring “Chinese activities” in disputed waters close to a strategic Philippine-held island.
The ministry did not specify what activities those were and its statement follows a report this week of Chinese construction on four uninhabited features in the disputed Spratly islands, news that Beijing has dismissed as “unfounded.”
Any encroachment or reclamation on features within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone “is a threat to the security of Pagasa island, which is part of Philippine sovereign territory,” the ministry said in a statement, using the Filipino name for Thitu island.
“We strongly urge China to uphold the prevailing rules-based international order and refrain from acts that will exacerbate tensions,” it added.
The Chinese embassy in Manila reiterated that China strictly abides by a consensus reached among claimants, including not developing uninhabited reefs and islands.
Asked to respond to the defense ministry’s statement, it said both countries would ”properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultations.”
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which billions of dollars of goods pass each year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have overlapping claims to various islands and features.
Thitu is the most strategically important of nine features the Philippines occupies in the Spratlys, located close to Subi Reef, one of seven artificial islands China has built on submerged reefs, some with surface-to-air missiles, aircraft hangars and runways.