DND calls for more int’l pressure vs China

The Department of National Defense has called for more international pressure against China’s massive reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“I think we need some more [international pressure]. We just have to continue, we have to be really patient. At the same time we are going through this path, we have to maintain our moral high ground,” defense spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo.

“There are several sectors [expressing concern]—the European Union, G7. That should be enough for China to realize that what they are doing is contrary to the international law. We call on them, magising na kayo sa katotohanan,” Galvez said.

“We need to continue our advocacy of informing everyone and of course the international community on what’s happening. We need this kind of pressure. Let’s not discount the value of informing and telling people and making them understand what’s really happening. We need to counter the lies behind these claims,” he said.

China on Tuesday said some of their reclamation activities in the disputed Spratlys (Kalayaan Island Group) would be completed in the upcoming days. They did not identify which of the seven artificial islands would soon finish construction activities.

Galvez said they were still validating the reports on the completion of the reclamation.

“Let’s not forget the main issue is their nine-dash line. It’s very erroneous. First it’s very wrong. Number two, we should remember that all these things are contrary to the Declaration of Conduct. Third, the construction activities are really bothersome. We don’t know what they will be putting there,” he said.

China has made rapid progress in its reclamation activities in the disputed waterway. It claims most parts of the South China Sea, but it has been disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam and other neighboring countries.