Philippines orders troops to South China Sea reefs
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday he had ordered troops to deploy on unoccupied South China Sea islands, boosting the military presence on remote reefs claimed by Manila in a move that could provoke rival claimants including Beijing.
“It looks like everybody is making a grab for the islands there, so we better live on those that are still vacant,” he said during a televised visit to a military camp on the western island of Palawan, near the disputed Spratly group.
China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea despite rival claims from southeast Asian neighbours and has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.
Duterte has previously sought to improve his nation’s relations with Beijing by adopting a non-confrontational approach over their competing claims in the strategically vital waters.
But the president appeared to alter his tone with his announcement yesterday, saying it was time to erect structures there and raise the Philippine flag. “I have ordered the armed forces to occupy all,” Duterte said.
“At least, let us get what is ours now and make a strong point there that it is ours.”
He said Manila was claiming nine or 10 Spratly islands, reefs and cays.
The defence department later said nine outcrops were already in the Philippines’ possession and occupied by marines, including Thitu island, where the Philippine military maintains an airstrip.
It suggested the plan was to beef up contingents on the reefs.
“The president wants facilities built such as barracks for the men, water [desalination] and sewage disposal systems, power generators, lighthouses, and shelters for fishermen,” the department said.