Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay on Thursday called on China to “uncompromisingly” respect the rule of law as Beijing continues to beef up its military structures in disputed reefs in the South China despite an international tribunal ruling that invalidated its massive claim in the resource-rich waters.
Yasay, who made the statement at a joint press conference with visiting Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Davao City, said the Philippines was one with Japan in expressing “grave concern” in the situation in the South China Sea.
“We invoke and urge China to make sure that maritime order and security and the rule of law must completely and uncompromisingly be respected,” Yasay said.
The Philippines and Japan are both embroiled in separate territorial disputes with China. The Philippines is locked in a long-running sea row with China over parts its exclusive economic zone being claimed by Beijing off an area of the South China Sea that Manila calls the West Philippine Sea. Japan and China, on the other hand, are contesting ownership over islands called Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu in Chinese.
Recent satellite images show that China has reinforced construction of fighter-plane hangars in Fiery Cross, Mischief Reef and Subi Reefs – features that are within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
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