PH to probe missile tests in West PH Sea
Credit to Author: DEMPSEY REYES| Date: Wed, 03 Jul 2019 16:18:01 +0000
The Philippines will investigate the reported testing of anti-ship ballistic missiles by China in the West Philippine (South China) Sea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday.
“We will conduct our own inquiry and will decide later what to do if [the reports are] proven correct,” Lorenzana told reporters in a text message.
He admitted that Manila had no “first-hand knowledge” of the situation in the contested waters.
Two United States officials claimed that China conducted a “series of anti-ship ballistic missiles tests” over the weekend at the South China Sea.
One of the officials said it was yet to be established if the missiles represent any new capability by the People’s Liberation Army.
Reports said China issued a notice to airmen, declaring an area between Hainan Island and a maritime exclusion zone off the Spratly Islands from June 30 to July 1. In the past, China had issued such notices when it conducted major ballistic missile tests.
Lt. Col. Dave Eastburn, Pentagon spokesman, had said they were “aware” of the missile testing being done by Beijing in disputed waters. He described such activities as “disturbing.”
Eastburn, in a statement, said the activities of China were in “direct contradiction” to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s pledge in 2015 that there would be no militarization on man-made posts.
The report also said in May last year Beijing “quietly” installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on the three outposts west of the Philippines.
Quoting US intelligence reports, the report said installations made by China also marked the first deployment of missiles at the Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reef, Subi (Zamora) Reef and Mischief (Panganiban) Reef, which are all located in the Spratly Islands, some features of which were occupied by Manila.
On Wednesday, US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim appealed to countries with stakes in the South China Sea to refrain from making provocative actions in the region.
Kim made the remark when asked to comment on the report that China had tested missiles in the South China Sea.
“I’ll just make a very general comment. We obviously urge all countries to refrain from provocative and unilateral actions that’s inconsistent with international norms and practices,” Kim said in a briefing.
“We have stated our position and I believe that our friends in the Philippines agree that countries such as China should refrain from such actions,” he said.
Pressed for reaction on China’s apparent continued militarization of the contested sea, Kim said, “I think we have long been concerned [about that] and it’s not just the US.”
“But, I think, countries in the region have been concerned about aggressive unilateral actions in the disputed areas including militarization in the area,” he added.
“It’s clear that countries should behave according to international practices and laws,” Kim said. “In fact China itself has indicated that it would stop militarization, but obviously that has not happened.”
WITH BERNADETTE TAMAYO
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