spot_img
29 C
Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

PH protests China lighthouses

- Advertisement -

CHINA claimed on Wednesday that the two lighthouses it had just completed at Cuarteron and Johnson Reefs in the Spratly’s group of islands was part of China’s sovereignty despite the Philippines’ protestation that Beijing violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In a statement posted on its website, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the two reefs, which they called Huayang and Chigua reefs, are “completely within China’s sovereignty,” and denied that China was trying to bolster its hold over the islands.

The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly protested China’s construction and operation of lighthouses on the two reefs and reiterated that these features are either part of the Philippine’s continental shelf or exclusive economic zone under the UNCLOS.

DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said that these actions are obviously intended to change actual conditions on the ground and aimed at bolstering China’s territorial claim in the South China Sea.

“I want to stress that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha islands and surrounding waters,” Hua said. 

- Advertisement -

“We have expounded our principled position on the construction and operation of lighthouses on Huayang Reef and Chigua Reef on different occasions. China has unquestionable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters,” Hua said.

“There is no need for us to bolster sovereignty claims by building lighthouses. The construction activities on the relevant islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands are carried out fully within the range of Chinese sovereignty,” she added.

The Chinese Ministry spokesperson said that the setting up of civilian facilities and facilities for public interests on its territory, aims to better serve the littoral countries of the South China Sea and vessels passing through these waters.

“There is no such a thing as changing actual conditions,” Hua added.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles