The Department of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with various government agencies and with the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to verify reports that China has established weather observation stations in three reefs within the West Philippine Sea.
The agency said it will take appropriate measures once these reports are validated.
“The department has monitored news reports quoting officials of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that weather observation stations have been established on three features in the West Philippine Sea,” the department said in a statement.
“The department is coordinating with concerned agencies of the Philippine Government and with the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to verify the reported establishment of these facilities. The Department will take appropriate action should these reports be validated.”
Malacañang earlier said the government was looking into the alleged weather observation stations set up by China on the three reefs.
Quoting Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, a Chinese newspaper reported that China installed the weather stations on Kagitingan Reef, Subi Reef and Panganiban Reef in the West Philippine Sea.
On Monday, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Philippines would file a protest against China once the report was validated.
“These are news reports. We have not validated it. But if they are validated, I’m sure the new secretary of Foreign Affairs will do his job,” Panelo said.
READ: DFA chief taunts media: Go, fly over China stations