No opposition to China’s military activities in South China Sea as proclaimed by the Government of Philippines

Singapore, (17 December) : Although China has deployed anti-aircraft and missile systems in Spartly island in’ South China Sea’, Philippines will not oppose this move, is the firm stand taken by Duterte’s Government in Philippines. Philippines wishes to maintain a bilateral relationship of cooperation with China and will not be an obstacle in this oceanic region.

Two days back a famous US based Think Tank revealed this information about the military activities of China in the ‘ South China Sea ‘.The US Think Tank has claimed that China has deployed arms in the vicinity of Spartly, one of the six artificially created group of islands . The Think Tank has published satellite photographs of the anti-aircraft missiles and other radar machinery.

It was felt that Philippines who claims its authority on Spartly group of islands may react to this military move of China. It was expected that Philippines may oppose to this movement of arms. But Philippines has avoided to comment on China’s military activity in the ‘ South China Sea ‘. The Foreign Minister of Phillippines, ‘Perfecto Yasay’ has made it clear that Philippines will not condemn China for military activity in Spartly islands.

This was announced by the Foreign Minister Yasey while on a official visit to Singapore, accompanying the President of Philippines , Rodrigo Duterte. He made it clear that no action will be taken against China for proliferating arms in Spartly group of islands. Foreign Minister Yasey said, that his Government does not want to strain relations with China and jeopardise another island ‘Scarborough ‘ which is now being concentrated upon, by the Government. The Philippines Foreign Minister also responded saying let China do whatever it wants in Spartly group of islands.

China, Vietnam, Philippines, Borneo, and Taiwan are countries who are claiming authority over the three islands , Spartly, Scarborough, Perasale in ‘ South China Sea’. Out of these , Scarborough, and Spartly islands come under the territory of Philippines.

But in the last three years, China has started building artificial islands in Spartly island territory and laying claims to the entire sea sector. China had earlier declared that the artificial islands in the ‘ South China Sea ‘ were created to facilitate tourism and sea voyages. The islands will not be used for military purposes the Chinese President had said.

However, by proliferating arms on these artificial islands in the ‘South China Sea’ , China has made its motives clear, says the American Think Tank group. The experts in the group feel that China is strengthening militarily as it wants to keep its hold on the sea sector and to challenge America .