THE Philippines plans to file another diplomatic protest against China’s reclamation activities that have destroyed close to 300 acres of coral reef in the South China Sea, an official said Tuesday.
“We are looking into that possibility,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.
But he said the Aquino administration was not keen on seeking damage claims over China’s construction of artificial islands on the disputed reefs.
“That [seeking damages] is not something that is being considered,” Jose said.
He made his statement even as Malacañang insisted on pursuing its claim to the disputed areas in the South China Sea through diplomatic means.
“Our campaign is centered through diplomatic means, and we are continuing to coordinate with the different Asean member-countries and the entire international community,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters.
“Aside from the Asean members, there are also several members of the United Nations who are signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday called on the Senate to investigate China’s reclamation activities in the Spratly’s.
He filed Senate Resolution 1269 and said China’s activities in the disputed territories had grave national and regional security implications.
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday warned that China’s reclamation activities are “causing irreversible and widespread damage to the biodiversity and ecological balance of the South China Sea.”
China’s nine-dash-line claims ownership of almost the entire South China Sea. The other claimants to the disputed territories are the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Jose earlier raised an alarm over the comments made by his Chinese counterpart, Hua Chunying, that the reclamation would serve Beijing’s military and defense needs.
“Such statements by China only serve to raise the specter of increasing militarization and threaten peace and stability in the region,” he said.
“We call on China to stop the reclamation activities and to be mindful of its responsibilities as a claimant state and an important member of the international community.”