Philippines denies alleged reclamation project in territories it claims in Spratly Archipelago

Manila: The Philippine government denied China’s allegations that there are reclamation projects in the eight-island chain it has claimed in the Spratly Archipelago, off the South China Sea, a senior official said.

The Philippine government has delayed plans to repair a runway in one of the eight Kalayaan (Freedom) island chain claimed by the Philippine government in the Spratly Archipelago, said Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang.

“We are waiting for the decision of the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) before we can decide our next move at the Kalayaan,” said Catapang.

“We are not doing anything inside the areas that we control in the Spratly Archipelago,” said Catapang. “We are just maintaining our presence [there].”

The Philippine government has also deferred plans to strengthen its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines in the South China Sea, which is called the West Philippine Sea, said Catapang.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) grants countries 200 nautical miles EEZ starting from their shores, including 350 nautical miles baseline territory from their shores.

“It’s up to them [in China] to show photos to support the statement that we are developing in the area. If they have photos, they can show it to the world,” said Catapang.

Catapang’s statement was in response to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei who was quoted as saying the Philippines and other claimants in the South China Sea have undertaken reclamation projects.

“On Thitu Island, the Philippines is building an airport and expanding a wharf,” said Hong. “On Nanshan Island, Flat Island and others they are building “so-called tourism facilities.”

Last April 20, Catapang showed pictures of reclamation projects done by China starting 2014 on seven shoals and reefs in the South China Sea, three of which are based in the West Philippine Sea.

In 2014, the Philippine government filed before a United Nations arbitration court a complaint against China’s claim of the entire South China Sea. China has refused to participate in the case. Its reclamation projects also began in 2014.

China, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim the whole of the South China Sea. Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines claim some parts of the Spratly Archipelago based on UNCLOS provision of 200 nautical miles EEZ.

Four of the claimants belong to the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).