Recto to Duterte: Tell Chinese friends to stop militarizing West PHL Sea

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto on Friday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to use his “warm personal relationship” with Chinese leaders to stop China from militarizing the formations inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

China has reportedly installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef over the past 30 days.

“He has to encash whatever political capital he has with Beijing in asking it to honor its pledge to keep the [West Philippine Sea] a zone of peace and freedom of navigation,” Recto said in a statement.

The West Philippine Sea is that part of the South China Sea that is claimed by the Philippines.

China is laying claim to almost the entire South China Sea despite a Permanent Arbitral Court ruling in 2016 in favor of the Philippines and invalidating the Asian superpower's excessive claims in the area.

The senator said the President could also serve as “peacemaker” in asking all major powers to deescalate tension in the area, “prevent it from being a flashpoint, as our country will never benefit from any brawl that might break out  right in our own backyard.”

“Now that positive steps are underway to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, the same  must prevail in the WPS. We cannot defuse  tension in one place in Asia only to heighten it in another,” he said.

Ties with China have warmed under Duterte, who temporarily put aside maritime disputes with Beijing, looking to it to play a key role in building and funding urgently needed infrastructure. —NB, GMA News