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PHL at risk if China lands bombers in Spratlys —analyst


China could soon deploy combat planes in the Spratly Islands that would place the Philippines within the Asian power's bombing range, an analyst warned Sunday.

In a report on 24 Oras, University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea director Jay Batongbacal said the whole Philippines would be at risk of bombing as China could soon deploy aircraft in the area.

"'Pag nagkaroon ng ganiyang klaseng aircraft doon sa Spratly Islands, ang buong Pilipinas ay nasa loob na ng kayang bombahin ng China," he said.

"It should be considered as a potential threat," he added.

Batongbacal made the statement after China announced the landing and taking off of H-6K long-range bomber planes on Woody Island within the Paracels group.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiate had said that the militarization of Woody Island may play a role in China's supposed plan to build large hangars on all of its outposts in the Spratlys including the Subi, Mischief and Fiery Cross reefs.

It said China's facilities on the three reefs can accommodate H-6 series bombers and large transport, patrol and refueling aircraft.

Batongbacal said the Philippines must request for a dialog between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which the Philippines is a member.

"Nasa kalagitnaan ng ASEAN ang South China Sea... Historically, ang ASEAN, ay naging battleground ang ASEAN region," he said.

For its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the South China Sea dispute was among the topics discussed by officials of the Philippines and the United States in a meeting in Hawaii.

The DFA also reiterated durign the meeting that geopolitical tensions in the area have also eased under the current administration.

In speeches made in Cebu over the weekend, President Rodrigo Duterte said reiterated that he will not engage in war, given the country's limited resources and considering that China has "always been conciliatory."

"Bakit ko isubo ang buhay ng mga sundalo ko pati ng mga pulis ko in a battle which I cannot win?" he said. —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/ALG, GMA News

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