PHL to take ‘appropriate action’ vs. China if weather stations in SCS verified — DFA

The Philippines is prepared to take “appropriate action” against China once it verifies the reported construction of weather observation stations in Chinese-occupied artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

A report last week by the South China Morning Post said the weather stations are on Fiery Cross, Subi, and Mischief Reefs in the contested Spratly Islands.

It features equipment for basic ground and atmospheric observation and radars, it added.

The reported establishment of the weather stations came less than a month before the scheduled visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines in late November as both countries affirmed improved ties since Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency in June 2016.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang was quoted by the paper as saying that the weather system intends to "ensure navigational safety" in the South China Sea.

"The department has monitored news reports quoting officials of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that weather observation stations have been established on three features in the West Philippine Sea. The Department is coordinating with concerned agencies of the Philippine Government and with the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to verify the reported establishment of these facilities," a DFA statement said.

"The Department will take the appropriate action should these reports be validated," it added.

China claims a huge swathe of the South China Sea as part of its territory, but the Permanent Court of Arbitration tribunal in The Hague invalidated this claim in July 12, 2016 following a case filed by the Philippines in 2013.

Beijing has ignored and belittled the ruling, maintaining it has “indisputable” and “historical” claim over nearly the entire waters even as it encroaches on the territories of its smaller neighbors like the Philippines.

Undersea gas, oil and mineral deposits have been discovered in several areas in the South China Sea. China has also claimed and developed some features within the West Philippine Sea.

Despite friendly ties with Duterte, China’s aggressive stance in the tense waters persisted as it beefed up its reclamation activities in disputed areas and transformed previously submerged features into artificial islands with multi-level buildings and runways. It has also installed surface-to-air missiles in these areas, triggering concerns from countries, such as the US, Japan and Australia.

The Duterte administration has avoided criticizing such actions, but insisted that it will not concede a single inch of Philippine territory to China, which claims “indisputable sovereignty” over 90 percent of the waters. — RSJ, GMA News