Chinese rocket launchers on Kagitingan Reef ‘just the start’ – Justice Carpio

The reported installation of rocket launchers by China on Kagitingan Reef (Fiery Cross Reef) is just the start of Beijing's plan to militarize its artificial islands, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Thursday.

"That is just the start because the rockets they installed [are] just short range," Carpio said.

Carpio made the remark amid reports that China has installed rocket launchers in the disputed reef to ward off Vietnamese military combat divers.

He said China has been slowly installing military hardware in its reclamation sites in the disputed waters so as not to cause an uproar from the international community.

Carpio noted that China may soon install its anti-aircraft missiles with a range of at least 200 kilometers.

"They are trying to militarize it slowly and not suddenly so that there will be no uproar," Carpio said. "Expect them to install later on their HQ9 anti-aircraft missiles with a range of 200 kilometers."  

In Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said China’s reported installation of rocket launchers on Kagitingan Reef might be raised through the bilateral consultative mechanism to be inaugurated on Friday.

“I think that will be covered by the bilateral consultative mechanism… I’m sure it will be opened up. That will be touched on,” Abella said at a media briefing. 

Carpio alleged that China’s ultimate plan is to militarize its artificial islands in the South China Sea and claim all the natural resources in its disputed waters.

"China's grand design is to control the South China Sea for economic and military purposes," he said. "China wants all the fishery, oil, gas and mineral resources within the nine-dash line."

Carpio added that China also aims to store its nuclear-armed submarines in at least five of the islands it has reclaimed, making Beijing the third nation with second-strike capabilities.

"China also wants the South China Sea as a sanctuary for its nuclear-armed submarines – free from surveillance by US submarine-hunting Poseidon airplanes or US nuclear attack submarines," Carpio said.

"China wants a second-strike nuclear capability, joining the ranks of the US and Russia," he added.

Carpio had earlier warned that it would be “game over” for the country once China succeeds in reclaiming Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal). 

He said Scarborough Shoal is the “missing puzzle” for China to have full control of the West Philippine Sea. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News