PHL eyeing diplomatic action vs. China if planes in Mischief true

The Philippines is prepared to take “diplomatic action” against China if it confirms the presence of Chinese military planes in the Mischief Reef in the South China Sea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Wednesday.

A newspaper published a photograph showing two Chinese military transport planes on the reef, locally known as Panganiban Reef, which is part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The image taken on January 6 showed two Xian Y-7 military planes 20 to 50 meters apart on the ramp near Runway 21 of the reef.

“We are taking the diplomatic action,” Cayetano said.

Asked if a diplomatic protest is one of the options, Cayetano replied: “Yes, it may include that and it depends when and how.”

“We have to wait for the military to verify. If it’s our pictures the military will tell us right away. If it’s not our pictures, then they’ll have to verify, but we do know that there are activities taking place," Cayetano said.

Sattelite images show that China has reinforced construction of fighter-plane hangars in Fiery Cross, Mischief Reef and Subi Reefs—features that are all within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.

“We have never been ignorant as to what is happening in the different features that’s why we are thankful to our allies that they’re helping us increase our capability to monitor,” Cayetano said.

“But I can assure you that the red lines that we’ve drawn including the inhabiting the inhabiting or building uninhabited areas are not being done," he 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 had “indisputable” and “historical” claim over nearly the entire South China Sea. —NB, GMA News