Cruise missiles in South China Sea ‘a creeping invasion’ of PHL —solon

Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate on Friday said China's installation of cruise missile systems in the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea is "a creeping invasion of the Philippines."

"This is very alarming, as it is highly condemnable. It is in fact more than militarizing the WPS. China is effectively also implementing a creeping invasion of the Philippines," Zarate said in a press statement.

United States-based news network CNBC reported on Thursday (Manila time) that China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the West Philippine Sea. 

CNBC quoted unnamed sources as saying that according to US intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days.

Zarate said China's actions is "provoking an era of arms race and volatility in the Asia-Pacific region" with no "whimper of protest from the Philippine government."

Zarate urged the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to at least file a diplomatic protest, saying China is exploiting the soft stance of the government to militarize its man-made islands in the disputed territory.

"We must not take this sitting down and we are challenging the Duterte administration to at least issue a diplomatic protest. We must also campaign against China's provocative and militarist actions in the international community," Zarate said.

"China is obviously exploiting the near the subservient stance of the Duterte administration; it's now time to end this," he added.

Another party-list lawmaker, Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano, had said the continuous aggression of China poses a threat to Philippine national security. 

The US government warned China of "near-tern and long-tern consequences" if it continues its militarization of the area. —KG, GMA News