Palace: Technology to verify China’s missile installations to arrive in PHL in August
The Philippines will acquire by August the technology armed with the capability to verify China's reported missile installations on Manila-claimed reefs in the South China Sea, Malacañang said Tuesday.
"It will be delivered within the year. If I’m not mistaken the month mentioned to me was August, so we are procuring that equipment and it’s coming soon," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a press briefing.
Roque did not say from which country the equipment was purchased.
US news network CNBC reported early this month that China had installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on its outposts in the Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef.
On May 16, President Rodrigo Duterte admitted knowing about China's militarization in the South China Sea, including areas that Philippines enjoys sovereign rights.
Duterte, however, indicated that he saw no need to question the deployment of China's air assets to Manila-claimed reefs
"There is an airport. There are missiles there installed. There are military equipment already in place. So what's the point of questioning whether the planes land there or not? There's an airstrip," the President said.
The United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration delivered in July 2016 a sweeping victory to the Philippines on the case it filed against China during the term of then-President Benigno Aquino III, declaring as illegal China's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.
It also declared that Beijing violated the rights of Filipinos, who were blocked by Chinese Coast Guard from fishing in the disputed Scarborough Shoal off Zambales.
Duterte, however, temporarily set aside the ruling to avoid confrontation with China, but vowed to raise it at the right time during his presidency. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News