Navy: Heavy equipment, construction vehicles seen
THE Philippine Navy yesterday said China is putting up more structures at the Chinese-occupied Subi Reef in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the military is continuously monitoring these constructions at Subi Reef in the West Philippine Sea.
Subi Reef, also called Zamora Reef, is about 12 to 15 nautical miles from Pag-asa Island which is the largest among the Philippine-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea.
“We have noticed improvements on their bases on Subi Reef,” he said. Trinidad could not immediately say the extent of the constructions “but there are structures being built.”
“There are heavy equipment on Subi Reef right now… We monitored the presence of construction vehicles, heavy equipment, the putting up of more structures on Subi Reef,” said Trinidad.
“We have been monitoring this,” he said, adding they have notified concerned authorities about the ongoing Chinese activity.
Subi Reef is one of several Chinese-occupied features subjected to land reclamation years ago, which have been turned into “functional military bases.”
Trinidad said the Chinese reclamation, conducted from 2011 to 2013, has covered some 3,000 hectares.
“There are no new reclamations, only construction, improvement of facilities,” he said.
Trinidad said China has “already militarized” these reclaimed areas which now have airstrips, and harbors for warships.
“There are structures on land that we can only surmise are aircraft hangars. They have military grade communications equipment (in these areas),” he said.
Asked if there are similar constructions at the Chinese-occupied Mischief Reef, about 20 nautical miles from the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal, Trinidad said, “It would be safe to say that there is continuous maintenance on Mischief.”
SABINA SHOAL
The military is also monitoring the presence of two Chinese vessels at Sabina Shoal, an unoccupied feature about 71 nautical miles from mainland Palawan.
Trinidad sought to downplay insinuations there is a standoff between Philippine and Chinese vessels at the shoal.
“It’s not a standoff,” he said, adding that a Philippine Coast Guard vessel was sent to the area sometime in April to ensure there is no man-made pile up of crushed corals in the area.
China deployed a “monster ship” and a research vessel at the shoal last July 3 and July 30. The two vessels are still in the area as of yesterday.
“We’re watching them, they are watching us… We have increased presence in Sabina Shoal or Escoda Shoal just to ensure that there is no man-made activity to pile up crushed corals on the shoal,” Trinidad said.
“We are monitoring their presence… We have our own ships under the Philippine Navy Naval Forces West doing the regular patrols in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
On the possibility China will occupy Sabina Shoal, Trinidad said, “It will take more than one (Coast Guard) ship for them to do that.”
Trinidad said the military has informed higher authorities about the activity of the research vessel, which he said has not made any request from the Department of Foreign Affairs to conduct such survey.
“We have to leave it up to our appropriate government agency how to deal with hydrographic surveys or marine scientific research within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” said Trinidad.
Meanwhile, the Navy reported an increase in the number of Chinese vessels at 10 features in the West Philippine Sea.
From 104 Chinese Coast Guard, Navy and militia vessels monitored from July 23 to 29, the number increased to 122 for the period of July 30 to August 5.
The 122 ships are composed of 105 militia vessels, 12 from the Coast Guard, and three Navy ships.
Thirty-eight of these vessels were monitored at Pag-asa Island — 37 militia vessels and one Coast Guard vessel.
