Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s rapprochement with China, a gambit that has traded security concessions for economic and investment largesse, has once again been undermined by developments in the South China Sea.
Undisclosed sources, most likely from the Philippine defense establishment, gave the Philippine Daily Inquirer a new cache of satellite images which show China has virtually completed its militarization of the artificially-created islands it controls in the contested maritime area. The high-resolution photos were published on the liberal newspaper’s website on Monday.
Last year, defense establishment sources handed satellite imagery of suspicious Chinese activity close to Philippine-controlled Thitu Island, also in the South China Sea, to members of the opposition and the media. Those photos, too, raised questions about Duterte’s accommodation with China.
The latest aerial footage shows a sprawling network of runways, advanced weaponries and storage facilities across Philippine-claimed land features in the Spratly Islands, namely on the Fiery Cross, Cuerteron, Gaven, Johnson South, Mischief, Subi and McKennan reefs.
As one prominent Chinese academic from Xiamen University’s Southeast Asian Studies Center told the ultra-nationalist Global Times newspaper, “China has the right to build whatever it needs within its territory” in the South China Sea.
Earlier this year, Beijing openly celebrated its expanding military footprint across disputed land features, having reclaimed as much as 290 square meters to augment its already large artificial islands. China admitted that it has deployed advanced radar systems to the area, a supposedly reasonable move for defensive purposes.
The news of Chinese fait accompli in militarizing the features immediately unlashed a firestorm in the Philippines, with prominent statesmen prodding the government to take a tougher stance.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, a leading national voice on South China Sea issues, lambasted the Duterte administration’s “policy of appeasement”, which has further “embolden[ed] China to further militarize its artificial islands in the Spratlys.”
“Has the Philippines been sold? It’s worrisome to see that China’s military bases are almost complete in the [South China Sea],” lamented Senator Benigno Aquino IV, a relative of former president Aquino and a leading voice of opposition.
“While their warships are in our seas, we continue to give in to their whims and, all the while, we are kept in the dark as to our government’s dealings with China,” the senator complained. Previous President Benigno Aquino III confronted China and drew closer to the US for strategic assurances.
Congressman Carlos Isagani Zarate, member of the left-leaning bloc in the lower house of Congress, lambasted the “inaction and deafening silence” of the Duterte administration. He called on the government to end its “see-no-evil; speak-no-evil; hear-no-evil” approach to what he views as “blatant violation of our sovereignty” by China.
Even Duterte’s supporters as well as independent legislators began to air concerns over the Philippine Daily Inquirer photos.
“Any statement from the Philippines that it cannot stop China from militarizing its artificial islands, or from undertaking new reclamations, is actually telling China to proceed because the Philippines will not stand in the way,” said Carpio.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, launched a hearing which indirectly questioned the wisdom of Duterte’s China-friendly policy.
He complained that the administration has taken a softer stance on South China Sea issues in exchange for economic benefits, but so far “none of these China loans have been consummated.”
“There were intentions of lending to the Philippines, there were intentions of granting loans to the Philippines, but until now it has not been effected,” Gatchalian said
The latest data shows that Chinese investment in the Philippines expanded by 15% in 2017 from a relatively low base of 1.40 billion pesos in 2016. In contrast, Japanese investment increased by 23.79% over the same period, from a large base of 25.43 billion pesos in 2016 to 31.48 billion pesos in 2017.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former police chief and veteran legislator, openly suggested that the country might need to wait out the current administration, hoping that its successor “won’t be too cozy with China.” Duterte is currently serving the second year of a six-year term.
During a press conference, presidential spokesman Harry Roque immediately sought to downplay the issue, suggesting that the land features were “reclaimed during the time of the former administration,” thus “whether or not we like it, they intended to use them as military bases.”
To the chagrin of many observers, Roque expressed unabashed resignation, stating, “So, what do you want us to say? All that we could do is to extract a promise from China not to reclaim any new artificial islands,” which they have violated, according to the latest satellite images.
He insisted that the Philippines has little to none options, since the country “cannot declare war. Not only is it illegal, but it is also… because it’s impossible for us to declare war at this point.”
Caprio immediately lambasted Roque’s defeatist pronouncement, warning that “any statement from the Philippines that it cannot stop China from militarizing its artificial islands, or from undertaking new reclamations, is actually telling China to proceed because the Philippines will not stand in the way.”
Amid massive public backlash, Duterte made a surprising announcement on February 6 that it will halt all marine scientific research activities with foreign countries in the Benham Rise. His government had recently given a state-linked Chinese think tank to “survey” the strategically significant area with local researchers.
Apparently eager to shore up his patriotic credentials, the Filipino president declared the whole area, which resides on the eastern flank of the country, as off-limit to foreigners, including China.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told this writer that the Philippines will now proceed with repairing its facilities, particularly the runway, on Thitu Island in the South China Sea. The move is likely to solicit huge Chinese opposition, but the Philippine defense establishment intends to show its willingness to stand up to its new friend when necessary.
LOL those photographs are WEAK. How about take pictures of all the US military and spying assets that flew through the SCS in the same time frame and present them as "militarization"? You’d get a much better case.
South East Asian Countries has Philippine, Obama and Aquino to thank for this new China and mess in South China sea. For decades, the issue of sovereignty in South China Sea were buried deep in the sea, nations are all focusing on cooperation. Then Obama offered bait to Asian countries with its pivot to Asia, and Aquino and Abe of Japan bit the bait. Aquino send Philippine Navy to block Chinese fishermen from fishing in Scarborough, even though fishermen from China and Philippine had both fishing in that sea freely for centuries despite the dispute. Meanwhile Abe in Japan suddenly got the genius idea of nationalizing Senkaku/Diaoyu island. Both Aquino and Abe bet on Obama’s pivot to Asia, and practically want to change the status quo. Both expected China to sit and accept this new status quo. But China isn’t a lamb. It takes two to tango, and needless to say China fought back. Now Chinese navy and air force regularly patrolling near Diaoyu. While in South China Sea, China built islands. Now Philippine, probably regretted its provocation, want every thing to return to the previous status quo. But Philippine is dreaming if they think China who spent billions of dollars to build the islands will want to revert every thing to before. The best thing Philippine can hope is that they still have a place in this new status quo.
Thanks to the US show of force, China has a perfect reason to militarize its South China Sea.
Just like Georgia and Ukraine, Philippine is just the lates pawn sacrificed by uncle Sam to further his own national interest in this grand chess game. Duterte tried hard to pull Philippine out of this chess game, but unfortunately, it is already too late. There are plenty of Filipinos, who are happy to let their country become pawn in this chess game, while they are watching from safe distance in their new home in California, sipping may tay, all paid by their American master.
The so called Nobel Pease Prize laureate Obama should have this honor stripped from him for intentionally create division and conflicts in SCS. Shame on this idiot and troublemaker.
John Chang
nobel peace prize is just a political farce, after all, they gave it to obama who has just become president at that time and haven’t done anything at all to further peace cause.
I think China should own the other 3 seas closer to home. As far as history is concerned, Chinese people must begin fishing and traveling in these 3 seas earlier than they went farther to SCS to fish and travel. Therefore China has a stronger reason to own the closer seas than the faraway SCS.
A new world order was established by WWII victors right after WWII. China announced the Dash Lines for the South China Sea, physically claimed the features within the Lines with USA support and received no renunciation from WWII victors including USA. That means China has sovereignty of those features and the sovereign right to do whatever is appropriate on them. When Vietnam, Philipines and others were granted their independence, no features within the Lines were granted as their territories. That means the territories they occupy right now within the Lines were illegallly stolen from China.
can you blame China for militarizing the dispute when Philippine, at the encouragement of the US, tried to militarize the dispute first? Philippine was the first one that tried to block Chinese fishermen from entering their traditional fishing ground by sending navy ships to block them. If China just stay quiet at the time, it won’t be long before the Malacca Strait is block. After all, for years the US has threaten to cut off China’s access to Malacca Strait. Like I said, China isn’t a lamb, it is a dragon. You poke it at your own risk. Philippine has poked it, now enjoy the consequences.
Che lol what a lame ass response. Chinese air is more polluted I heard.
Alex Wijaya the Philippine Navy was operating on prevailing principles that Scarborough Shoal fall under our jurisdiction. If ever there was any agreement contrary to this, then China of have laid it out on the proper body. China is still a part of the United Nations. Or sought dialogue in the first place. It is only about fishing rights right? Why even escalate the issue to a military one? Unless it’s the real objective in the first place. No we didn’t poke the dragon. It woke up hungry
Those pictures were leaked to the press to hurt babae Duterte. He should halt further cooperation until the chinos start paying up, no money, no honey babae.
Mike Pias
"the Philippine Navy was operating on prevailing principles that Scarborough Shoal fall under our jurisdiction"
You can say the same about Chinese navy then. You see, people can argue till eternity, but each side will claim they’re the right one. That is why the previous leadership in both countries chose to shelve this issue, and instead focus on cooperation. The problem is why the Philippine navy suddenly blocked Chinese fishermen from entering Scarborough, even though both Chinese and Filipino fishermen have fished in that sea for centuries. Not to mention it happened not too long after Obama announced his pivot to Asia policy. Do you expect the Chinese to just keep quiet after you block their fishermen? If you want to challenge China militarily then don’t cry wolf when China fight back. It is actually hilarious that Philippine at first try to kick China out militarily, but when China fight back, Philippine try to bring this case to arbitration court.
Alex Wijaya Panatag Shoal is just the latest of militarization by China in the South China Sea. Spratly Islands are potentially resource rich islands. But Panatag Shoal? Its hundred of miles from the spratlys. It’s real value is strategic. It’s very near the coast where the former US naval base was and is still in occasional use by visiting US forces. I believe China is only using Chinese fishing as an excuse. While spratly issue is a multinational dispute that can potentially isolate China, the Panatag issue hurts only one: us. With a military next to nil, can you blame us calling for help? Panatag Shoal is only a few hundred miles from my home area. Won’t you Be nervous? But no of course not, you’re not even Filipino
Alex Wijaya I liked Obama at the time, but that was one of the most ridiculous things I ever saw. Give him the prize before he’s had a chance to do anything. His advisers should have told him to refuse.
It’s a fair point for the headline to say China is "militarizing [the] South China Sea," but there is one major contrary fact: the US has nuclear submarines throughout the area already, with missiles aimed at China, so the SCS is already "militarized." I don’t see the logic of the "nine-dash line," but I do see that China simply cannot accept the current situation, for reasons of national security, and is forced to try to exert some control.
idiot