“I can assure you this is the basis of 42 years as a soldier and six years serving as a former Philippine president, that no one in the world wants World War III to happen except for some insane guys”, Mr. Ramos said.
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He says the goal of the trip is to meet “old friends” and try to restore an amical dialogue.
The Hague ruled last month that China did not have historic rights to the region.
Yet the report entrenches fears of militarisation and potential conflicts in the South China Sea, the most contentious issue in east Asia. Agencies including the Coast Guard would act together closely to deal with the situation, Suga said. Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims. It has already seized the Scarborough Shoal from the Phillipines, in 2012, which led to Manila bringing its case to The Hague. The largest hangers could accommodate the Y-20 and IL-76 transport planes, IL-78 refueling tanker, and KJ-2000 surveillance aircraft.
Construction of hangars on the Mischief Reef (pictured below) are at an earlier stage than the other two reefs.
Judging by the rapid construction of reinforced hangars at all three facilities, CSIS say this is likely to change.
Pictures taken in late July show the hangars constructed on Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief Reefs in the Spratly islands, have room for any fighter jet in the Chinese air force, the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Ramos on Monday officially began his mission as special envoy to China with a trip to Hong Kong to break the ice with old Chinese friends in the hope of rekindling relations with the superpower country, which has been strained by the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
China’s building efforts on the Fiery Cross Reef (pictured below) show two potential military hangars on the southern end of the runway.
China refused to participate in the case or recognize the ruling, and strongly criticised the United States for encouraging its ally to pursue the matter, according to AP.
The move comes as the number of Chinese coastguard ships around the Diaoyu Islands rose to as many as 13 on Tuesday, according to the Japanese coast guard – a record number since China started sending ships to the region in September 2012 after Japan “nationalized” the islands.
In February, China deployed surface-to-air missile launchers on Woody Island, dramatically upping the stakes in the South China Sea.
While China may assert that the structures are for civilian aircraft or other nonmilitary functions, the center says its satellite photos strongly suggest otherwise.
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A USA navy commander said it had not been confirmed that the hangers were for military use, but uncertainty about them could add to tension.
