Japan called on China to adhere to it, saying it was binding, but Beijing warned Japan not to interfere.
Advertisement
The New York Times tactfully suggests these new satellite images “cast doubt on China’s vow not to militarize the disputed islands”.
In July, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte said his country would send Ramos a special envoy to China to discuss the conflict over territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
AHEAD of its Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India, state-owned Chinese media has “set the agenda” by advising New Delhi to refrain from “unnecessary entanglement” in the South China Sea imbroglio and instead focus on trade between the two countries.
Besides the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the area.
Although its recent actions in the South and East China Seas have alarmed the region and encouraged the creation of a countervailing regional security alliance hinging around the United States, China has nevertheless calibrated its activities so as to avoid the kind of destabilization that would cause military clashes with its neighbors or force a USA military intervention beyond freedom of navigation patrols.
The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published recent satellite photographs showing the construction of the hangars on three reclaimed islands where Beijing has built military bases.
A USA defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was unlikely the hangers would be used for civilian purposes.
China has repeatedly denied doing so and has in turn criticized US patrols and exercises for ramping up tensions.
China appears to be building huge, reinforced hangars for a fleet of fighter jets in the South China Sea, according to satellite images from the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.
“China has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands and nearby waters”, China’s Defence Ministry said in a faxed response to a request for comment on Tuesday.
“The number, size, and construction make it clear these are for military purposes – and they are the smoking gun that shows China has every intention of militarizing the Spratly Islands”.
In an e-mail to Rappler early Wednesday morning, August 10, Fravel said that construction of the hangars “probably began at least 6 months ago, and photos from May and June show completed hangars on Fiery Cross Reef”.
Ties around the region have been strained in the lead-up to and since The Hague ruling.
Advertisement
Tokyo lodged a series of protests over the weekend regarding renewed Chinese activity in the disputed East China Sea.
