MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has urged China to “temper” its behavior in the South China Sea in a rare criticism of the Asian superpower over its program of island-building in disputed waters.
China has alarmed and angered its neighbors by claiming dominion over most of the South China Sea and building a string of artificial islands and military air bases.
But the outspoken Duterte — keen to court trade and investment from Beijing — has mostly withheld criticism.
In a change of tone, Duterte said in a speech late Tuesday to business entrepreneurs that China had no right to claim airspace above man-made islands.
Philippine officials have claimed military pilots are repeatedly warned off by Beijing as their planes approach Philippine-held Thitu island, which lies beside a Chinese air base built on top of Subi Reef.
“You cannot create an island. It’s man-made and you say that the air above this artificial island is yours,” Duterte said, according to a transcript released by the presidential palace Wednesday.
“That is wrong because those waters are what (one) would consider international sea. And the right of innocent passage is guaranteed,” said Duterte, who did not refer to any specific incident.
He added that he did not want to “quarrel” with China.
The comments follow allegations in May of Chinese harassment of Filipino troops at another South China Sea garrison.
Duterte’s national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon told reporters at the time that the Philippines could go to war “if our people are hurt there.”
There was no immediate response from the Chinese embassy in Manila.
In May China landed several combat aircraft — including the long-range, nuclear-capable H-6K — at another island airfield in the sea for the first time, triggering international concern.
Despite this, it has denied militarizing the area, through which roughly a third of all global maritime trade passes.
An international maritime tribunal ruled early in Duterte’s presidency in 2016 that China’s claims to the area have no legal basis.
The Philippines is a military ally of the US, which says it is not taking sides in the various South China Sea territorial disputes.
However, the US navy has forcefully asserted its right to freedom of navigation in the area, repeatedly sailing close to the man-made islands and drawing Chinese protests.
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims in the sea.
Philippine President Duterte urges Beijing to ‘temper’ behavior in South China Sea
Philippine President Duterte urges Beijing to ‘temper’ behavior in South China Sea
- China has alarmed and angered its neighbors by claiming dominion over most of the South China Sea
- ‘You cannot create an island. It’s man-made and you say that the air above this artificial island is yours’
China acts against 40 Japanese entities over military ties
BEIJING: China’s commerce ministry took action against 40 Japanese companies and entities on Tuesday, citing national security concerns over their military ties.
It imposed export controls on 20 entities, including Mitsubishi and the Japanese space agency, accusing them of helping to enhance Japan’s military capabilities.
The ministry added a further 20 Japanese entities, including Subaru, to a “watch list” requiring stricter reviews of exports of “dual-use items.”
“The above measures are aimed at curbing Japans’ ‘remilitarization’ and nuclear ambitions and are completely legitimate, reasonable and lawful,” a commerce ministry statement said.
“China’s lawful listing actions target only a small number of Japanese entities, relevant measures target dual-use items and do not impact normal economic and trade between China and Japan,” it said, adding that “honest and law-abiding Japanese entities have nothing to worry about.”
Companies can apply to be removed from the “watch list” if they cooperate with Beijing’s verification terms.
China has ramped up pressure on its neighbor since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo may react militarily to an attack on Taiwan, which Beijing has vowed to seize control of by force if necessary.
Last month, Beijing announced a broad ban on the export of “dual-use” goods with potential military applications.
China has since begun restricting exports to Japanese companies of scarce and expensive “heavy” rare earths, as well as the powerful magnets containing them, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing two exporters in China.
