Philippines studying protest vs Chinese structure

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is studying the steps to be taken to protest China’s establishment of a maritime rescue center at Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef in the West Philippine Sea, a senior official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

“It’s under consideration. We’re studying what steps might be taken,” Undersecretary Enrique Manalo told reporters on the sidelines of a think tank conference on The Future of US-Philippines Bilateral Relationship in Makati City.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on Saturday that the Philippines would protest China’s establishment of a center once this is verified.

He agreed with Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio that the Philippines should contest China’s construction on the Philippine-claimed Kagitingan Reef. 

Carpio said the Philippine government should file a protest to avoid the misunderstanding that it approves of China’s action at the Philippine-claimed reef and thus weaken the country’s claim over the disputed area.

But Carpio and Malacañang differed on how the Philippines should deal with China’s establishment of a maritime rescue center at Kagitingan. 

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Filipinos should be “thankful” to China for building the center even as it vowed to oppose acts that intrude into Manila’s sovereignty.