MALACAÑANG on Friday, May 4, expressed concern over China's reported installation of missile systems on three of its fortified outposts in the contested South China Sea, which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea.
"We are concerned with the reported China's missile deployments over the contested areas in the West Philippine Sea," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.
According to a May 2 report by CNBC, China has quietly beefed up its militarization of its artificial islands in the contested waters, as it deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles on Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reef, Subi (Zamora) Reef, and Mischief (Panganiban) Reef in the Spratly Islands.
The three features where China allegedly installed missile systems are also being claimed by the Philippines.
The missile platforms were reportedly installed in Beijing's outposts over the past 30 days, the CNBC reported.
The report revealed that China's YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missile can strike surface vessels within 295 nautical miles of the artificial islands. The HQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missile, on the other hand, can target aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles.
The deployment of missile weapons came in the wake of Beijing's installation of military jamming equipment on Fiery and Mischief reefs.
Despite the Philippines' mended ties with China, Beijing has continued to assert its extensive claims to the disputed waterway.
Roque said that while the Philippines maintaines "close" relations with China, Manila would seek a diplomatic solution to address the recent development.
"With our recently developed close relationship and friendship with China, we are confident that those missiles are not directed at us," Roque said.
"Be that as it may, we would explore all diplomatic means to address this issue," he added.
Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate also expressed alarm over the Chinese missile deployment.
The CNBC report came weeks after two Chinese military transport planes were photographed on Panganiban Reef, which is located within the Philippines' 370 kilometer exclusive zone in the West Philippine Sea.
"This is very alarming, as it is highly condemanble. It is in fact more than militarizing the WPS. China is effectively also implementing a creeping invasion of the Philippines, unfortunately, without even a whimper of protest from the Philippine government," said the solon.
"China is obviously exploiting the near the subservient stance of the Duterte administration; it's now time to end this," he added. (With Keith A. Calayag/VoxPop Philippines)
