The Chinese coast guards landed on an island played with Philippines in the South China Sea to “exercise the sovereignty” of Beijing, according to a state average, an initiative that could tense relations with Manila.
The Chinese put the flag on the island of photo: x
China claims the quasi -totality of the islands and reefs of the South China Sea. It challenges the decision of an international arbitration court that its claims have no legal basis.
Several countries, including Philippines and Vietnam, have rival claims on several islands in this maritime area and oppose Beijing on this topic. In fact, Manila is currently participating in joint military exercises with the US, which Beijing claims to be destabilizing for the region, writes Agerpres.
Chinese coastal guard 'instituted a maritime control ” In the middle of April on the small Tiexian island, also known as the English Sandy Cay, the Chinese state television CCTV announced on Saturday.
This small island is part of the Spratleys archipelago and is a few kilometers away from Thitu Island, the largest island controlled by the Philippines in the archipelago.
Chinese coastal guards have landed on Tiexian for “to exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction “ Beijing, as well as to carry out a “inspection”, said CCTV.
The channel made public pictures of four coast guards who posed with a Chinese flag on the island. According to the British newspaper Financial Times, who cites a Philippine manager under the protection of anonymity, the Chinese coast guards left the island after placing the Chinese flag.
No sign indicates that China occupies permanent Tiexian or has started building a structure in this place, AFP notes.
The Philippine and American armed forces began on April 21, three weeks of common annual exercises called “Balika“(” shoulder to shoulder “in Tagalog), which shows a common front against China in the region.
These military maneuvers show 'Not only our will to respect our mutual defense treaty in force from 1951, but also our unparalleled ability to do so “said the American general of Marine James Glynn on the occasion of an opening ceremony on Sunday, from Manila.
“Nothing allows weaving ties faster than shared adversity“he added, without specifying what common threat refers to.
Beijing stated that these maneuvers “undermines stability ” regional and accused Manila of “complicity with countries outside the region.”
