(Photo courtesy of Center for Strategic and International Studies/Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.)
MANILA—Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez described Chinese efforts to land a military aircraft in an airfield in Fiery Cross (also known as Yongshu Reef) Sunday as “provocative”.
“(The landing) is definitely provocative (since) we have always (say) that we will address the issue through peaceful, diplomatic and the approach through UNCLOS ( United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” he added in Filipino.
Galvez was referring the issue to the ongoing Chinese’s efforts to encroach on Philippine-owned and claimed features at the West Philippine Sea.
“We will keep holding (on these options) and we are hoping UNCLOS will come out with a decision soon so that tensions in the area will ease,” he added.
Galvez expects the UNCLOS to come out with a ruling by May.
China claimed that it has landed an aircraft to Fiery Cross Reef to help in the medical evacuation of three civilian workers.