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MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has expressed its concern to China over a growing number of Chinese radio messages warning Philippine planes and ships to stay away from the newly fortified islands and to prevent them. other territories on Wednesday, a Philippine government report seen by the Associated Press showed that in the second half of last year, Philippine military aircraft received Chinese radio warnings at least 46 times in patrolling near the artificial islands. built by China in the Spratly Archipelago of the South China Sea
Chinese radio messages were "intended to intensify their tactics for our pilots performing maritime aerial surveillance in the western Philippine Sea", according to the report Filipino. South China Sea
The Philippine authorities have expressed concern twice about radio transmissions, including at a meeting with their Chinese counterparts. In Manila, earlier this year, there were long unresolved territorial disputes in Asian countries, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly
. transformed seven disputed reefs into islands using dredged sand in the Spratlys, where the new islands are now located near the islands occupied by Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan. Malaysia and Brunei are the other contenders for the chain of islands and islets and barren atolls.
The messages used came from Chinese Coast Guard ships in recent years, but the military authorities suspect that transmissions are also islands, where much more powerful communication and surveillance equipment has been installed as well as weapons. such as surface-to-air missiles.
"Our ships and planes have observed an increase in radio demands from new ground facilities." Commander Clay Doss, 7th US Fleet Public Affairs Officer, told AP by e-mail in response to questions about Chinese messages. "
" These communications do not affect our operations, "said Doss.
Although the United States does not claim the strategic waterway, its navy has deployed ships and planes in operations to promote freedom of navigation and overflight, but that China p turns as a foreign interference in an Asian dispute.
US Navy ships and aircraft communicate regularly with regional navies including the Chinese Navy. "The vast majority of these communications are professional, and when this is not the case, these issues are dealt with diplomatically. appropriate military forces, "said Doss.
A Philippine Air Force aircraft patrolling near the Chinese islands received a particularly offensive radio message at the end of January when Chinese forces warned that it "endangered the safety of the Chinese reef. ". Leave immediately and leave to avoid misunderstandings, "according to the Philippine government report.
Shortly after, the aircraft received a veiled threat:" Filipino military aircraft, I warn you again, leave immediately or you "The Philippine pilot later saw" two signals of the reef alert, "says the report, which identifies the island occupied by the Chinese as Gaven Reef.
The officials of the Chinese Embassy did not respond to requests from They repeatedly said that they had the right to build what they said was their territory and defend their sovereignty at all costs
Philippine Chief of Staff Galileo Gerard Rio Kintanar Jr. said the Filipino pilots were calmly responding to Chinese radio messages, and continue their mission as planned, adding that the greater number of radio challenges would This reflects the commitment of the Philippine army to protect the country's territory.
"They do it because of their claim in this region and we have a standard answer and continue what we do," Kintanar said.
In April of last year, Chinese forces attempted by radio to hunt two Philippine military planes carrying the country's military and defense leaders, as well as other senior security officials and about 40 journalists, at the island of Thitu, occupied by the Philippines, who called Pag-asa in the Philippines
more than 22 kilometers (14 miles) from Subi Reef, formerly a coral outcrop that Now looks like a small Chinese town with a track and a visible horizon line from the island to the Philippines when its lights shine at night.
that they wandered on its territory, and that they had to turn around to avoid any misadventure. The plane responded by saying that they were flying over the Philippine territory
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