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China's Spratlys weather stations serve military purposes – Batongbacal
MANILA, Philippines – Beijing's weather monitoring stations on the Spratly Islands should also be seen as a continuous development and improvement of military outposts in elements claimed by Manila, said a marine surveyor.
Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the University of the Philippines, said that China's recent activities on its artificial islands should be considered in the context of its efforts to gain de facto control of the South China Sea. which is the sea of the Western Philippines.
"Even though they may provide public goods, they are part of their primary role as an integral part of China's military bases, and they are also used for military purposes because all important / important military bases have their own weather services to support their usual military operations, such as launching and landing planes and ships, "Batongbacal told Facebook.
The operation of weather monitoring stations at three Spratly Islands sites – the Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs – is also part of Beijing's long-term efforts to assert its rights and exercise sovereignty over the disputed waterway.
"The acceptance of these" public goods "could be considered as an acquiescence in the Chinese civil administration and the control of this maritime region," he added.
No need to check
At a press briefing on Monday, the spokesman for President Salvador Panelo said that the government had still not received any confirmation on China's operations regarding the Spratly Islands weather stations.
The Malacañang spokesman said that this information was "only" news despite the official announcement of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"There is no reason to doubt and" verify "this information since it is an official announcement by MOFA spokesman," Batongbacal said.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Elmer Cato said the FDFA is coordinating its activities with relevant government agencies and the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to verify the information.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang confirmed this statement at a press conference on November 1 stating that the projects were "designed to observe the maritime, hydrological and meteorological conditions and qualities atmospheric, as well as to provide services such as marine warnings and forecasts, tsunami warning and weather forecasting, air quality forecasting, disaster prevention and relief ".
Lu added that the projects would provide more "public services" to the countries of the region and guarantee freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
"As a major responsible country, China will continue to fulfill its obligations and commitments with concrete actions and make the desired contribution to the security of the South China Sea and the benefits of the people of that region," M added. Lu.
Protest against China's actions
Batongbacal urged the Philippine government to protest against the establishment of such facilities in China, which also play a role on military bases, although they were initially designed to "provide a public good".
"The Philippines should protest China's latest move, as it is part of a larger effort to assert its long-term claims of China's sovereignty / rights and unilaterally impose its position to other coastal states, "said Batongbacal.
Panelo had previously stated that the FDFA would take the necessary diplomatic measures once the Philippine government has confirmed the declared operation of the weather monitoring facilities in the Spratlys.
Echoing Malacañang's statement, the FDFA also stated that it would "take appropriate action if these reports were validated".
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