Philippines: Consternation over US\China War Games

The Philippines has condemned what they would term Chinese aggressiveness with the aid of the US in disputed regional waters. As part of their campaign against Chinese encroachment, the Philippine military chief General Gregorio Catapang has revealed the satellite photos of recent Chinese construction over seven reefs and shoals in the Spratly archipelago of the flashpoint South China Sea. He told that the move by the Chinese Government would deter freedom of navigation, and that military purposes has reigned supreme over all other concerns.

Having commenced colossal reclamation work on reefs and islets, China has claimed the disputed parts of the sea in recent years and has built islands for military purposes. Even though China claims sovereignty over the resource rich and strategically important sea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have countered it vehemently. Interviewed by AFP last week, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said that the world should fear China’s actions in the disputed sea, and that they could lead to military conflict.

Having signed a defence  treaty in 1951 that guarantees military aid to each other in the event of external aggression, the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) war games has always been the biggest annual military engagement between the allies. Z news reported that 1200 troops have already been involved this year’s military movement.

interactive editor