MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Friday that it plans to upgrade and improve facilities on islands it already occupies in the disputed South China Sea, not embark on a new land grab.
President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday that he wanted “nine or 10” islands occupied and fortified.
“The context with which we take the order is to improve on our already occupied islands, islets and features,” military spokesperson Colonel Edgard Arevalo told AFP.
The defense department said the plan was to add military barracks, water desalination systems, power generators, light houses, and shelters for fishermen to the features that the country currently occupies.
“The president recently announced plans to improve, and implement the Pag-asa development plan which includes nine areas,” Duterte spokesperson Ernesto Abella said, referring to the Pag-asa municipality, the Philippines’ political subdivision for the Spratly islands.
“This is part of his mandate to serve the best interests of the nation,” he added.
Military spokesperson Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said he did not think Duterte’s order required the military to occupy further outcrops.
All other major outcrops inside the section of the Spratlys claimed by Manila are already occupied by troops from other claimant countries, Filipino maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal told AFP Friday.
Only a few “reefs and shoals” do not currently have soldiers on them, he said.
“We hope the Philippine side can continue to properly manage maritime disputes with China and safeguard together the sound and stable situation of China-Philippines relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing Friday.
China claims most of the sea and in recent years has been building up disputed reefs into artificial islands that can house military facilities.