Monitoring China's Activities, Philippines Military Strengthening In The South China Sea

Philippine warships near Thitu Island. (Wikimedia Commons/Naval Forces West)

JAKARTA - The Philippine Ministry of Defense on Thursday ordered the military to strengthen its presence in the South China Sea, after monitoring China's " China activity" in disputed waters near the Philippine-controlled strategic island.

The ministry did not specify what it was and its statement, following a report this week on China's construction in four uninhabited features in the disputed Spratly Islands, news that Beijing dismissed as "baseless".

Every addition or reclamation of features in the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone "is a threat to the security of Pagasa Island, which is part of the Philippine sovereign territory," the ministry said in a statement, using the Philippine name for Thitu Island.

"We strongly urge China to enforce the international order based on applicable rules and refrain from actions that will exacerbate tensions," the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Manila reiterated China strictly adhered to the consensus reached among plaintiffs, which included not developing coral reefs and uninhabited islands.

Asked to respond to the defense ministry's statement, it said the two countries would "take care of maritime issues properly through friendly consultations."

It is known, China claims most of the South China Sea, which is traversed by billions of dollars worth of goods every year.

Meanwhile, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam also have overlapping claims over various islands and features in the region.

Thitu is the most strategically important of nine features occupied by the Philippines in the Spratly Islands, located close to Subi Reef, one of seven artificial islands built by China aboard submerged coral reefs, some equipped with surface-to-air missiles, aircraft hangars and runways.