Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Saturday called the Philippine government into action amid what he sees as the Chinese government’s move to “grab” the disputed waters.
Carpio said the installation of “radar stations” in Scarborough “will immediately complete China’s radar coverage of the entire South China Sea.”
Carpio added, China will use its military installations to enforce its “nine-dash line,” which is China’s purported historical boundary that covers about 85 percent of the South China Sea, including 80 percent of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.
“These developments call for a national debate, and consensus, on how the nation should proceed with its bilateral relations with China,” Carpio said.
After previous constructions in several parts of the South China Sea, China reportedly plans to take over Scarborough Shoal by building facilities in the disputed area.
China plans to build environmental monitoring stations on a number of islands, including the Scarborough, according to a Reuters report quoting Sansha City Mayor Xiao Jie.
Sansha is the youngest city in China and is located on disputed Woody Island in the South China Sea.
It could be remembered that President Rodrigo Duterte has pursued to rekindle diplomatic ties with China, even opting to “set aside” the international arbitral tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines in its maritime case against China.
