The Chau Vien reef is seen being built up into an artificial island by China in November, 2014. (Source: CSIS)The Philippine Government strongly protests China’s construction and operation of two lighthouses on artificial islands in the East Sea, the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs said on October 19.
The Philippines accused China of building lighthouses on Chau Vien and Gac Ma islands as a disguised move to prop up its sovereignty claims in the disputed sea.
Spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs Charles Jose was quoted by the Standard, a majority broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, as saying that “these actions are obviously intended to change the actual conditions on the ground.”
According to him, these actions were aimed at bolstering China’s territorial claim in the East Sea.
“We will not accept these unilateral actions as a fait accompli,” Jose said.-VNA
