China island building in full swing says Manila
(MENAFN- Arab News) PUERTO PRINCESA Philippines: China is pressing ahead with the construction of artificial islands on at least two reefs that are also claimed by the Philippines in the increasingly tense territorial dispute Filipino officials said Friday despite Beijing's pronouncement that some work would end soon.
Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon of Kalayaan island which is under Philippine control in the Spratly islands where attention has recently focused on China's massive islands reclamation work said that he flew last week near the Chinese-controlled Subi Reef and saw construction was in full swing with many dredgers and a huge crane visible on the emerging man-made island.
'It's full-blast construction. It's massive and incredible' he told The Associated Press adding that it was evident it would take months before the Chinese complete the work.
In the mid-portion of the emerging island a 3-km (1.9-mile) -long landfill is taking the shape of a runway Bito-onon said.
His comments followed similar findings by the US military and independent defense analysts.
Two senior Philippine military officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to talk to the media said that aside from Subi Reef China's island-building has also continued on Mischief Reef also in the Spratlys based on recent military surveillance.
Chinese Embassy officials in Manila did not comment immediately.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on June 16 that the land reclamation projects on some islands and reefs 'will be completed in upcoming days.'
Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon of Kalayaan island which is under Philippine control in the Spratly islands where attention has recently focused on China's massive islands reclamation work said that he flew last week near the Chinese-controlled Subi Reef and saw construction was in full swing with many dredgers and a huge crane visible on the emerging man-made island.
'It's full-blast construction. It's massive and incredible' he told The Associated Press adding that it was evident it would take months before the Chinese complete the work.
In the mid-portion of the emerging island a 3-km (1.9-mile) -long landfill is taking the shape of a runway Bito-onon said.
His comments followed similar findings by the US military and independent defense analysts.
Two senior Philippine military officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to talk to the media said that aside from Subi Reef China's island-building has also continued on Mischief Reef also in the Spratlys based on recent military surveillance.
Chinese Embassy officials in Manila did not comment immediately.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on June 16 that the land reclamation projects on some islands and reefs 'will be completed in upcoming days.'
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