Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said the diplomatic communication was issued after the report came out last month. The Center for Strategic and International Studies report said anti-aircraft guns and weapons systems designed to guard against missile attacks appear to have been placed on all seven of China's newly created islands. Yasay told CNN Philippines that Manila had responded, but did so quietly. Beijing says the artificial islands are intended to boost maritime safety in the region while downplaying their military utility. China ignored the Philippine case and refused to recognize the outcome, which was heavily in favor of the Philippines.

Source: ABC News January 16, 2017 07:37 UTC