MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will protest China’s establishment of a maritime rescue center at the Kagitingan or Fiery Cross Reef once it is verified, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said yesterday. Locsin agreed with Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio that the Philippines should contest China’s construction on the Philippine-claimed Kagitingan Reef. The Philippines has filed almost 20 protests against China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea without “fanfare,” the DFA chief added. Carpio earlier maintained that the Philippine government should file a protest to avoid the misunderstanding that it approves of China’s action at the Philippine-claimed reef and weaken the country’s claim over the disputed area. But Carpio and Malacañang differed on how the Philippines should deal with China’s establishment of a maritime rescue center at Kagitingan Reef.

Source: Philippine Star February 02, 2019 22:13 UTC