China has assure­d the Philip­pines it will not occupy new featur­es or territ­ory in the South China SeaMANILA: The Philippines will make a diplomatic protest to China, which it described as reneging on a promise not to militarize artificial islands in the busy South China Sea waterway, the southeast Asian nation’s defense minister said on Monday. China and the Philippines have long sparred over the South China Sea, but relations have improved considerably under President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been courting Beijing in hopes of winning business and investment. China has assured the Philippines it will not occupy new features or territory in the South China Sea, under a new “status quo” brokered by Manila as both sides try to strengthen their relations. China has denied US charges that it is militarizing the South China Sea, which also is claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. In the last 27 years, China’s navy has sent more than 1,000 soldiers to guard the reef, state media have said.

Source: The Express Tribune January 09, 2018 07:28 UTC