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MANILA – The Defense department is verifying reports that China installed antiaircraft weapons at the disputed portions of the Spratlys.
Secretary Delfin Lorenzana acknowledged that the scenario will be a huge deal for states using the South China Sea.
“We are verifying,” Lorenzana stressed.
“If true, it is a big concern for us and the international community using the South China Sea lanes for trade,” said secretary. “It would mean the Chinese are militarizing the area, which is not good.”
Earlier the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative said it has monitored the construction of hexagonal buildings at Fiery Cross, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef, areas where China built artificial islands.
Such facilities seemed fitting with firearms and other weapons capable of shooting down aircrafts or cruise missiles, it said.
On the same artificial islands, China also built an airfield capable of handling and supporting large military aircrafts. (PNA)
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