The Palawan Times News Team
A NEW structure was sighted in the disputed Spratlys Islands Group by a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane that conducted a reconnaissance flight there on March 19.
Col. Jose Tony Villarete, the wing commander of the 570th Composite Tactical Wing at Camp Antonio Bautista Airbase in Puerto Princesa, was quoted by Manila sources of Palawan Times in saying that the new structure was seen on Pugad Island which is one of the 21 islands being claimed by Vietnam in the Spratlys in South China Sea.
Villarete, during a PAF briefing regarding the Spratlys, said the building is new but it appears to be not for military use. Pugad Island, according to him, is located some 40 nautical miles northwest of Pag-asa Island, the largest out of nine islands being claimed by the Philippines in the Spratlys.
He also informed PAF officials in Manila that the structure was not anything like the controversial military structures that were built by the People’s Republic of China on Mischief Reef, which is part of the Philippines’ territory.
But PAF officials said the construction of the new structure, whatever use it is for, is not in violation of any existing diplomatic agreements or laws that the country has with other claimants in the South China Sea.
In recent weeks, the Spratlys became prominent again following the discovery of a Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) agreement that was signed by the Philippines with the PROC for the joint exploration of the region.
Experts on territorial boundary disputes claimed that the JMSU is a violation of the Philippine Constitution because it did not pass through regular processes and was done at the back of the Filipino people.
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