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12/22/2024 07:12:28 pm

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Philippines Asks For Help From U.S. To Stop China’s Land Reclamation

Albert del Rosario

(Photo : Reuters) The Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario said that China's attempt to impose its "nine-dash line" is unlawful.

The top diplomat of the Philippines said that he is asking for more help from the U.S. to stop China's land reclamation that could give effective control to Beijing over the South China Sea, on Tuesday.

The Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario said that China's attempt to impose its "nine-dash line" is unlawful, according to Yahoo News. The "nine-dash line" is China's rough demarcation of its territory on its official Chinese map.

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According to the foreign minister, the control of China threatens the freedom of navigation and the rule of law. Also, he added that it could lead to militarization.

Del Rosario said to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington that they must do something quickly about China's land reclamation. "We are taking the position that we must do something quickly lest the massive reclamation results in de facto control of China of the South China Sea," the Foreign Minister said.

A senior U.S. defense official said that the land reclamation of China now sums up to about 2,000 acres, the AP reported. The China's land reclamation is potentially for military use or airstrips as said by the defense official.

Meanwhile, China defend the said reclamation. The Chinese official said that it is Beijing's territory. Moreover, the buildings and infrastructure are for the use of the public and for the fishermen. The Philippines including Vietnam and other were accused by China because of bringing their building work on other islands, the report added.

It can be noted from a report by Reuters that last month, the Philippines was seeking more "substantive" support and help from the U.S., as its security ally for the long time, on how to oppose the rapid reclamation and expansion of China in South China Sea.

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