Philippine military says spots more 'illegal' South China Sea structures

MANILA, April 1 (Reuters) - The Philippine military said on
Thursday it had documented illegal manmade structures on Union
Banks in the South China Sea's Spratly Islands, near areas where
hundreds of Chinese vessels had massed last month.
Military chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said the
structures were not far from islands and features claimed by the
Philippines inside its exclusive economic zone.
He did not say which country had built the structures or the
extent of the construction.
They were discovered on March 30, during one of the
military's maritime flight patrols over the South China Sea,
where it has been closely monitoring the activities of the
Chinese vessels believed to be manned by militias.
"These constructions and other activities, economic or
otherwise, are prejudicial to peace, good order, and security of
our territorial waters," Sobejana said in a statement.
"Our efforts to dutifully perform our mandate to protect and
advance our national interests in the area continue unhampered,"
he said.
The islands and reefs of the Spratlys are among the world's
most contested features, with Vietnam, China, Taiwan, the
Philippines and Malaysia putting structures, small communities
and artificial islands there to stake their territorial claims
in the strategic waterway.
Video footage shared by the military showed hundreds of
boats spread around Hughes, Gaven and Whitsun reefs, some moored
in groups of as many as seven boats side-by-side.
Calls to the Chinese embassy in Manila on Thursday seeking
comment on the Union Banks structures went unanswered.
Sobejana remarks come as part of a new push by the
Philippines' military and diplomats to publicly challenge
China's maritime activities after several years during which
criticism was muted.
The president, Rodrigo Duterte, has sought closer relations
with Beijing and has said challenging its actions are futile and
dangerous.
U.S. and Philippine national security advisers discussed
their concerns over Chinese activities in the South China Sea in
a call on Wednesday, while Philippine foreign Secretary Teodoro
Locsin is due to meet his Chinese counterpart this week.