BEIJING — China deployed three navigation beacons across the contested Spratly islands of the South China Sea, following comparable marker placements by the Philippines earlier this month, as either side attempt to fortify their claims to the realm.
China’s Transport Ministry on Wednesday mentioned its South China Sea maritime safety heart positioned the three beacons near Irving Reef (Balagtas Reef), Whitsun Reef (Julian Felipe Reef), and Gaven Reefs (Burgos Reefs) of the Spratly islands, which is consisted of many islets, reef banks and shoals.
The beacon placement is to “ensure the safety of ships’ navigation and operations,” it mentioned.
Earlier this month, the Philippines additionally positioned navigational buoys carrying the nation’s nationwide flags inside its unique financial zone, together with at Balagtas Reef and Julian Felipe Reef, and the place tons of of Chinese ships moored in 2021 and once more in 2022.
Tensions have heightened just lately in contested components of the South China Sea, one of many world’s most necessary commerce routes.
China has claimed practically your entire South China Sea as its territory. It can also be claimed by Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
