China is currently reclaiming the Mabini (Johnson South) Reef and “three more reefs within the Philippines’ Kalayaan Island Group (KIG)”–the “Burgos (Gaven) Reef, Kennan (Chigua) Reef, and Calderon (Cuarteron) Reef.”
The Philippine Star quoted a Philippines’ security official saying, “While our political leaders are busy squabbling, out there in the West Philippine Sea we are slowly losing our very territorial domain to China’s creeping invasion.”
China has allegedly constructed buildings on Burgos Reef. They have been “monitored to be dredging waterways in the area to deepen the approaches toward Kennan Reef.” Also, “construction equipment and materials” are now on Kennan Reef for whatever plans China has next.
Aerial patrols have noted Calderon Reef is also being built up, and Mabini Reef is “fully reclaimed,” with structures and landscaping done by the Chinese.
There are territorial tensions between Japan and China and Taiwan and China, as well.
The tension with Japan arises from China’s territorial claims in the East China Sea and their establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) there. Breitbart News previously reported that Japan re-interpreted their constitution in light of these things, so as to allow the use of “collective self-defense.”
On August 25, Taiwan scrambled fighter jets when two Chinese planes entered its airspace. The Taiwanese are concerned China may be planning to establish an ADIZ in the South China Sea, as well.
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.
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