Sino-Philippine relations: words, actions and national interest

“Pag-asa Island and the larger Kalayaan Island Group are a municipality of Palawan,” the DFA’s spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar told reporters. 
A day before, Zhao said: “We view the occupation by the Philippine side of those islands as illegal. And so the buildings on it are also illegal.”
We can see that China will always defend its moves in contested areas as the owner of islands and reefs they want to control and occupy. And we believe China will continue to send a warning to those who oppose these moves – with airplanes or an aircraft carrier.
But, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana noted China’s extensive development of Subi Reef. Satellite images show anti-aircraft guns and weapons systems on a reef claimed by Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
In trade, China and the Philippines appear to be in good terms; however, the challenge is on maritime issues. China has raised regional concerns by turning reefs and shoals in contested areas into artificial islands, even installing military facilities and airstrips on some of them.
President Duterte, who was elected last year, has distanced himself from the Philippines’ traditional, long-time ally, the United States. He has played down the country’s territorial dispute with China in favour of greater economic aid and investments from Beijing.
During the Asean summit, no leader spoke of land reclamation, militarisation and arbitration in the South China Sea.
For now, Sino-Philippine relations remain strong as can be gleaned from the partnership in planned multimillion-dollar infrastructure projects. 
Pag-asa Island is the largest of the islands under the municipality of Kalayaan, which was created in 1978. The town, which has 180 residents, has a complete political structure. The town is on Pag-asa, which China calls “Thitu”.
Kristamel E Narvasa
Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN