The Philippine president says China's claim to airspace above newly built islands and surrounding waters in the disputed South China Sea "is wrong" and Beijing should not tell others to leave those areas to avoid possible clashes.
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President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks in a speech to an audience that included the American ambassador and other foreign guests were a rare public criticism of China, which he has refused to antagonise to nurture closer relations.
"They have to rethink that, because that would be a flashpoint some day and even, you know, warning others," Duterte said of China's actions to uphold its claims in the disputed waters.
"You cannot create an island, it's man-made, and you say that the air above these artificial islands is yours."
"That is wrong because those waters are what we consider international sea," the president said.
He added that "the right of innocent passage is guaranteed. It does not need any permission to sail through the open seas."
The Associated Press reported two weeks ago that the Philippines has expressed concern to China over an increasing number of Chinese radio messages warning Philippine aircraft and ships to stay away from Beijing-held artificial islands in the disputed waters.
CNN reported last week that the Chinese military repeatedly warned a US Navy P-8A Poseidon plane to "leave immediately and keep out to avoid any misunderstanding" while the reconnaissance aircraft flew close to some of the man-made islands.
"I hope that China would temper ... its behaviour," Duterte said, warning that in the disputed sea, "one of these days a hothead commander there will just press a trigger."
China transformed seven disputed reefs into islands using dredged sand.
The new islands stand in close proximity to islands occupied by Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan. Malaysia and Brunei are the other claimants to the chain of islands and barren islets and atolls.
China has repeatedly said it has the right to build on what it says is its territory and defend its sovereignty at all costs.
Australian Associated Press