Palace concerned over Chinese visitors in Kagitingan Reef

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has expressed concern over the arrival of Chinese visitors at a Manila-claimed reef in the West Philippine Sea.

Last week, the first Chinese visitors arrived at China's newly built airport at the Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reef.

"Hindi lang naman Pilipinas, kundi ang maraming bansa ang nagpahayag na ng kanilang pagkabahala sa mga kaganapang iyan," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said.

The visitors, composed of wives and children of soldiers and officers on the island, arrived a week after China conducted test flights in the area.

Coloma stressed the importance of upholding the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the principles of freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.

"'Yan ang pinagbabatayan ng posisyon ng ating bansa at ‘yung ating patuloy na pagtataguyod sa mapayapang at madiplomatikong resolusyon ng mga disputes regarding maritime entitlements in the West Philippines Sea," Coloma said.

The Philippines earlier filed a protest against China's test flights on Kagitingan Reef, which elevated tensions and anxiety in the region.

China said that the test flights were conducted to determine if the airport met the standards for civil aviation.