MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese premier defended on Friday the presence of his country’s military equipment on several artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, saying this was needed to defend trade interests in the region.
Li Keqiang, the premier of China, was quoted by the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) as saying that the military equipment on artificial islands Beijing created in the region was meant to protect its trade and economic interests.
Li’s expansive defense of Beijing’s military deployments in the West Philippine Sea was rare, especially for a top Chinese leader. The Chinese premier is in Australia to enhance trade and economic ties between the two countries which have become more important in recent months as the US, Canberra’s traditional ally, adopts a more isolationist outlook.
“China’s facilities on Chinese islands and reefs are primarily for civilian purposes,” he was quoted by WSJ as saying in a press conference with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the Australian parliament.
Li said China’s defense equipment and facilities in the area were meant to maintain the freedom of navigation and overflight in the West Philippine Sea, adding that without these China would be the hardest hit.
“Even if there is a certain amount of defense equipment or facilities, it is for maintaining the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea because without such freedom or without stability in the South China Sea, the Chinese side would be the first to bear the brunt of it,” he explained.
Li also defended these Chinese military moves, saying that Beijing did not have the “intention” to militarize the dispute when it started building on the islands in the region.
Much of the West Philippine Sea is being claimed by China. The Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei claim the area in part. It is estimated that $5 trillion worth of trade passes through the area, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The West Philippine Sea is also believed to possess large deposits of gas and oil.
Li said that China hopes that the market and business communities would continue to have strong faith in the West Philippine Sea in pursuing more free trade.
“We hope that the market and the business communities will continue to have strong faith in the South China Sea, in these sea-lanes with safe passage to pursue more free trade,” he said.