PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte has ordered the military to occupy and build facilities on maritime features in the South China Sea that is within the Philippine territory. His remarks also came on the heels of a US think tank report saying Chinese defense structures on the Spratly Islands, a South China Sea chain, are near completion.

Cigaral, I. N. P. (2017, April 7-8). Duterte tells troops to stake a claim in PHL sea. BusinessWorld, p. S1/11.