The Department of National Defense yesterday said China is "concocting stories" by claiming that the Philippines is doing construction work in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and told the Asian giant to tear down its structures in the islands and apologize to the international community for environmental degradation. DND spokesman Peter Paul Galvez reiterated that it's China, not the Philippines, which is escalating tension at the disputed Spratly Islands. Galvez was reacting to the Chinese foreign ministry's accusations of Philippine provocation and violation of the 13-year-old Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea by pursuing its own constructions. Defense and military officials had earlier accused China of reclaiming seven reefs in the region, three of them within the Philippine's 200-mile exclusive economic zone. They feared that China is building naval and air force facilities in these areas.

Reyes, V. (2015, May 7). China 'twisting' story: DND. Malaya Business Insight, pp. B1, B6.