Canberra has expressed its opposition to the “militarization” of the disputed islands in the South China Sea, saying that provocative actions would hinder progress. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop made the stance in a forum hosted by the Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies in Makati City on Thursday, as she spoke about change and uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific region as well as strategic challenges and opportunities for Australia and the Philippines. China has been conducting reclamation activities in the disputed islands, including those within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Panti, L. T. (2017, March 17). Australia calls for de-escalation of tensions over SChina sea. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A2.