China’s Foreign Ministry accused the Philippines yesterday of working together with the United States to “exaggerate the China threat” over a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. Beijing stepped up its criticism of Manila a day before US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to visit China, where he is expected to raise Washington’s commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and flight in the South China Sea. Recent satellite images have shown that since about March 2014, China has conducted reclamation work at seven sites in the Spratlys and is constructing a military-sized airstrip on Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef and possibly a second on another reef.

Calica, A., & Laude, J. (2015, May 16). Beijing: Phl, US 'exaggerate China threat. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 6.