Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday said government will file a diplomatic protest against China for militarizing the Fiery Cross Reef or Kagitingan Reef, one of the disputed areas in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea. Lorenzana made the statement a few days after the Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television showed an aerial shot of the reef that appeared to have been transformed into a fortified airbase. The Hong Kong-based Asia Times also reported that the reef features a 3, 125-meter runway, radars, weapon systems, and other military facilities and a hospital.

Reyes, V. (2018, January 8). PH to file protest vs China over reef. Malaya Business Insight, pp. B1, B6.