The militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Friday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for allowing China to convert the Kagitingan Reef, internationally known as Fiery Cross Reef, into a fortified Chinese military airstrip. Kagitingan Reef is part of the disputed Kalayaan Group of Islands in the Spratly Region of the South China Sea. It is part of the country’s 220-naughtical mile exclusive economic zone. In 2004, China started to construct artificial island in the reef. According to Hong Kong-based news site, the reclaimed island now features a 3,125-meter runway for 6K strategic bombers to land.

Casas, B. (2018, January 6). Fisherfolk group slams govt for inaction in kagitingan Reef. Manila Standard, p. A3.