The Philippines should protest the construction of a maritime rescue center in the contested South China Sea once it is verified by relevant offices, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Saturday. He said the Department of Foreign Affairs will await the official assessment of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon as he declined to acknowledge the report of China’s state news agency Xinhua on the hub’s establishment at the Kagitingan Reef in the Kalayaan Island Group. In a separate comment, Locsin said the administration was obedient in filing a note verbale every time China builds in the disputed areas.

DFA bucks China maritime hub. (2019, February 4). Manila Standard, p. A2.