The Philippines does not recognize China’s self-declared administrative districts in the disputed South China Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday. Speaking for the first time on the diplomatic protest filed a week ago, the DFA said the Philippines “strongly protested” the establishment of the so-called Nansha and Xisha districts under the supposed administration of China’s self-declared “Sansha City.” The DFA said the Philippines also protested the illegal designation of Kagitingan Reef (Fiery Cross) within the Kalayaan Island Group as administrative center for the so-called Nansha district.

Pazzibugan, D. Z. (2020, May 1). PH protests China’s 2 ‘new’ districts in South China Sea. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A9.