Philippine President, Rodrigo
Duterte, has ordered troops to occupy uninhabited islands and reefs in the
disputed South China Sea.
Duterte announced this move to
reporters during a visit to a military base in Palawan, saying that the unoccupied
area of the Island is for the Philippians.
The 72-year-old leader added that he
might visit a Philippine-controlled island, Thitu, to raise the national flag
there on June12, the country's Independence Day.
The move is expected to anger China,
which claims several contested shoals, islets and reefs in the territory and has
been constructing artificial islands in the area for years.
While the Philippines occupies nine
features in the South China Sea, including a World War Two-era transport ship,
Beijing claims almost all of the territory. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan
also claim territory in the strategic area.
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