“Ignore the missiles”: Duterte says China’s South China Sea militarization is no problem Mischief Reef in the South China Sea.

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Generally speaking, a sovereign nation dislikes it when a foreign power establishes new military bases within striking range of its capital. But when it comes to China doing just that to the Philippines in the South China Sea, Rodrigo Duterte, it seems, doesn’t mind at all.

The Philippines president, speaking to a crowd of Chinese-Filipino businessmen yesterday (Feb. 19), admitted that China is building military facilities on contested islands near the Philippines. But, he argued, Beijing’s intention was to counter US power in the region, not to inflict harm on his nation.

“It’s really intended for those who China thinks will destroy them and that is America,” he said. “We are not part of it… Ignore the missiles there. They are not for us.”

https://qz.com/1211014/south-china-sea-militarization-nothing-to-fret-over-says-philippines-president-rodrigo-duterte/

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