MANILA – Stronger international action is needed to counter China’s rapid reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday.

Belmonte noted that statements of condemnation from global powers on the continued encroachment of China in the disputed waters have been ineffectual.

“The whole world is unable, unwilling or afraid to help us, the US included,” Belmonte said.

He added that China’s blatant expansion activities are making the problem not just a regional security problem, but a global one.

“China is obviously violating our territory in front of the whole world. Their activities in the disputed territory will affect the flow of goods among countries, making the issue a serious global problem,” he said.

The leader of the House of Representatives did not say what stronger action is needed, but his statement came as Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario announced he would be flying to Washington soon to discuss US support to counter Beijing.

Reports from Washington said the US planned to deploy advanced Army and Navy equipment in the South China Sea.

The US has expressed concern that China is building a “Great Wall of Sand” in the waters it almost entirely claims as territory, including the West Philippine Sea.

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