Alejano warns vs. inaction as China launches massive island-making vessel

Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano on Sunday expressed alarm over the launch of China's 140-meter long, 28-meter wide dredging vessel Tian Kun Hao, pointing out the threat it may pose to the Philippines' claim over territories in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, Alejano said the Tian Kun Hao, which Chinese media calls "Asia's most powerful island maker," is in itself alarming.

“It would make it easier for China to build artificial islands and reclaim more reefs," he said.

This photo taken on November 3, 2017 shows the ship Tian Kun Hao being launched at a port in Qidong in China's eastern Jiangsu province. Str/AFP

"Take for instance what China did when it reclaimed its seven reefs in 2013 to 2016. Given the earlier aggressive reclamation activities of China, one cannot help but be alarmed [by] what this massive dredger could do,” he added.

The Tian Kun Hao is reported to have a deck the size of nine basketball courts and be capable of dredging up to 6,000 cubic meters an hour and digging as deep as 35 meters under the sea floor.

It is also reportedly equipped with an advanced global positioning system.

Alejano said this advancement in China's maritime technology, as well as the recently discovered extensive construction of facilities in the Paracel Islands, only further shows its renewed determination to assert its interest in the West Philippine Sea.

"Even the cases of Chinese incursions and harassment in Pag-asa Island in the past months are indications of its increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea," he said.

Alejano reiterated his call to the government to establish the Philippines' strategy in dealing with the issues at the West Philippine Sea.

"Hand in hand with this, the Duterte administration must set and clarify the country's strategic direction for the West Philippine Sea before it is too late," he said.

"Silence and inaction to Chinese incursions in our Exclusive Economic Zone in exchange of loans and trade gains will hurt the country's national interests in the long run," he added. — Erwin Colcol/BM, GMA News