Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered troops to occupy and raise the Philippine flag on Manila-claimed islands in the disputed South China Sea.
“We have to maintain our jurisdiction over South China Sea,” Duterte told reporters in Palawan.
“I have ordered the Armed Forces to occupy all, lagyan ng structures at Philippine flag,” he said.
“I might I may go to Pag-asa island to raise the Philippine flag there,” he said.
“At least, let us get what is ours now and make a strong point there that it is ours.”
“It looks like everybody is making a grab for the islands there, so we better live on those that are still vacant,” Duterte told reporters.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s claim and declared that Beijing had violated Manila’s rights to fish and explore for resources in the disputed waters.
