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China backtracks on Panatag plan

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China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday denied reports that China would begin preparatory work this year for an environmental monitoring station on disputed Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
BEIJING — China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday denied reports that China would begin preparatory work this year for an environmental monitoring station on disputed Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
The official Hainan Daily on Friday quoted the top official in Sansha City that administered China’s island claims in the South China Sea as saying preparations were under way for the construction of environmental monitoring stations on six of the islands, including Panatag Shoal (international name: Scarborough Shoal).
Not true
Sansha Communist Party Secretary Xiao Jie, the mayor of Sansha City, told the paper that the preparatory work on the stations was among the Chinese government’s priorities for 2017, but he gave no other details.
On Wednesday, Hua Chunying, spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, denied the report.
“China places great importance on the preservation of the South China Sea’s ocean ecology, this is certain,” Hua told a daily news briefing in Beijing.
“According to the relevant bodies in China, the reports you mention that touch upon building environmental monitoring stations on Scarborough Shoal are mistaken, these things are not true,” she added.
“With regard to Scarborough Shoal, China’s position is consistent and clear. We place great importance on China-Philippines relations,” she said.
Earlier on Wednesday, acting Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo of the Philippines told Filipino reporters in Bangkok, which President Duterte is visiting, that Manila had asked Beijing to clarify its reported plans to build on Panatag Shoal.
“I think the President has been very clear—we want to have a peaceful, diplomatic settlement of disputes but we will not fail to protect our national interests if necessary,” Manalo said.

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