The Philippines has protested the Chinese Central Military Commission’s decision to form a “garrison command” in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, as well as the recent deployment of Chinese fishing boats to Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Raul Hernandez stressed that China’s plan to manage the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos through the establishment of the so-called Sansha City is “unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, US Senator John McCain has called the decision by China’s Central Military Commission to deploy troops to islands in the East Sea, which are also claimed by Vietnam, is “unnecessarily provocative”.

The Republican Senator said that China’s appointment of legislators to govern islands and waters in the East Sea “only reinforces why many Asian countries are increasingly concerned about China’s expansive territorial claims,” which have “no basis in international law.”

Senator John McCain also stressed the need to continue to urge all parties with territorial claims in the East Sea to seek a peaceful, multilateral resolution that is based on international law and upholds the principle of freedom of navigation in international waters.