Beijing calls on their people to prepare for possible ‘war on water’ over South China Sea tensions.
China has called their police and military to prepare for direct confrontation over the issue on South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).
Chinese defense minister Chang Wanquan made the statement after seeing that the tense situation in the South China Sea poses a threat. He called on the military, police and general population to be ready to defend the country’s territorial integrity.
This is amidst unprecedented tensions over the disputed islands in the South China Sea, where Beijing has been building airstrips and military installations on reclaimed reefs and islands in waters also claimed by a number of other Asian states, especially the Philippines.
Chang inspected military installations in Zhejiang Province, located at the eastern part of the country, state news agency Xinhua reported.
According to Chang, the people and their armed forces should recognize the seriousness of the national security situation, particularly when it comes to threats posed at sea.
The Chinese military, other law enforcement agencies and citizens must be ready for possible mobilization in the event of a “people’s war at sea,” he added.
He further said the general public should be educated about national defense issues since their national sovereignty and territorial integrity are at risk.
On July 12, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands had concluded that China had violated the Philippines’ economic and sovereign rights.
The tribunal dismissed China’s “nine-dash line” that claims 85 percent of the South China Sea. The PCA said China’s claim is unlawful under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), but China refused to respect the decision of the international tribunal.
The US Navy dispatched warships and military planes to the immediate proximity of the disputed islands, claiming it has done so to ensure the principles of freedom of navigation in international waters. Washington has been also involved in a number of military drills in the region.
Beijing has slammed the naval and aerial displays by the US as provocations, and reinforced installation on the islands with anti-ship missile and air-defense complexes.
Last weekend, Chang addresses the members of China’s People’s Liberation Army that 2.3 million-strong soldiers is “fully confident and capable of addressing various security threats and provocations.