BEIJING The Philippines president appeared to revive his quarrels with China on Thursday, ordering Philippine troops to occupy islands and reefs in the disputed South China Sea and said may even stop by for a visit.
Rodrigo Duterte said that the military should build structures on all of the Philippine-held islands, reefs and shoals in the contested Spratly Islands not far from seven man-made Chinese islands in the area.
Chinas construction of the islands is part of its claims of territorial sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, an important route for sea trade across Southeast Asia. Neighboring nations strongly oppose Beijings moves and worry that the runways and docks on the artificial islands could eventually have a military use.
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