China has started the operations of a lighthouse in Subi Reef, The Chinese news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday.
Xinhua said the 55-meter high lighthouse contains technology to monitor passing ships.
The Philippines should be very concerned.
At the time of the FOCAP Forum, the U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen was sailing through within 12 nautical mile from Subi Reef’s man-made shores, according to reports by the U.S Navy.
The news reports which was known later, after the forum with the President, also sailed through Mischief Reef, occupied by the Chinese in 1994.
It is significant to note that Mischief Reef and Subi Reef are the nearest to Philippine shores of the eight features in the Spratlys occupied by the Chinese. Subi Reef is 26 kilometers away from Philippine–occupied island Pag-asa.
At this time, when the wound created by the Aug. 23 tragedy has not healed as shown by the rejection by Beijing three times of request of a meeting by President Aquino with either the Chinese premier or the president, the Philippines does not want to ruffle further Chinese feelings.
Just to regain China’s favor, the Philippines has joined the boycott tomorrow of the awarding ceremony for Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in Oslo, Norway.