US warns of floating nuclear reactors: Malacañang frets about weapons

weapons
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, flanked by nuclear warheads and a floating nuclear power station

President Duterte’s spokesman has expressed concern about China’s possible deployment of nuclear weapons in the South China Sea.

Speaking today (Thursday, August 23), Harry Roque said: “We are concerned about the entry of any and all nuclear weapons into the Philippine territory because our Constitution provides that we are a nuclear-free zone.”

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He also said that that there was an Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) treaty declaring the whole regional bloc to be nuclear-free.

“We are concerned about the possibility that any foreign power be it American, Russian, Chinese may bring nuclear warheads into our territory and into Asean, which is declared as a nuclear-free zone.”

Roques words follow the Pentagon’s release of an annual report to the US congress, entitled Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China.

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However, as we reported on Tuesday, this report makes no mention of nuclear weapons, and instead warns of Chinese plans to deploy a fleet of floating nuclear power stations in the disputed waters. 

The report, issued last Friday, said: “China’s plans to power these islands may add a nuclear element to the territorial dispute.

“China indicated development plans may be underway to power islands and reefs in the typhoon-prone South China Sea with floating nuclear power stations; development reportedly is to begin prior to 2020.”

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In today’s press briefing, Roque broadened the issue to turn the focus onto the US military. He said: “The important point to underscore is we have a nuclear-free policy and that should be applied to all countries, including the Americans, because the Americans have been using nuclear-powered [weapons] and have been stationing warships with nuclear capability as well.

“So the concern is against all possible nuclear-carrying vessels from all countries.”

Roque added that it was not possible for the Philippines to verify what he described as a “US observation”.

“That is a US observation. We are not in a position to verify that. As you correctly said, it is even in the nature of speculation. It is a possibility, according to the American sources. So we leave it at that,” he said.

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