Palace: China's rescue center on Manila-claimed reef 'could help everybody'

MANILA, Philippines — Beijing's establishment of a maritime rescue center on a Manila-claimed reef in the West Philippine Sea would benefit everyone, Malacañang said Thursday.

Chinese-state run Xinhua earlier reported that China's Ministry of Transport has opened a rescue on Kagitingan or Fiery Cross Reef, one of its artificial islands in the Spratly Islands.

Related Stories China opens rescue center on Kagitingan Reef

"Maybe we should be thankful. I share the sentiment of (Defense) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that could help seamen in distress in that area. It can help everybody," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.

RELATED: Locsin: China's weather stations 'not claims of ownership' | Philippines cannot physically confirm China's weather stations — Lorenzana

The Malacañang spokesman, however, said theestablishment of the center on Kagitingan Reef would still be up for validation despite it being already reported by Xinhua, China's official state-run news agency.

This has always been the position of Malacañang whenever Beijing announces new developments on its outposts in the Spratlys, which are also being claimed by the Philippines.

In November last year, Panelo repeatedly refused to acknowledge the Chinese Foreign Ministry's announcement that it has started opening weather monitoring stations in the West Philippine Sea. Panelo even downplayed the weather stations, dismissing Beijing's announcement as "merely new a news report."

Asked if China's rescue center would affect the Philippines' claims in the West Philippine Sea, Panelo said he does not think so.

"If that has been validated, then (Foreign Affairs) Secretary (Teddy) Locsin will make his position on