DHAKA: Philippine president Benigno Aquino on Monday accused China of violating the ‘Declaration of Conduct’ it signed in 2002, after it allegedly began reclaiming land on a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

Manila last week publicly accused Beijing of large-scale reclamation activity at Johnson South Reef, which is also claimed by the Philippines.

Filipino officials fear this could lead to China building its first airstrip in the disputed region.

‘In my view... what they are doing now, this is all seemingly in violation of what we agreed in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,’ he told reporters, according to The Straits Times.

He stressed that China, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) signed the declaration in 2002 in a bid to ease tensions over the South China Sea, but this agreement was not binding.

Aquino said the statement effectively called on all parties to refrain from building new structures in the disputed area until the conflict is settled.

BDST: 1840 HRS, MAY 19, 2014