Philippines warns over China islands

The Philippines voiced alarm yesterday about Chinese "aggressiveness" in disputed regional waters as it launched giant war games with the United States that were partly aimed as a warning shot to Beijing.

Philippine military chief General Gregorio Catapang released what he said were satellite photos of intense recent Chinese construction over seven reefs and shoals in the Spratly archipelago of the flashpoint South China Sea.

He said this was causing concern "not only because it would deter freedom of navigation, but also due to its possibility of military purposes".