The Philippine presidential spokesperson said the project continues to involve Chinese companies sanctioned by the US for the South China Sea.

"The President has made it very clear, he will not obey the instructions of the Americans because we are a free, independent country and we need those investments from China," said Harry Roque,

"We are not a vassal state of any foreign power," the spokesperson stressed.

Roque asserted that the Sangley International Airport project and all other projects, regardless of the Chinese contractors involved, would continue to benefit the nation.

CACC is a subsidiary of China Traffic Construction Group (CCCC), one of the largest state-owned infrastructure companies in the country, listed by the United States on sanctions list for allegations related to construction and construction.

The US Department of Commerce on August 26 announced sanctions against 24 Chinese companies, including CCCC subsidiaries, telecommunications companies and a unit of China Shipbuilding Corporation.

China unilaterally outlined the "cow's tongue line", an unreasonable claim to sovereignty over nearly the entire area of the South China Sea, despite international opposition.

The US in early July announced its stance on the South China Sea issue, rejecting almost all of China's sovereignty claims.