The Philippines and China are once again embroiled in a dispute over\nthe South China Sea. Manila is urging Beijing to remove a floating\nstructure placed at Scarborough Shoal and has asserted it will not allow\nthe atoll to be turned into an artificial island.<\/p>\n
The Philippine government, as reported by Reuters on Friday\n(12\/6\/2026), lodged a diplomatic protest against China on Tuesday (9\/6)\nover the presence of what it described as a \u2018mobile platform\u2019. According\nto the Philippine Coast Guard, the platform was likely deployed by a\nChinese research vessel.<\/p>\n
\u2018From a defence and security standpoint, we are doing what we can to\ncarry out our mandate, and that includes preventing Bajo de Masinloc\nfrom being developed into another artificial island,\u2019 said Philippine\nNavy spokesman Roy Trinidad, using the local name for Scarborough\nShoal.<\/p>\n
Philippine security officials shared photographs of the floating\nstructure during a press conference on Wednesday (10\/6) local time. The\nimages showed a square platform with several people on board and an\nantenna in the centre. The structure appeared to be built from wooden\nplanks forming a central deck, surrounded by cylindrical flotation\ndevices attached around its perimeter.<\/p>\n
China has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the\nfloating platform. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday\n(9\/6) reiterated that Beijing holds \u2018indisputable sovereignty\u2019 over\nScarborough Shoal and stated that its activities there, including\nscientific research, are lawful.<\/p>\n
Reuters previously obtained satellite imagery confirming the\nplatform\u2019s existence, although images taken on 1 June showed it was no\nlonger at Scarborough Shoal. The Philippine Coast Guard maintains the\nplatform remains at the atoll.<\/p>\n
Jay Batongbacal, a professor and maritime law expert at the\nUniversity of the Philippines, said the photographs were reminiscent of\nMischief Reef, one of seven artificial islands China has built in the\ndisputed waters of the South China Sea. That island is equipped with a\nrunway, radar systems, and surface-to-air missiles.<\/p>\n
\u2018They started with a base, then small huts that were continuously\nupgraded,\u2019 Batongbacal said.<\/p>\n
Relations between Manila and Beijing have deteriorated amid repeated\nmaritime confrontations in the South China Sea, a waterway contested by\nmultiple nations and almost entirely claimed by China. Scarborough Shoal\nlies close to major shipping lanes and is highly sought after for its\nfish stocks and turquoise lagoon that provides shelter for vessels\nduring storms.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/philippines-warns-china-against-building-artificial-island-in-south-china-sea-1781261626", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }