Key facts
- The Philippines military will not allow any structures to be built at Scarborough Shoal.
- A floating Chinese platform was observed at the shoal.
- The Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest against China's actions.
- The floating structure has since been removed.
- Scarborough Shoal is claimed by both the Philippines and China.
The Philippines military has declared it will not permit any structures to be built at Scarborough Shoal, a sensitive disputed feature in the South China Sea. This statement comes after satellite images revealed a possible floating platform deployed by Chinese research vessels in the area. Military Public Affairs Office chief Xerxes Trinidad stated during a media briefing that the Philippines is "not allowing that to happen" and will not permit any part of the shoal to be ceded to a foreign nation. When asked about potential military action if a permanent structure were erected, Trinidad described such a scenario as speculative. Scarborough Shoal, a triangular coral reef formation with a lagoon, is situated approximately 124 nautical miles off the Philippine coast and 874 kilometers from China’s Hainan province. Both countries claim sovereignty over the shoal, which has become a focal point in their ongoing South China Sea dispute. The Philippines announced the removal of the floating structure after lodging a diplomatic protest over what it called an “illegal” move by Beijing.