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Manila / AFP
The Philippines has asked China to explain the increased presence of Chinese vessels near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, the defence secretary said on Sunday, expressing “grave concern”.
Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said a Philippine air force plane saw four Chinese coast guard ships, two barge-like vessels and two suspected troop ships near the shoal on Saturday. “The presence of so many ships, other than coast guard in the area is cause for grave concern,” Lorenzana said.
“The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) has already called the attention of the Chinese Ambassador and demanded explanation,” he added. The shoal, which is located just 230 kilometres (650 miles) from the main Philippine island of Luzon, has long been a bone of contention between the two countries.
Lorenzana said that earlier this year, the Chinese tried to bring in dredging barges in an apparent attempt to turn the Scarborough into an artificial island but were dissuaded by the US.
“If they try to construct anything in Scarborough it will have far reaching adverse effect on the security situation,” he added.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila could not be reached for comment. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he intends to ask Beijing if they are building up the shoal despite an international court ruling rejecting most of China’s claims in the resource-rich area.