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world13h ago
Philippines Verifying Reports of Structure in Scarborough Shoal - Naval News
- Philippines is examining raw information about a suspected structure at Scarborough Shoal and has not confirmed its nature.
- Scarborough Shoal has long been a flashpoint in the South China Sea dispute between the Philippines and China.
- A 2016 arbitral ruling invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, a decision Beijing rejects.
- In April, satellite imagery and the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed a 352-meter floating barrier at the shoal, later removed.
- Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military is investigating whether the observed feature is floating or fixed.
- The latest concerns coincided with a maritime cooperative activity near Scarborough Shoal involving U.S. Coast Guard and Philippine forces.
- The Philippines deployed multiple assets, including BRP Antonio Luna and BRP Melchora Aquino, in the recent maritime activity.
- China described its patrols as responses to rights violations, while the Philippines rejected evidence of coordinated exercises with the PLA Navy and China Coast Guard.
- The two countries also discussed mutual concerns, including South China Sea developments, in a phone call between Philippine President Marcos Jr. and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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