The Daily Tribune
Island construction at Scarborough Shoal 'would cross red line'– NSC spox
The Philippines has declared that any construction by China at Scarborough Shoal would be a "red line" and could trigger regional instability.
Jonathan Malaya, Assistant Director General of the National Security Council, stated that increased Chinese coast guard and militia vessel activity at the shoal has raised concerns.
Scarborough Shoal is strategically located 124 nautical miles from the Philippines, significantly closer than its proximity to China.
This policy is based on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s directive not to concede any territory in the West Philippine Sea.
Malaya emphasized that transforming the shoal into an artificial island is a development that the Philippines would not permit under any circumstances.
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A security think tank, SeaLight, reported a significant increase in China's presence and activities around Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) over the past year.
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China's coast guard conducted law enforcement patrols around the disputed Scarborough Shoal and nearby waters in the South China Sea on Wednesday.
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National Security Adviser Eduardo Año stated that tensions in the South China Sea are unlikely to decrease soon due to China's increasing assertiveness.
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Three Chinese vessels, including two frigates (BN 554 and BN 573) and a China Coast Guard ship (5403), engaged in aggressive and unsafe maneuvers against the Philippine Navy ship BRP Emilio Jacinto near Bajo de Masinloc on May 5.
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Senator Francis Tolentino filed Senate Resolution 1347, urging the Senate to condemn China's "provocative and illegal actions" on Sandy Cay (Pag-asa Cay 2) and other maritime features in the West Philippine Sea.
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