Will China continue building on Scarborough Shoal?
Disputed Scarborough Shoal. Hong Kong media reported on Monday that Beijing will start constructing on a South China sea islet which is located within the Philippine’s claimed exclusive economic zone as it seeks to display its strength over the disputed water territories.
The South China Morning Post newspaper revealed through an unnamed source that China will establish this year an outpost on Scarborough Shoal, 230 kilometers off the Philippine coast.
Despite the claims from several Southeast Asian neighbors over the contested reefs, Beijing have already claimed nearly all the strategically vital seas through developing artificial islands which some top with airstrips.
Despite Manila claiming the Scarborough Shoal, China too effective control of it in 2012 with patrol vessels. Since then, Filipino fishermen are shooed away after a two-month stand-off with the Philippine Navy.
According to the report, the construction of the outpost would allow Beijing to “further perfect” its air coverage across the South China Sea especially with its already plan on building airstrip.
Although China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was not aware of the news, she firmed that the area was China’s “inherent territory.”
She added that Beijing will adopt the necessary measures to protect China’s sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests.
The Philippines have already brought the case into an international tribunal ruling which result is expected to be released within the months.
Earlier, the US and the Philippines have announced that they would launch a joint naval patrols in the sea.
US meanwhile have accused Beijing for militarizing the South China Sea while it admitted the building of military-capable airstrips and deploying unspecified weapons on some of the islands to which the US said would ramp up tensions.
Aside from China and the Philippines, countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have claims to parts of the sea which is home to numerous resources including oil reserves and shipping lanes.