The Manila Times
(UPDATE) THE Philippine government on Wednesday urged China to remove the floating platform suspected to be conducting maritime scientific research inside Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Deputy Assistant Secretary Rogelio Villanueva Jr., spokesman for Maritime Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), asserted that only the Philippines has the right to place or construct structures and conduct activities in Bajo de Masinloc. The presence of the semi-permanent platform in the area is “not only a violation of the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Philippines but is also inconsistent with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or Unclos, and the 2016 award in the South China Sea arbitration,” he said. “We therefore urge China to withdraw and remove the platform structures from Bajo de Masinloc, cease similar actions that violate Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights in and within the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc and comply with its obligations under international law particularly Unclos and the 2016 award in the South China Sea arbitration,” Villanueva said. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea presented photos and videos as well as chronological documentations of the discovery of the floating platform in Bajo de Masinloc detected through satellite imagery and later confirmed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The platform had a deck area of about 30 square meters and about 5–7 meters in length and was surrounded by fenders guarding it from impact. Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the WPS, said two Chinese research vessels were spotted going inward Bajo de Masinloc. These vessels were suspected to have towed the platform inside the shoal. Undersecretary Alexander Lopez, National Maritime Council spokesman, said the Philippine government views this as China’s “data-gathering activities.”
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