Iza Aldana
Jun 9, 2026
Manila protests Chinese platform in Scarborough Shoal; AFP warns against permanent installations in disputed waters
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has lodged a diplomatic protest against China following the discovery of a suspicious floating structure inside Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had already undertaken appropriate diplomatic action regarding the structure’s alleged illegal presence within Philippine waters.
According to the task force, aerial monitoring conducted by several government agencies confirmed the existence of a floating platform measuring approximately six meters by six meters and equipped with what appeared to be an antenna.
Recent imagery obtained by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also showed individuals stationed on top of the structure. Monitoring conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) further indicated that the platform remains within the shoal, with personnel reportedly onboard.
“The protection of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction remains a paramount consideration,” the NTF-WPS said.
Authorities are continuing to monitor developments in the area while assessing the nature, purpose, and potential implications of the installation.
AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. earlier disclosed that a mobile structure had been detected within the lagoon of Panatag Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.
Located approximately 220 kilometers west of Luzon, the shoal lies well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). However, it has remained under Chinese control since a standoff between Chinese and Philippine vessels in 2012.
Brawner said the structure appeared to be carrying about six individuals. To determine its nature and monitor activities in the area, the AFP has intensified aerial surveillance operations whenever weather conditions permit. The military is also considering the deployment of naval assets to further observe developments around the shoal.
The AFP chief warned against any activity that could lead to the establishment of permanent facilities within Scarborough Shoal.
Brawner stressed that the Philippines would not allow a repeat of developments seen in other disputed features in the West Philippine Sea, where temporary installations eventually evolved into artificial islands and permanent structures.
The discovery of the floating platform comes amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea, where Beijing maintains expansive territorial claims despite a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated those claims and upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its EEZ.