By WENDELL MINNICK
TAIPEI — Manila has expressed concern over the discovery of 75 square concrete blocks found near the entrance of the Scarborough Shoal, which is within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea but China has claimed as sovereign territory.
Manila is accusing China of laying the foundation for a permanent facility in violation of international maritime law and ignoring Manila’s call for international arbitration for a peaceful resolution.
“The Philippine government maintains its policy of putting the issue before international arbitration to peacefully settle its difference with China on the South China Sea, particularly on China’s alleged intention to build a structure in the Scarborough Shoal,” said Rommel Banlaoi, executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research. However, China is “committed to strengthen its control of the Scarborough, particularly in the light of American [military] plan to increase its rotational presence in the Philippines.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei denied the charges, yet reiterated China’s claim to the shoal as “China’s inherent territory.” China refers to Scarborough as Huangyan.
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