President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he received an “unsettling” intelligence report showing China had sent barges to Scarborough Shoal and had appeared to begin construction in the area for the first time.
“I think they are starting in (Bajo de) Masinloc and this will be another ruckus there,” Duterte said, referring to the shoal by its local name.
He said the Philippine Coast Guard found “a lot of barges” near the area.
“There seem to be new barges coming in and they suspect that’s going to be another construction.”
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DND briefed Duterte on spotted Chinese ships entering PH territory
President Rodrigo Duterte early today was briefed by Department of National Defense on Chinese vessels entering Philippine territory.
According to Manny Piñol, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who briefed the President during a security conference in the Enclaves in Matina, Davao City at dawn today said that the latest surveillance photos were taken September 3.
The photos which were shown to other members of the Cabinet and national security officials, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr., showed Chinese vessels, including Coast Guard Patrol boats, in the Scarborough Shoal.
One of the huge vessels appeared to be a dredger, apparently used in turning the atolls into large military and naval facilities, including an airstrip.
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DND Statement on 10 Chinese ships spotted in Scarborough Shoal
An overflight by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Saturday revealed that there are at least 10 Chinese ships near Scarborough Shoal (also known as Bajo De Masinloc) which lies 123 miles west of Subic Bay, Zambales.
This was revealed by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who said that four of the ships look like Chinese Coast Guard ships, with the other four looking like barges and remaining two appearing to be like troop ships.
He added that a PAF aircraft flew over Scarborough Shoal and took photographs of these ships Saturday.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed concerns over reports that Chinese barges are still coming in Scarborough Shoal, adding that this could indicate new construction activity in the area.
“No dredging work have been seen. However, the presence of so many ships, other than Coast Guard, in the area is cause for grave concern. The Department of Foreign Affairs already has called the attention of the Chinese Ambassador and demanded explanation,” Lorenzana added.
Read the full story at Tankler
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| Click Image to Enlarge |
President Rodrigo Duterte early today was briefed by Department of National Defense on Chinese vessels entering Philippine territory.
According to Manny Piñol, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who briefed the President during a security conference in the Enclaves in Matina, Davao City at dawn today said that the latest surveillance photos were taken September 3.
The photos which were shown to other members of the Cabinet and national security officials, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr., showed Chinese vessels, including Coast Guard Patrol boats, in the Scarborough Shoal.
One of the huge vessels appeared to be a dredger, apparently used in turning the atolls into large military and naval facilities, including an airstrip.
Read the full story at Tankler
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| Dredgers seen working on Fiery Cross Reef during China's Artificial Island construction (Click Image to Enlarge) |
An overflight by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Saturday revealed that there are at least 10 Chinese ships near Scarborough Shoal (also known as Bajo De Masinloc) which lies 123 miles west of Subic Bay, Zambales.
This was revealed by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who said that four of the ships look like Chinese Coast Guard ships, with the other four looking like barges and remaining two appearing to be like troop ships.
He added that a PAF aircraft flew over Scarborough Shoal and took photographs of these ships Saturday.
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| Fiery Cross Reef nearing Completion (Click Image to Enlarge) |
“No dredging work have been seen. However, the presence of so many ships, other than Coast Guard, in the area is cause for grave concern. The Department of Foreign Affairs already has called the attention of the Chinese Ambassador and demanded explanation,” Lorenzana added.
Read the full story at Tankler