The Philippines' National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said on Tuesday that aerial monitoring had detected a six-metre by six-metre floating platform inside Scarborough Shoal that appeared to be an antenna with people on board.
The task force said the structure was located within the disputed shoal, also known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines. Government agencies will continue to monitor developments and assess the nature, purpose and implications of the installation. Manila's Foreign Ministry has undertaken appropriate diplomatic action against its counterpart in Beijing. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said China has a legitimate right to carry out activities, including scientific research, at Scarborough Shoal.
