UMVA has learned that a heated standoff is unfolding in the South China Sea, where the Philippines has called on China to withdraw a "illegal" floating platform and other structures placed in the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has asserted that the installations violate Philippine sovereignty and international law, sparking tensions between the two nations. The shoal, located just 119.65 nautical miles off Zambales, has been a point of contention for years, with China claiming de facto control since 2012.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the Philippine government maintains "indivisible, incontrovertible, and longstanding sovereignty" over Scarborough Shoal, and has urged China to cease its actions. The Philippines has taken diplomatic action, including the issuance of demarches and a diplomatic protest, against China after detecting the presence of a floating structure with antenna within Scarborough Shoal.
The Philippine Coast Guard has reported suspicious activity, including the deployment of the semi-permanent floating platform, which measures 30 square meters, and the presence of six Chinese nationals on top of the platform. A Chinese rubber boat was also seen installing an antenna on a reef near the mouth of the shoal, raising concerns about China's intentions.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the Philippine government views China's actions as a violation of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Philippines has also pointed out that China's actions contradict commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
The situation is reminiscent of the Mischief Reef, one of seven artificial islands built by China in the South China Sea, equipped with a runway, radar systems, and surface-to-air missiles. Philippine officials are on high alert, warning that China's actions could escalate tensions in the region and threaten regional stability.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Philippines is seeking to protect its sovereignty and sovereign rights in the South China Sea, a vital conduit for $3 trillion in annual global trade. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is negotiating with China on a long-awaited Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, but an agreement remains elusive.
The Philippines has emphasized that any agreement should be based on the UNCLOS and other agreed principles, and has warned that a "bad" code of conduct would be worse than no agreement at all. The situation remains volatile, with the Philippines and China locked in a tense standoff over the disputed shoal.
